Saint Jude Thaddeus Patron of Hope - for the Hopeless and the Despaired
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Saint Jude , also known as Saint Jude Thaddeus , is known and loved throughout the world as the Patron Saint in Hopeless Causes. He is known as Judas Thaddaeus, Jude Thaddaeus, Judas son of James, or Lebbaeus. He is sometimes identified with Jude, the brother of Jesus, but is clearly distinguished from Judas Iscariot, the apostle who betrayed Jesus prior to his crucifixion. He was one of the twelve Apostles and a cousin of Jesus Christ. He courageously preached the Gospel, often in the most difficult circumstances. According to tradition, after his martyrdom, pilgrims came to his grave to pray and many of them experienced the powerful intercessions of St. Jude. Thus the title, 'The Saint for the Hopeless and the Despaired'. Saint Jude is often shown carrying an image of Jesus. Tradition tells us that this recalls a miracle when a king, afflicted with leprosy, was cured of this horrible disease after Saint Jude gave him a cloth that had been pressed to the face of Christ. Ove...