St. Jude

Today, in the Western Church, we celebrate the feast of St. Jude (and St. Simon). Jude was one of the Apostles and has, in popular devotion, become known as the patron of hopeless and desperate causes. I grew up with images of St. Jude like the one I have posted and the thing I was always focused on was the flame on top of his head. I remember thinking "wow, he must be praying so hard for all those hopeless cases that his head just burst into flame."

I eventually learned that the flame was a symbol of the descent of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost, and as that seems like a little more of a theological basis for the image, I've decided to go with that as the explanation.

But sometimes, a little child's understanding of what they see, has a greater truth to it. Go into any church that has a statue or image of St. Jude (usually these are Roman Catholic churches) and, after the Virgin Mary, the most candles are lit for the prayers of St. Jude. I often visited a church in New York City, which was then close to my work, in which I would find lines of people waiting to light candles for their hopeless cases. I can remember many times just sitting there praying for each person in that line, wondering who or what in their life was so hopeless.

Life can be so difficult for people in so many different ways, disease, addictions, abandonment a but a few of the examples. And it can be so difficult for peoples, caught in the grip of dire poverty, endless war, outrageous oppression. And that's why a devotion to St. Jude and his aid in hopeless situations is so very human and so very faithful. We know that Jesus told us "if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'move from here to there,' and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you." (Mt 17:21). But when we look at some of the hopelessness in our own lives, or in the lives of those we love, or in the world, sometimes we just need our friends, including our saint friends, like St. Jude, to help us remember our faith. Remember, you do not have to have faith the size of the mountain to move that mountain - just the size of a mustard seed. St. Jude is there to help.

So, today, let us pray for all the hopeless cases in our lives - people and situations that seem beyond redemption, remembering that no person is beyond redemption. And let us pray for all those places in our world, where there is endless violence and despair, and remember that these situations are not beyond the help of God's tender compassion. Let us hope and hope and  hope. And then let us hope some more.

St. Jude pray for us.

Peace be upon you.