St.Jude Circle

I have decided to make my entrance on Alternativt Nettverk in a.....hmmm....many would say controversial way...by starting a St. Jude Circle.
Who is St. Jude? To make a long story short - St. Jude is one of the most powerful Saints in the Roman Catholic Church, and He is also called the Saint of the Impossible.
So why, why Saint Jude? And why here on Alternativt Nettverk?
The idea of spreading this devotion was simply born of my personal hardships.
When I look back at my life only several weeks/months ago, with a future that seemed to be hopeless, I recalled the words that I heard often as a young girl growing up Catholic: when you are faced with a desperate situation - pray/talk to St.Jude, and he will bring you comfort. And so I did. And I experienced a powerful miracle in my life brought to me by him. And I have decided to share him with you - believers, non-believers, all of you. What you choose to do about it is totally up to you!
We all have our different needs. We all have something we believe in. We have our own ways, our own paths, our lives.
But there is one thing we all have in common: we are all very fragile and there can come times in our lives when we feel we are all alone, struggling with a painful, difficult case, that we cannot resolve. We feel we are completely helpless.
And this is where this marvellous Saint can step in and be really helpful ( mind my words! ;-) )

So consider this group/circle a gift from me to you - just in case a desperate situation should suddenly occour in your life. My biggest hope right now is to bring him closer, to spread the word of his friendship and hope to others. Please welcome him with an open heart and mind.
My husband and I are also supporting the St.Jude Children's Research Hospital.

Also visit: shrineofstjude.claretians.org and www.kureekadstjude.org

With Love and Light
Bren.

Who is St. Jude?
The Story of St. Jude Thaddeus

The origins of devotion to St. Jude as the patron of impossible causes are nearly as obscure as details of the life of the great Apostle, but devotion to St. Jude has never been more popular than today.

Jesus inspired devotion to St. Jude when he directed St. Bridget of Sweden to turn to St. Jude with great faith and confidence. In accordance with his surname, Thaddeus (which means generous, courageous, kind), Our Lord said, “He will show himself most willing to give help.”

The Gospel tells us that St. Jude was a brother of St. James the Less, also one of the twelve. They are described by St. Matthew (13:55) as the “brethren” of Jesus, probably cousins. The Hebrew word for “brethren” indicates a blood relationship. His mother, Mary, was a cousin of the Blessed Mother.

St. Jude is traditionally depicted carrying the image of Jesus in his hand. This represents the imprint of the divine Countenance that was entrusted to him by Jesus. King Abagar of Edessa asked Jesus to cure him of leprosy and sent an artist to bring him a drawing of Jesus. Impressed with Abagar’s great faith, Our Lord pressed his face on a cloth and gave it to St. Jude to take to Abagar and cure him. The King was cured and converted to Christianity along with most of his subjects.

After the death and resurrection of Jesus, St. Jude traveled throughout Mesopotamia, Libya, and Persia with St. Simon preaching and converting many to Christianity.

St. Jude died a martyr’s death. Later, his body was brought to Rome and placed in a crypt under St. Peter's Basilica.

Today, millions of people around the world turn to St. Jude, patron saint of seemingly impossible or difficult causes, when they feel most helpless and alone. St. Jude has proven to be a true friend and a beacon of hope to those who call on him.

PRAYER TO SAINT JUDE

OH HOLY SAINT JUDE, APOSTLE AND MARTYR, GREAT IN VIRTUE AND
RICH IN MIRACLES, NEAR KINSMAN OF JESUS CHRIST, FAITHFUL INTERCESSOR OF ALL WHO INVOKE YOUR SPECIAL HELP IN TIME OF NEED. TO YOU I HAVE RECOURSE FROM THE DEPTH OF MY HEART AND HUMBLY REQUEST ASSISTANCE. HELP ME IN MY PRESENT AND URGENT PETITION. IN RETURN, I PROMISE TO MAKE YOUR NAME KNOWN AND CAUSE YOU TO BE INVOKED.
(say 3 our fathers, 3 hail marys, 3 glorias)

this prayer/novena, if said in good faith, has never been known to fail and must be said for nine consecutive days.


MESSAGES OF THANKS:

St. Jude, this message is being sent to you as a promise of thanks. You heard my prayers and helped make my dream a reality. You are there for me every time I turn to you. My faith for you grows more and more each day. Thank you so much for all the wonderful blessings you shower me with. Thank you, once again for being there for me! JMF, IL552,

Thank you St Jude for answering my prayer. I will always be grateful and make your name known. I really believe in your power and humbly thank you for this miracle. EBS, Charlotte, MI

Thank You saint Jude for prayers answered. Embryo inside our daughter continues to grow. Another daughter may have a job at last. My health continues to improve surviving prostate cancer and encephilitis. What a blessing. Thank you MPH 'The Geo guy, we do ice" M Patrick Harty, MN

Thank you St. Jude fort favors granted. Thank you for the gift of sight in one eye which was taken from me. Thank you for other prayer request that were answered. Jim, MN

Please, oh please publish my letter of thanks, as I must have this published as part of my novena. I am giving thanks to the Blessed Virgin, St.Jude and St.Martin. I pray constantly to these ' special people ' in my life and they have never once not granted my requests! I truly believe one must have solid faith in your novenas and they will be granted! I cannot stress enough for all those sceptics out there, just pray your novena with faith and true belief and your request will be answered. I have never been dissappointed. Thank you with all my heart oh Virgin mother/St.Jude and St.Martin! Maria, Boston, MA

I have prayed to Saint Jude many times, and there has never been one time where my petition was not granted. There has never been anything in my life as comforting as the feeling of connection with God I am granted through my prayers to Saint Jude. May God Bless you all. BH, San Ramon, CA

St. Jude, thank you for hearing my prayers. I have been having many financial difficulties, and because of your blessed intercession I have begun to see the light at the end of the tunnel. I will continue to pray, for myself and for all of those who are in need, and I encourage all others who find themselves in what seems to be a hopeless situation to ask St. Jude for his prayers and intercession. Praise to Jesus Christ, our Savior, for hearing my prayers during this time of need. Valerie, Upland, CA

Dear St. Jude. I thank you for the quick and permanent healing you have given my dear friend, D.C.G., in his time of need. I believe. LRB

Thank you once again to the Sacred Heart, Our Lady and St Jude for helping us in our hour of need. I know it was my St Jude novena that ensured a successful outcome in my husbands operation and I trust that his results will prove to be non cancerous. Anna

St. Jude, Thank you very much for helping me with my special intention. I see signs everyday that you are continually there for me and are helping me through my situation. Tera, OH

Prayers to St. Jude

"St. Jude, glorious apostle, faithful servant and friend of Jesus, the name of the person (who betrayed our Lord) has caused you to be forgotten by many, but the true Church invokes you universally as the Patron of things despaired of. Pray for me, who is so miserable; pray for me, that I may finally receive the consolations and the succour of Heaven in all my necessities, tribulations, and sufferings, particularly (ADD YOUR PERSONAL REQUEST HERE), and that I may bless God with the Elect Throughout Eternity."

"May the Sacred Heart of Jesus be Adored, Glorified, Loved & Preserved throughout the world, now & forever. Sacred Heart of Jesus, please pray for me. Saint Jude, Worker of Miracles, please pray for me. Saint Jude, Helper of the Hopeless, please pray for me. Amen."

"O most holy apostle, St. Jude, faithful servant and friend of Jesus, people honor and invoke you universally, as the patron of hopeless cases, of things almost despaired of. Pray for me, for I am so helpless and alone. Please help to bring me visible and speedy assistance. 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 (state your request) and that I may praise God with you always."

"Holy Saint Jude, Apostle and Martyr, Great in virtue and rich in miracles, Near kinsman of Jesus Christ, Faithful intercessor of all Who invoke your special patronage in time of need. To you I have recourse from the depths of my heart And humbly beg to whom God has given such great power To come to my assistance. Help me in my present and urgent petition, In return I promise to make your name known And cause you to be invoked. Saint Jude pray for me and all those who invoke your aid. Amen."

The following prayers were graciously submitted by Mr. Joe Chatelle:
"Blessed Apostle St. Jude, we call upon you for help in hope and utmost confidence. St Jude renowned help of the hopeless, come to my aid in this time of distress. St. Jude, cousin of our Lord, obtain from our Savior the favors I now need and seek, especially _________."

"Glorious St. Jude with faith in your goodness I ask your help today. As
one of Christ's chosen Apostles, you remain a pillar and foundation of His
Church on earth. You are counted we know, among the elders who always stand before God's throne. From your place of glory we know you do not forget the needs and difficulties of Christ's little ones here still struggling, like me, on the way home to God. Please intercede for me, gracious St. Jude, and be with me in my daily toil and in all my necessities, especially _________. In Christ's name, I appeal to you again today. Amen."

PRAYERS FOR PHYSICAL HEALING
"St. Jude, you witnessed the healing power of our Lord Jesus. You saw his compassion for the sick and dying. You yourself touched the sick, shared the sorrows of the mournful, and encouraged the despairing. You received this authority and healing power to work wonders, to cure the incurable, to make people whole. We ask you to intercede with our brother, Jesus, to send his saving grace to heal the sickness and suffering of _________________________________, to uplift his/her despondent spirits, and to instill hope in his/her hearts. Amen."

"St. Jude, through prayer you praised God for the wonderful works of Jesus. You asked God for the strength to meet the challenges of your apostolate. You put your trust in God's mercy, believing firmly that God loved you and understood your joys and sorrows, your hopes and fears, and your triumphs and failures. You understood that nothing is impossible for God. I ask you to pray for me now before the Most High so that I too might be filled with God's saving power, understand God's will for me and faithfully place myself in God's loving hands."

"St. Jude, you remained faithful to our Lord, even unto death. You gave your life so that others might live. You endured physical pain and emotional abandonment. But you gladly joined your sufferings to those of our Savior, Jesus, and thus shared in the redemption of the world. I ask you now to intercede with our brother, Jesus Christ on my behalf, so that I too can find strength in the face of my suffering. Help me to trust in God and put my life in his hands."

PRAYER FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
"St. Jude, please assist me in these difficult financial circumstances. I beg you to shine the light on the resources that I need to help meet my debts and satisfy my pressing obligations

PRAYER FOR HEALING OF RELATIONSHIPS
"Saint Jude, we have problems in our relationship. 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, vanity, and childish self-seeking -- those hidden enemies of love and maturity. Show us that by learning to love and being filled with love, we may complement and nurture each other as we share our lives together."

PRAYER FOR HEALING OF MARRIAGE

"St. Jude, during your life you encouraged early Christian followers to remain loyal and true to their faith, even during the harshest circumstances. Like these followers, my spouse and I now find ourselves in need of renewed faith. Time and the pressures of the world have weakened our relationship. Please intercede for us and show us the way to heal our marriage. Open our hearts and minds to rededicate a new relationship guided by the love and commitment we once knew. Help us put aside any negative remnants of past deeds done and embark on a new union, in accordance with our Lord's principles."

SAMPLE MESSAGES OF THANKS FOR A REQUEST GRANTED
"Thank you God for answering my prayer; thank you St. Jude for interceding on my behalf. I will encourage devotion to you always."

"God, thank you for all the grace and favors which you have given me through the prayers of your Apostle, Jude Thaddeus. St. Jude, I thank you for your intercession in response to my prayers. I will always be grateful to you and will spread to devotion to you. Be with us always so we may face our problems with courage and serenity."