San Judas, also known as Saint Jude Thaddeus is a special and venerated figure among Catholic saints. He was a cousin of Jesus Christ and one of the twelve Apostles. He boldly shared the gospel, frequently in the most trying situations.
Who Is San Judas?
Among the twelve apostles selected by Jesus Christ personally was San Judas. To set him apart from Judas Iscariot, the notorious betrayer of Jesus, he is frequently referred to as Thaddeus or Lebbaeus. It is thought that San Judas was a close relative of Jesus, possibly even a cousin, and that he was born at Cana, Galilee.
Despite the lack of historical accounts about San Judas’s life, it is known that he attended the Last Supper and saw Jesus rise from the dead. One of the first Christian missionaries, San Judas set out to bring the teachings of Christ to far-off places following Jesus’ ascension.
Biblical historians agree that San Judas was truly Clopas’ son and that Mary, his mother, was Mary’s cousin. We know from ancient narratives that Jesus took the Gospel to many other places, such as Judea, Samaria, Idumea, Syria, Mesopotamia, and Libya. In 62 AD, according to Eusebius, he went back to Jerusalem and helped choose his brother, St. Simeon, to be the new bishop of Jerusalem.
St. Jude is renowned for penning an epistle (letter) to the churches in the East, specifically to Jewish converts, addressing the heresies of the Nicolaite, Gnostic, and Simonians. Although St. Gregory the Illuminator is acknowledged as the “Apostle to the Armenians,” Jude and Bartholomew are credited with bringing Christianity to Armenia.
San Judas’ Death
Although there are disagreements over the precise location of Jude’s martyrdom, most academics agree that he suffered the destiny of a martyr, most likely in Beirut or Armenia. After he passed away, his remains were brought to Rome and are currently interred in St. Peter’s Basilica, behind the main altar of St. Joseph in the left transept, in a tomb that he shares with the apostle Simon the Zealot.
St. Jude has earned the moniker “The Saint for the Hopeless and the Despaired” from pilgrims who have found comfort at his grave and who have reported strong intercessions. Notably, St. Jude was named “The Patron Saint of the Impossible (Causes)” in heavenly visions received by St. Bridget of Sweden and St. Bernard.
Institutions including the Chicago Police Department, Clube de Regatas do Flamengo in Rio de Janeiro, and several hospitals, including St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee, have adopted St. Jude as their patron saint outside of religious contexts.
The Apostle Jude is honoured in a great number of shrines and churches across the globe; the National Shrine of Saint Jude was founded in England in 1955.
San Judas’ Chain
Without a doubt, the opening of the St. Jude Research Hospital has contributed significantly to the recent surge in popularity of the Saint Jude chain. In a time of personal despair, Danny Thomas turned to Saint Jude for direction in choosing the proper route in life, and as a result, he founded this world-renowned institution.
People of different religious backgrounds wear the St. Jude chain today for a variety of reasons. Although they are frequently worn by Catholics, they are not exclusive to any one religion. Since St. Jude represents hope in times of extreme need, these chains make heartfelt gifts, particularly for individuals going through trying periods in life.
Furthermore, those who want to uphold unshakeable faith frequently wear a chain that features St. Jude as a physical reminder of their devotion to spirituality.
San Judas Tadeo Day
Every year on October 28, San Tadeo Day is observed with great religious and cultural significance around the world.
The Christian calendar and customs are the foundation for the selection of October 28 as San Tadeo Day. It coincides with Saint Jude Thaddeus’s feast day according to the Catholic Church’s liturgical calendar. The Church created the saints’ feast days to honour their lives, virtues, and contributions to the faith. In the instance of Saint Jude Thaddeus, this day serves as a reminder of his significance as one of the twelve apostles selected by Jesus Christ.
