Hymn & Prayers

HYMN TO ST. JUDE

Apostle of Jesus, a martyr-saint of old
The cousin of our Savior, of Whom thy love hath told;
A writer of the scriptures, with tongue of fire aflame,
The worker great of wonders, in Jesus’ Holy Name,
The worker great of wonders, in Jesus’ Holy Name.

St. Jude, though oft forgotten, thou shalt remembered be,
We hail thee now in glory, and have recourse to thee;
For help for the despairing, when hopeless seems the task,
And from the Heart of Jesus, thru thee we favors ask,
And from the Heart of Jesus, thru thee we favors ask.

VATICAN COUNCIL ON DEVOTIONS

Vatican Council II directed that all devotions to the Blessed Mother and the Saints should bring the faithful to a deeper appreciation of the Sacred Liturgy.

“The Church has also included in the annual cycle, days devoted to the memory of the martyrs and other Saints. Raised up to perfection by the manifold grace of God, and already in possession of eternal salvation, they sing God’s perfect praise in heaven and offer prayers for us. By celebrating the passage of these Saints from earth to heaven, the Church proclaims the paschal mystery as achieved in the Saints who have suffered and have been glorified with Christ. She proposes them to the faithful as examples, who draw all to the Father through Christ, and through their merits she pleads for God’s mercy.” Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy n.104.

Down the long corridor of centuries the Saints have been traditionally honored in the Church. The Fathers of Vatican II reiterate this fact:

“The saints have been traditionally honored in the Church and their authentic relics and images held in veneration. For the feasts of the Saints proclaim the wonderful works of Christ and His Servants, and display to the faithful fitting examples for their imitation” Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy n. 111.

“Popular devotions of the Christian people are warmly commended, provided they accord with the laws and norms of the Church.” Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy n. 13.

A new booklet of devotions to Saint Jude has been written and prepared in accord with the mind and wishes of Vatican Council II. This booklet is available through the Shrine.

THE FOLLOWING ARE POPULAR ST. JUDE PRAYERS:

PRAYER FOR A SPECIAL REQUEST

St. Jude, glorious apostle, faithful servant and friend of Jesus, the name of the traitor has caused you to be forgotten by many. But the Church honors and invokes you universally as the patron of difficult and desperate cases. Pray for me,  who am in need of God’s mercy. Make use, I implore you, of that particular privilege accorded to you to bring visible and speedy help where help was almost despaired of. Come to my assistance in this great need that I may receive the consolation and help of heaven in all my necessities, tribulations and sufferings, particularly — (here make your request) — and that I may praise God with you and all the elect throughout all eternity.

I promise you, O blessed St. Jude, to be ever mindful of this great favor. I will honor you as my special and powerful patron and encourage devotion to you.

St. Jude, pray for us and for all who honor and invoke your aid.

PRAYER IN MARITAL DIFFICULTY

Saint Jude, we have problems with our marriage. Beg Almighty God to give us the light to see ourselves and each other as we really are. Help us to grow daily in self-knowledge and mutual love, while at the same time developing our potential to love and be loved. Help us, Saint Jude, to see and root out every manifestation of selfishness and childish self seeking — those hidden enemies of love and maturity. Thus learning to love and being filled with love, we may complement each other the remaining days of married life.

PRAYER OF ONE WHO STRUGGLES WITH ALCOHOL

Saint Jude help me in this sickness which is spiritual, psychological and physical. Strengthen my weak faith, no matter what may befall me. Teach me to be patient and serene in the midst of troubles. Saint Jude, help me so that nothing will upset me or weaken my determination to stay sober and abstain from alcoholic drink.

PRAYER FOR A HEALTHY MIND

Compassionate Saint Jude, you have restored health and soundness of mind to so many through the Power of God, see me — (or here mention the person afflicted) — in this suffering. Confident of your powerful intercession, I beg you to ask Jesus, the merciful Healer of the sick to restore me — (name of person) — that helped by His love I — (he, she) — may experience once more that great gift of mental health.

PRAYER WHEN IN NEED OF FINANCIAL AID

Saint Jude, assist us in our present financial worry. Since these difficult financial circumstances have come into our lives, we are in dire want and economic embarrassment, being unable to meet our honest debts. Saint Jude, you know only too well, we are not asking for wealth, if the possession of it is not in accordance with the holy will of God. We beg you only for that immediate assistance which will enable us to meet and satisfy our pressing obligations. We plead with you, Dear Jude, to obtain for us the financial assistance we so urgently need in our present financial difficulty.

PRAYER FOR HEALTH

Saint Jude, I have not the strength to pray as I ought. Nothing is able to give me any relief. My courage is faltering, impatience and loneliness are clouding my mind and my heart. Obtain for me, Saint Jude, the courage and resignation to accept all these trials from the hand of God with faith and patience. If it is for the good of my soul, grant that I may recover my former health so that I may be of assistance to others.

PRAYER FOR A DRUG ADDICT

Dear Saint Jude, drug addiction has caused a terrible upset in my family. The victim of this self-inflicted sickness has lost all sense of true reality – the reality of love as well as the reality of life. Beg Almighty God to make this addict aware that true euphoria can only be found in heaven and not with chemical dependence.

PRAYER AT THE DEATH OF A LOVED ONE

Saint Jude, you know the loneliness of my heart since God took (name of person) to his eternal reward. Make me realize taking (name of person) from me was not for my harm, but that I might look for (him/her ) always in your presence.

PRAYER FOR A HAPPY DEATH

Oh, my Lord and Saviour, support me in that hour in the strong arms of Your Sacraments, and by the fresh fragrance of Your consolations. Let the absolving words be said over me, and the holy oil sign and seal me, and Your own Body be my food, and Your Blood my sprinkling; and let my sweet Mother Mary breathe on me, and my Angel whisper peace to me, and my glorious Saints … smile upon me; that in them all and through them all, I may receive the gift of perseverance, and die, as I desire to live, in Your faith, in Your Church, in Your service, and in Your love. Amen. — Cardinal Newman

May he support us all the day long, till the shades lengthen, and the evening comes, and the busy world is hushed, and the fever of life is over, and our work is done! Then in His mercy may He give us a safe lodging, and a holy rest, and peace at the last! — Cardinal Newman

PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING

(To be said when a favor has been granted)

O Most sweet Lord Jesus Christ, in union with the unutterable heavenly praise with which the Most Holy Trinity extols Itself and which flows upon Your Sacred Humanity, upon Mary, upon all the angels and saints, I praise, glorify and bless You for all the graces and privileges You have bestowed upon your chosen apostle and intimate friend, Jude Thaddeus. I pray You for the sake of his merits, grant me Your grace, and through his intercession come to my aid in all my needs, but especially at the hour of my death deign to strengthen me against the rage of my enemies. Amen.

Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be to the Father, three times.