Traditional litany for private devotion

Traditional litany for private devotion

Litany of Saint Jude Thaddeus

The patron of desperate causes — for 28 October and the days of the month

Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.

God the Father of heaven, have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy on us.
God the Holy Spirit, have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, one God, have mercy on us.

Holy Mary, pray for us.
Saint Jude Thaddeus, pray for us.
Saint Jude, kinsman of Jesus, pray for us.
Saint Jude, apostle of the Lord, pray for us.
Saint Jude, who didst ask Jesus why he would show himself to you and not to the world, pray for us.
Saint Jude, who didst hear the promise: he who loves me, my Father will love, pray for us.
Saint Jude, who didst preach the Gospel in Mesopotamia and Persia, pray for us.
Saint Jude, companion of Saint Simon, pray for us.
Saint Jude, martyr of Christ, pray for us.
Saint Jude, author of the Epistle that bears thy name, pray for us.
Saint Jude, who dost urge us to contend for the faith, pray for us.
Saint Jude, who dost bid us build ourselves up on our most holy faith, pray for us.
Saint Jude, who dost remind us to have mercy on those who doubt, pray for us.
Saint Jude, patron of desperate causes, pray for us.
Saint Jude, advocate of difficult cases, pray for us.
Saint Jude, help of the forgotten, pray for us.
Saint Jude, comfort of the afflicted, pray for us.
Saint Jude, support of the sick, pray for us.
Saint Jude, help of the unemployed, pray for us.
Saint Jude, refuge of those who have lost hope, pray for us.
Saint Jude, faithful intercessor before God, pray for us.

Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.

℣ Pray for us, Saint Jude Thaddeus.
℟ That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let us pray

O God, who through the holy Apostles hast brought us to the knowledge of thy name: grant that, through the intercession of Saint Jude Thaddeus, we may celebrate his memory with faith and feel his help in our needs, above all in those which seem beyond remedy. Through Christ our Lord.

Amen.

SourceTraditional litany for private devotion · The patron of desperate causes — for 28 October and the days of the month

The history of this prayer

St Jude Thaddeus, apostle, kinsman of Jesus and author of the Epistle of Jude, was for centuries little invoked — because of his name, which confused him with the traitor. From this, by contrast, the modern devotion was born: those who turn to him are those with no one else to turn to, and he, the forgotten one, answers the forgotten. He is the patron of desperate causes, and in Brazil his feast, 28 October, fills the churches; the 28th of every month is his day.

The invocations follow what is known of him: his question at the Last Supper (John 14:22), his preaching with St Simon in Persia, his martyrdom, and the counsels of his letter — contend for the faith, build yourselves up on the faith, have mercy on those who doubt. A litany for private devotion; our own rendering.

Frequently asked questions

Why is St Jude the patron of desperate causes?

Because, confused with Judas Iscariot, he was for centuries the least invoked apostle; turning to him became the gesture of those who had tried everything. St Bridget and St Bernard recommended him in hopeless cases.

When is the Litany of St Jude prayed?

On 28 October, his feast, on the 28th of every month and in the novenas to St Jude, above all for a difficult cause.

Is St Jude Thaddeus the same as Judas Iscariot?

No. Jude Thaddeus, son of Alphaeus or of James, is the faithful apostle and kinsman of the Lord; Judas Iscariot is the traitor. That is why the Church always calls him Thaddeus.

More prayers: Litanies

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