St Jude Thaddeus is one of the twelve apostles. Because his name recalls Judas Iscariot, believers long did not call on him. For that very reason he is regarded today as a helper in hopeless situations.
Who was Jude Thaddeus?
Jude Thaddeus is one of the twelve apostles (Luke 6:16; Acts 1:13). In the Gospel of John he asks a question at the Last Supper (John 14:22). The Epistle of Jude in the New Testament is traditionally attributed to him. According to tradition he worked as a missionary in Syria and Persia and died as a martyr together with the apostle Simon. This is not established.
Legend and tradition
One legend names the club as the instrument of his martyrdom. Another connects him with King Abgar of Edessa and an image of Christ. Both are tradition.
Feast day
The feast day of St Jude Thaddeus is 28 October, together with the apostle Simon. Regional and denominational calendars may differ.
Patronage
- People in seemingly hopeless causes
- The desperate and the forsaken
“Patron saint” means that people ask this saint to intercede for them with God. No guarantee or promise of miracles is attached to it.
Attributes and depiction
Jude Thaddeus is depicted with a club or an axe, a medallion bearing an image of Christ and sometimes a flame above his head. The flame recalls Pentecost.
A short prayer
St Jude Thaddeus, you know times without hope. Pray for me when I do not know which way to turn. Give me trust that God walks even the difficult path with me. Amen.
A simple prayer in our own words, to pray along.
Customs
On his feast day, 28 October, many parishes hold devotions and novenas. Devotion to him as a helper in difficult situations spread especially in the 19th and 20th centuries.
Today
The veneration of Jude Thaddeus shows how people look for support in hard times. Anyone who calls on him does not need to do anything special: an honest, short prayer is enough. Many write their request on a slip of paper or light a candle. What matters is the attitude behind it: you entrust yourself to God and ask the saint to pray with you. A holy picture or a small medal can serve as a reminder. Around 28 October parishes often offer a novena, nine days of shared prayer that can also be prayed at home. Anyone called Thaddeus celebrates their name day on this day.
Matching items at LUNEXUS
- St Jude Thaddeus – hand-carved wooden statue from South Tyrol
- Olive wood holding cross 9 cm – blessed, Bethlehem
- Olive wood comfort cross – handcrafted in Bethlehem
A holding cross or comfort cross sits comfortably in the hand while praying and can accompany the novena.
The wooden statues from our woodcarving workshop are hand-carved in Val Gardena (South Tyrol) and come directly from the workshop: delivery time approx. 3–4 weeks, insured shipping to Germany and Austria only (€6.90). The statues are not blessed in our warehouse, and the 14-day statutory right of withdrawal applies to them.
Many, but not all, of our items are blessed in our own warehouse by a Catholic priest from the Diocese of Fulda. A business-card-sized certificate card showing the date of the blessing is then enclosed; whether an item is blessed is stated in its title or description. Shipped via Amazon's logistics network – free within Germany, €5.90 to Austria and France; Italy €6.90, Spain €6.90. Returns are possible within 30 days.
More to choose from: saint statues from South Tyrol and all patron saints. Parishes and groups will find an offer on request on the quantity discount page (does not apply to wooden statues from the woodcarving workshop).
Keep reading in the magazine: How to pray the rosary: a beginner’s guide
Frequently asked questions
When is the feast day of St Jude Thaddeus?
The feast day is 28 October, together with the apostle Simon.
Why is he invoked in hopeless cases?
Because his name was easily confused with that of Judas Iscariot, he was long avoided; later many believers came to see him as an intercessor precisely in situations where no one else can help.
Is Jude Thaddeus the same as Judas Iscariot?
No. Judas Iscariot was the betrayer; Jude Thaddeus was a different apostle.
Sources: Ökumenisches Heiligenlexikon (Ecumenical Lexicon of Saints), the Martyrologium Romanum and the regional calendar for the German-speaking area. We flag legends as such; prayers are, unless stated otherwise, our own simple wording. Compiled by Denis & Belinda, as of October 2026.
