St. Jude, Friend of Jesus, Pray for Us

Even though I have been a parishioner at St. Jude's Parish throughout my life, I never truly appreciated devotion to this particular saint, that is, until I discovered how others see him as their last refuge and hope.

While I was in college, I worked at my home parish during the summers, cutting grass and helping with small maintenance jobs. During work one day, I discovered a white envelope tucked in the nook which holds a statue of St. Jude. On the envelope was written, "Open me. I need help."

St. Jude Shrine

Concerned, I tore open the envelope and found a handwritten note along with two dollars worth of coins. The note was heartbreaking. A woman was desperate. Her marital and familial relationships were unraveling. Her career was ending. And her financial situation was dire. She felt betrayed, confused, and lost. This anonymous woman was at the end of her rope. In her desperation, she turned to St. Jude. The note instructed whoever found it to use the money to light a candle at the parish shrine to St. Jude. "Please pray for me," the woman ended the note, "please, St. Jude, help me." 

So I went and prayed. I don't know the name of this woman. And I don't know how her situation was resolved. But I do know that in faith, she turned to St. Jude. This woman trusted that the patron saint of those in desperate situations must be a close friend of Jesus. In asking the finder of her note to pray to St. Jude on her behalf, this woman also put her faith in the other friends of Jesus: you and me.

The faith of this woman has challenged me to always strive to be an authentic friend of Jesus. To be a friend of Jesus means to walk with others in their desperate moments, to accompany them through the pains and struggles of life, to share the joy of Jesus' saving word and activity, and to try to restore broken lives with prayer, gentleness, and hope.

This is the experience of those who turn to St. Jude for his intercessory prayer and aide. They know him to be a friend of Jesus. Hopefully, when we encounter others in such desperate situations, they too will see us as friends of Jesus.

St. Jude, friend of Jesus, pray for us!