Novena to St. Jude
St. Jude Thaddeus, apostle and patron of hopeless causes, is the saint Filipinos turn to when nothing else has worked. This is the nine-day prayer, as it is prayed at his shrine in Manila.
Who St. Jude is
Jude Thaddeus was one of the twelve apostles, a relative of Jesus, and the writer of the short letter of Jude near the end of the New Testament. For centuries he was seldom prayed to, because his name was so easily confused with Judas Iscariot. That, the tradition says, is why he is so eager to help the people who finally do ask: the ones whose cases seem hopeless.
In Manila, the National Shrine of St. Jude beside Malacañang fills every Thursday with people bringing exactly those cases: a diagnosis, a visa, a child who has gone quiet, a marriage, a job. Many have prayed the novena for years.
What a novena is
A novena is the same prayer said for nine days in a row, from the Latin novem, nine. The number comes from the nine days the apostles spent in prayer between the Ascension and Pentecost. Nine days is long enough to mean it and short enough to keep.
You can begin on any day. If you miss one, do not start over; simply continue the next day. What matters is that you come back.
A prayer you can say
Most holy Apostle, St. Jude, faithful servant and friend of Jesus, the Church honors and invokes you universally as the patron of hopeless cases, of things almost despaired of.
Pray for me, I am so helpless and alone. Make use, I implore you, of that particular privilege given to you, 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 consolation and help of heaven in all my necessities, tribulations and sufferings, particularly (here mention your petition), and that I may praise God with you and all the elect forever.
I promise, O blessed St. Jude, to be ever mindful of this great favor, to always honor you as my special and powerful patron, and to gratefully encourage devotion to you. Amen.
St. Jude, friend of Jesus and patron of what seems hopeless, I bring you what I cannot carry: (mention your petition).
Pray for me, and pray for everyone who is bringing you the same tonight. Give me the patience to wait, the eyes to see the answer when it comes, and the heart to give thanks. Amen.
How to pray it
- Choose a time you can keep for nine days, morning or night.
- Say an Our Father, a Hail Mary and a Glory Be.
- Say the prayer to St. Jude, and name your petition where it says to.
- Sit with it a moment before you go on with your day.
- On the ninth day, whatever has happened, end with thanks.
Other prayers
Last revised September 29, 2026