St. Jude novena prayer book 15^ ST, JUDE NOVENA (Every Thursday of the year) SHRINE OF SAINT JUDE OUR LADY’S CHAPEL FRANCISCAN FATHERS 572 Pleasant Street, New Bedford, Massachusetts OUR LADY'S CHAPEL Franciscan Fathers 572 Pleasant Street — New Bedford, Mass. Father David J. Fleming, O.F.M., Rector Telephone WYman 6-8274 SAINT JUDE DEVOTIONS EVERY THURSDAY 10:00 is.m., 12:30, 5:10, 7:00 and 8:00 p.m. Radio—WJDA (1300) Quincy, 11:05 a.m. WSAR (1440) Fall River, 8:45 p.m. DAILY MASSES 7:00 a.m., 8:00 a.m., 8:45 a.m., 10:00 a.m., 12:10 p.m. First Friday 6:00 a.m EVENING MASSES Every Thursday — 5:10 p.m. First Fridays — 5:10 p.m. Holy Days — 8:00 p.m. SUNDAY MASSES 1:30 a.m., 2:15 a.m., 5:15 a.m., 6:00 a.m., 6:15 a.m., 7:15 a.m., 8:15 a.m., 9:00 a.m. HOLY DAY MASSES 1:30 a.m., 2:15 a.m., 5:15 a.m., and every half hour until 12:15 p.m., and Evening Mass 8:00 p.m. CONFESSIONS Daily—8:30 a.m., to 9:00 p.m., (and before Morning Masses) Sundays and Holy Days—12:00 noon to 5:00 p.m. SAINT ANTHONY NOVENA Every Tuesday — after all Masses — and 3:00, 5:10 and 8:00 p.m. Radio-Tuesday WSAR (1480) Fall River - 7:45 p.m. ADORATION OF THE MOST BLESSED SACRAMENT Daily from 12:30 p.m., to 5:10 p.m., (Saturdays until midnight) and Sundays from 9:30 a:m., to 5:10 p.m. ROSARY AND BENEDICTION Daily — 5:10 p.m. Franciscan Mass League Enrollments for the Living and Deceased—Yearly $1.00, Perpetual $5.00 LIFE OF ST. JUDE THADDEUS “THE FORGOTTEN SAINT;” this is a title that is sometimes given to our saint. It is hard to conceive how any saint of God could really be forgotten by men, but this fact may be explained by a certain confusion of names. No doubt it was by reason of the shameful treason of another Jude, Judas Iscariot, that the name of a glorious apostle and martyr has suffered the forgetfulness of men. At all times therefore in our sketch of his life we shall refer to him not simply as St. Jude, but as Jude Thaddeus lest the name of the martyr be confounded with the name of the trait- or. Today more than ever is the merit of Jude Thaddeus being revived in the minds and the hearts of men. He in return is proving himself more than an ordinary ad- vocate taking special delight in coming to the aid of persons in desperate need. No petition seems too great for him whence he is known as the “Patron In Cases De- spaired Of.” Although the name Jude Thaddeus has been neglected in the de- votions of men it is nevertheless one of the oldest names in the calendar of Christ’s 3 Church. It has the sanction of antiquity dating back to the call of the Twelve. Devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary is ever new and vigorous simply because she is what she is, the great Mother of God. Nor will piety towards St. Joseph ever wither away and die being inseparately connected with the name of Jesus as his foster-father. The name of Jude Thaddeus, once it is known, should appeal to us for a similar reason, he also being closely allied to Our Blessed Lord by a blood relationship. This singular privilege came to him through St. Anne and St. Joachim, the parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Being a grandne- phew of these two holy souls he is at once a nephew of Joseph and Mary which of course places him in the relationship of cousin to Our Lord Himself. Proximity to Christ is always a valuable asset, yea even an indispensable one, to a saint, but when it is the nearness of actual relationship to the Saviour of mankind, it becomes a pow- erful incentive in making man try all the more to endear himself to that saint. St. Jude Thaddeus owed his inception into the world to Cleophas and Mary of Cleophas, his parents. His mother, Mary of Cleophas brought him up in a youth- hood of piety and innocence, both of which were fostered and augmented by the ever 4 outstanding example of Christ. This ex- ample was vouchsafed him even in his boy- hood years, for as cousin of the Saviour he must have frequently been in an inti- mate association with the Saviour of the world. What events made up the life of Jude Thaddeus up to the time of the call to apostleship are not known, but this much is certain, when the divine invitation was extended he not only embraced it, but never for a moment allowed his zeal to abate as an apostle. It was zeal and zeal alone which eventually brought to him the much coveted prize of martyrdom. He was not only an Apostle, but also one of the sacred writers. His work is known as “The Epistle of St. Jude.” Although only a very brief work of twenty-five verses, the shortest writing of the New Testament, it is remarkable for the strength and gran- deur of its language. Most of its contents are wonderfully well adapted to the time in which we live, for, the heresies and im- moralities of the Simonians and the Gnos- tics are with us even today. It was against these that St. Jude Thaddeus directed his writings. It seems also that he was one of the last of the twelve Apostles to die. He infers this when he writes “be mindful of the words which have been spoken before by the Apostles.” Proper names, in the early history of 5 mankind, were used not only to designate a certain person, but oftimes were ex- pressive of some trait, or traits peculiar to that person. The several names ascribed to our Saint are revelant, enabling us to understand more easily the success that was his all through his apostolic labors. In the Acts of the Apostles he is called simply “Jude,” in the Greek text of St. Matthew he is known as “Lebbeus,” and in the Vul- gate edition of the Bible we hear of him under the appellation of “Thaddeus.” The name Juda (or Jude) conveys the idea of confessions or praise, whence Jude would signify a man who boldly confesses Jeho- vah his God and gives ready praise to the Lord. “Lebbeus,” according to the ex- planation of St. Jerome, means a man of more than ordinary knowledge of the things of God. Both characteristics are in- valuable and indispensable in one who is called upon to be an Apostle, but of what worth is dauntless zeal and consummate wisdom if there is lack of understanding of the human side of life? Where there is a dearth of kindness and proper understand- ing of men the crumbs of eternal truth fall- ing from the lips of the exponent of the Word of God must necessarily be turned from manna into a bitter herb. How well Jude Thaddeus understood all this. True to his name “Thaddeus” he seemed to have 6 more than ordinary insight to the problems of those to whom he preached, and this was undoubtedly the secret of his success in his dealings with men . . . “Thaddeus” it must be remembered means sweetness and gen- tleness of character. His labors in Persia give us some idea of the difficulties which so often confronted him in his ministry. This country, infest- ed with magicians who employed their art to deceive, if possible, and foster pagan superstition, made it imperative that these imposters be definitely exposed once and for all times. Invariably St. Jude Thad- deus and his companion found traces of two special agents of Satan going in ad- vance of them trying to preclude if pos- sible the efficacy of their work. Their names were Zaroes and Arfaxat, skilled magicians employing their nefarious trick- ery to dupe the ignorant into a belief of the power of pagan idols to hear and grant requests. The opportunity presented itself to make a complete exposure of the work of these magicians. God gave a special power to Jude Thaddeus. In his presence the idols were forced to speak, when com- manded by him, to confess the One True God. Then the demons inhabitating the idols were ordered to leave and in so do- ing the pagan statues fell to the ground and were dashed into a thousand pieces 7 amid a howl of infernal rage. But it was the instigators themselves, the magicians, whom our saint was anxious to meet face to face that he might bring them to the Justice of God. On being informed that they had located themselves in the camp of the Persian army no time was lost by Jude in gaining entrance to the camp. Ver- ardach, the commander-in-chief, ordered St. Jude Thaddeus to advance and make known his mission. Fearless he cried out: “We serve Jesus Christ, and have come to bring you eternal life if you abandon your errors and your worship of the gods.” It was a bold assertion to make in the camp of an enemy, but the commander was in- terested nevertheless, this due to the fact that he had already been informed of the above episode, the fall of the pagan idols at the saint’s command. The commander promised to hear more of the mission of the saint once the onslaught of the im- pending battle was over. Anxious to know the outcome of the ensuing battle and thinking that perhaps our saint might en- lighten him he lost no time in approach- ing St. Jude Thaddeus on the subject. The saint first commanded the idols to make reply to the question. The answer, not too favorable, came back that the war would be long and tedious with many perishing on both sides. At this the commander was 8 very much perplexed and worried. Then the Apostle with great joy exclaimed, “Fear not, Oh Prince! Thy gods lie! To- morrow at this very hour ambassadors will arrive from the enemy’s camp to de- mand peace; they will accept all the con- ditions you propose and will become your tributaries.” So completely was the oracle fulfilled that it was only the intercession of St. Jude Thaddeus that kept the two wicked magicians from a fate of being burned alive at the stake. Throughout his entire ministry St. Jude Thaddeus was subject to all sorts of per- secution and suffering. Our Lord predict- ed this very thing concerning His Apostles . . . they would be reviled and oftimes re- jected. Notwithstanding his great success it must be remembered that our saint at all times had to deal with a hard people, a people steeped in the dregs of immoral- ity. They were loath to surrender im- pure habits sanctioned by a custom of long standing. But the acceptance of Chris- tianity meant customs diametrically op- posed to this, whence the doctrine of the All-Pure Christ was obnoxious to their pagan ears. It was this very thing that provoked and eventually brought about his martyrdom and death and those unwilling to embrace the new doctrine waited im- patiently for the day when vengeance 9 could be meted out. The eventful day came, a day of victory for the enemies, but a day of great joy for Jude Thaddeus now that the coveted prize was within reach. It is a custom in the Church to represent her martyrs in statuary with the instrument of torture that made possible for them the crown of immortality. St. Stephen is rep- resented with stones as an emblem upon his shield signifying that he was stoned to death for Christ; the emblem of St. Peter and his brother is the cross, of St. Paul the sword, of St. Lawrence a gridiron, of St. Sebastian an arrow, etc. These were the instruments of their combat and victory. And so we have Jude Thaddeus represent- ed with a club in his hand, not that he used it in combat, but to make known to us that it was with this that he was put to death for Christ. Tradition tells us that after he was clubbed into insensibility his head was severed from his body with a broadax. The Church assures us that his pure soul winged its way heavenward immediately after his martyrdom and that his name was written in beaming letters of gold at the base of the throne of the Most High. St. Jude Thaddeus, the “Forgotten Saint” . . . forgotten by men perhaps, but not by God. St. Jude Thaddeus is represented as wearing a miniature of Our Lord upon his 10 breast. Tradition tells us that when the fame of Our Lord’s miracles had reached the king of Edessa (in which country our saint preached and established a church) the king being afflicted with the terrible malady of leprosy sent a messenger to Our Lord beseeching Him to come and heal him. When the unfortunate king was in- formed that Our Lord could not gratify his request, he sent an artist to Jerusalem that he might obtain at least a portrait of the Master. Tradition relates that on see- ing Christ, the poor artist was so blinded by the divine brightness emanating from the face of Christ that he was powerless to trace even so much as a line. Our Lord, moved with compassion and wishing to console the afflicted king, held a cloth to1 His own face leaving thereon the image of His own countenance. He then gave it to the poor artist with the injunction to carry it back to the ruler, at the same time promising to send some one to* cure him. Tradition has it that Jude Thaddeus was the one commissioned by Christ to perform the miracle. St. Jude needed no creden- tials. He was immediately recognized as the promised one. The first words of greeting to the king were, “Thou hast faith in the Lord Jesus, therefore He sent me.” St. Jude then placed his hands upon the king and the hideous sores of leprosy dis- 11 appeared with a cure that was both instan- taneous and complete. It is related that such were the subsequent miracles of Jude Thaddeus that, not only the king and his court, but well nigh the entire kingdom of Edessa were converted to the cause of Christ. This incident is given by us to explain the meaning of the miniature of Christ portrayed on the breast of our saint whenever he is represented in statues and pictures. His last mortal remains now lie in the great basilica of St. Peter in Rome. Pope Paul III, in a brief dated September 22, 1548, granted a plenary indulgence to all who would visit his tomb on the day com- memorating his death, October 28 . . . the date of his feast. This, we believe, is a very significant fact, for, plenary indul- gences were rarely granted at that time It is proof manifest that his intercessory power must have been felt then in no mean manner. All the saints, of course, have power with God since they are the special friends of God, but the fact cannot be de- nied that some have been permitted to make their influence felt more than others. The why and the wherefore belongs to God alone. The history of St. Jude Thaddeus both as to his sojourn upon earth and his relation to his clients now, prove that God 12 has vouchsafed him an extraordinary pow- er in cases where others have failed. It is es- pecially in difficult cases that his wonder- ful help is experienced. Thousands have implored his aid and have lived to see their prayers answered in an extraordinary and even miraculous manner even when to all human calculation the petition seemed hopeless, Venerable Columba, a Domini- can nun, was a most ardent devotee of St. Jude, and she lived to see many a petition of grave and serious nature granted through his prayers. Another client among the saints was none other than the immor- tal St. Bernard of Clairvaux. During his entire life he never ceased to invoke St. Jude Thaddeus and to make use of his relic when the dark clouds of adversity sur- rounded him. When saint calls upon saint we who are sinners should take courage and invoke that one, as St. Bernard did when he sought the prayers of St. Jude. Even though it be a malady defying all human skill, even though it be a sickness for which there is no apparent remedy, even though it be anguish of soul and dis- tress of heart, poverty, misery, yea even despair, go to Jude Thaddeus, cousin of Our Lord, and he will show you a way out of your troubles, if not through your own solution, at least by a better one conceived 13 of in the mind of the One above us all and in us all. There is no problem so perplexing for which St. Jude Thaddeus, “Patron In Cases Despaired Of,” cannot find a solu- tion, thereby bringing joy and gladness to your heart. Many are the ways of incurring the favor of Saint Jude Thaddeus. Some approach by making systematic visits to the Blessed Sacrament, as for example nine consecu- tive weekly Holy Hours offered as a no- vena, others by making a consecutive num- ber of communions in honor, others by means of a triduum or novena of Masses, others by participating in the public sol- emn novenas held at the Shrine. Choose whichever way pleases you most so long as you remember that the surest way to ap- proach St. Jude Thaddeus is to prove your- self worthy of the divine favor. St. Jude Thaddeus, pray for us. May your good prayers be answered through him so that once you have learned to know him, you will have proof manifest of your gratitude by spreading love and devotion to “The Un- known Saint” and “Patron In Difficult and Despaired Of Cases.” 14 NOVENA PRAYERS In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen. Blessed be the Holy and Undivided Trinity now and forever. Amen. We fly to thy patronage, O holy Mother of God. Despise not our petitions in our necessi- ties, but deliver us from all dangers, O ever Glorious and Blessed Virgin. Prayer in Trials Most holy Apostle, St. Jude, — faithful ser- vant and friend of Jesus, — the name of the traitor who delivered thy beloved Master into the hands of His enemies — has caused thee to be forgotten by many — but the Church honors and invokes thee universally as the patron of hopeless cases of things despaired of. Pray for me who am so miserable; — make use I implore thee, of that particular privilege ac- corded to thee — to bring visible and speedy help where help is almost despaired of. — Come to my assistance in this great need that I may receive the consolations and succor of Heaven —in all my necessities, tribulations and suffer- ings — particularly (here make your request) and that I may bless God with thee and all the elect for ever. 15 I promise thee (J blessed St. Jude, — to be ever mindful of this great favor — and I will never cease to honor thee as my special and powerful patron — and to do all in my power to encourage devotion to thee. Amen. May the most just, most high, and most adorable will of God be in all things done, praised and magnified, forever and ever. Amen. Praise and Thanksgiving O most sweet Lord Jesus Christ, — in union with the unutterable heavenly praise — with which the Most Holy Trinity extols itself — and which thence flows upon Thy Sacred Hu- manity, r- upon Mary, — upon all the angels and saints, — I praise, glorify and bless Thee — for all the graces and privileges Thou hast be- stowed upon Thy chosen apostle — and intimate friend, Jude Thaddeus; — I pray Thee for the sake of his merits; — grant me Thy grace, — and through his intercession come to my aid in all my needs, — but especially at the hour of my death — deign to strengthen me against the rage of my enemies. Amen. St. Jude, Model of Humility, Mirror of Pa- tience, Lily of Chastity, Flame of Divine Love, intercede for us! St. Jude, Comfort of the Sorrowing, Refuge of Sinners, Helper of the Distressed, Special Patron in Hopeless Cases, intercede for us! 16 FIRST DAY St. Jude and the Christ Child O Blessed Saint Jude Thaddeus, because of thy relationship to Christ, thou wert privileged in thine own tender years to share intimately in the Blessed Childhood of Christ. Thou knowest, therefore, how dearly His Sacred Heart loved the Innocence and Simplicity of Childhood; for He has said '‘Unless you become as little children, you cannot enter into the kingdom of heaven.” Constant yielding to temptations down thru the years has deprived me of my early Innocence; daily contact with the world has dulled my Simplicity. During the course of this Novena, I wish to regain these virtues. Dear Saint, obtain for me this return to the Innocence and Simplicity of Childhood so that I may share more intimately in the Love of Jesus. 17 SECOND DAY Mary, Thy Mother and Mine O happy Cousin of our Saviour, thou hadst the ineffable joy of seeing the intimate bond of love that joined Mary to Jesus. To you it was given to see Him perform His first public miracle at her request; a sure sign of her great influence with Him. O Great Saint, you ex- perienced her great Mother Love and saw it extended to all mankind by Jesus Himself from the cross. Exercise your power of intercession with her in my behalf, so that despite my many faults and failings, she may constantly enfold me with her mantle of love and protection, to the end that I may obtain my special re- quest, and above all, eternal happiness. 18 THIRD DAY Thy Calling and Mine O Glorious Apostle, thine was the inestim- able honor of having Jesus call thee personally to be one of His chosen followers. There could be no doubt in thy heart or mind about thy vo- cation because thou wert face to face with Christ when He called thee to be an Apostle. What joy was thine over this selection! What zeal arose in thy heart to do His every bid- ding, even though it led to death! Dear Apostle, share thy joy with me; and by that zeal with which thou didst follow Christ in His journeys about Palestine, obtain for me a like zeal for Christ’s interests; that I may do His Will in all things. 19 FOURTH DAY Thy Faith and Mine O Saintly Follower of Christ, thou remem- berest thy bewilderment when the people left Jesus after His promise to give all men His Flesh to eat and His Blood to drink. Thou couldst not understand, but thy faith remained firm. Thy faith was rewarded by receiving His Body and Blood in First Holy Communion from His Own Sacred Hands. With this in mind, I beseech thee to obtain for me a deeper faith in the Word of God, and a more fervent and active love of Jesus in the most Holy Eu- charist. May His Body and Blood be my salva- tion and not my condemnation. 20 FIFTH DAY Thy Suffering and Mine O Forgotten Saint! Deep was the anguish that overwhelmed thee during the passion of thy beloved Master! Thou hadst seen Him lavish His love and His gifts on men; thou hadst seen Him give sight to the blind, heal the lame and raise the dead to life. And when the sel- fish cruelty of men raised Him on the Cross of Suffering, and then laid Him away from thee in the tomb — thy anguish knew no bounds. By the bitter sorrow which thou didst experience then, have pity on me now, in my hour of trial. Come to my assistance and ask thy beloved Master to grant me the grace and consolation I seek in this bitter moment. 21 SIXTH DAY Thy Source of Inspiration and Mine O Inspired Saint! To thee it was given to receive the Third Person of the Blessed Trinity, the Holy Ghost, under the visible form of a fiery Tongue. Thou didst know what it meant to hide in fear and trembling from the wrath of men, until the Holy Ghost came with His gifts. Obtain for me those same gifts, that under the inspiration of God the Holy Ghost, I may understand God’s Will in my particular trial, that I may act prudently in all things, and that I may persevere in the service of God despite trials, temptations and persecutions. 22 SEVENTH DAY Thy Apostolate and Mine O Zealous Apostle! Having received from Christ, thy Master, the commission to teach all nations, thou didst spread the doctrines of Thy Divine Cousin far and wide. No distance was too great; no labor too difficult; no persecution too strong to keep thee from the fulfillment of thy vocation. Thou didst teach not by word alone, but also by thy example. O Beloved Apostle! intercede for me that I too, by co- operating with God’s Grace, may be able to bring the knowledge and love of God into the lives of others by my words and my manner of living. 23 EIGHTH DAY Thy Power and My Weakness O Beloved Servant of God, because of thy zeal in God’s service, and because of thy holi- ness of life, thou didst receive visible assistance from God in fulfilling thy holy calling. To thee God gave the power of performing miracles to ;soften the obdurate hearts and lead them back to Him. Thy power was used to show forth the glory and splendor of thy Creator. Invoke that power once again, I beseech thee, in my behalf. Ask God to grant my petition if it be His Holy Will; and I will never again stray from His service. 24 NINTH DAY Thy Life and Mine O Happy Martyr! God gave thee the ex- ceptional privilege of closing thy holy and use- ful life at the hands of bloody executioners. During thy life thou didst imitate Jesus in preaching, teaching and leading souls to salva- tion. Like Him, thou didst endure sufferings and persecutions; and finally, like Him, thou didst offer thy life as final proof of thy faith. Plead for me with Jesus who was martyred for my sins, that I too, may have the grace to fight against all trials and temptations that might lead me away from Him.; that I may persevere in my faith, and if needs be, to die for it. 25 Benediction of the Most Blessed Sacrament O Salutaris Hostia, Quae Coeli pandis ostium: Bella premunt hostilia Da robur, fer auxilium. Uni trinoque Domino Sit sempiterna gloria: Qui vitam sine termino Nobis donet in patria. Amen. Tantum ergo Sacramentum Veneremur cernui Et antiquum documentum Novo cedat ritui: Praestet tides supplementum Sensuum defectui. Genitori, Genitoque Laus et jubilatio. Salus, honor, virtus quoque Sit et benedictio, Procedenti ab utroque Compar sit laudatio. Amen. Panem de coelo praestitisti eis, Omne deleetamentum in se habentem. 26 "COME HOLY GHOST” Come Holy Ghost, Creator blest And in our souls take up Thy rest, Come with Thy grace and heavenly aid, To fill the hearts which Thou hast made. To fill the hearts which Thou hast made. MOTHER DEAR, 0 PRAY FOR ME Mother dear, O pray for me! Whilst from heaven and thee I wander in a fragile bark O’er life’s tempestuous sea O Virgin Mother, from thy throne So bright in bliss above Protect thy child and cheer my path With thy sweet smile of love! Mother dear, remember me And never cease thy care Till in heaven eternally, Thy love and bliss I share! 27 HYMN OF THANKSGIVING Holy God, we praise Thy Name! Lord of all, we bow before Thee! All on earth Thy sceptre claim, All in heaven above* adore Thee: Chorus Infinite Thy vast domain, Everlasting is Thy Name. Hark, the loud celestial hymn Angel choirs above are raising, Cherubim and Seraphim In unceasing chorus praising. Nihil Obstat: ARTHUR J. SCANLAN, S.T.D. Censor Librorum Imprimatur t FRANCIS JOSEPH SPELLMAN, D.D. Archbishop of New York July 13, 1939 PERPETUAL NOVENA DEVOTIONS TO SAINT JUDE Every Thursday 10:00 a.m., 12:30, 5:10, 7 and 8 p.m. Radio: 11:05 a.m. — WJDA, Quincy — 1300 on dial. 8:45 p.m. — WSAR, Fall River — 1480 on dial.