The Saint of Miracles

After my father passed away, I had been going through a lot of other things that left me feeling down and out for quite some time. Dad’s passing didn’t help much, but for a couple of weeks, I did find myself teetering on the edge of sanity, wondering if anything in my life would ever settle down and give me some peace of mind.

In the brink of desperation, a thought occurred to me.  Maybe I should pray.

As a young girl, well into my teens and early adulthood, I used to pray a lot. But life got in the way… my doubts about my faith and my Religion made me start losing faith in prayer.

I suppose it’s true what they say that there comes a point in time when you feel you have no alternatives or options left — so you just inevitably turn to God.

And that, I did.

And then some.

I’ve heard that there are particular Saints for particular petitions you ask for.

One particular Saint resonated with me, not just because my husband’s named after him as well… but because he was known as the Saint of the Impossible. The Saint of Miracles.

St. Jude Thaddeus. One of the 12 apostles of Jesus Christ… and not to be mistaken for Judas Escariot. The Saint turned to for impossible causes.

I prayed a novena to him 3 straight times — which means 9 days x 3. 27 days of prayer while going about my normal everyday business in a desperate cry for peace of mind.

Part of this novena is a promise I made to spread the word about prayer to him, prayer to God, and prayer in general.

Whatever the outcome of this 27-day devotion, I have yet to see. Answers to prayers don’t come in the blink of an eye. But I do know that as the days go by, the act of praying has brought some measure of peace in my heart that somewhere in this World, there’s someone and something looking after me.

Below is the prayer I recited 9 times a day for 9 days, in 3 rounds. You don’t need to do 3 rounds. Just do as many as you see fit until your soul is ready to let go and trust God.

—-

Start with: 3 Our Fathers, 3 Hail Marys, 3 Glory Bes

O Holy St. Jude, Apostle and Martyr; great in virtue and rich in miracles; faithful kinsman of Jesus Christ; faithful intercessor of all who invoke your special patronage in time of need  — to you I have recourse from the depth of my heart to humbly beg to whom God has given such great power to come to my assistance.

Help me in present and urgent petition. In return, I promise to make your name known and cause you to be invoked. St. Jude, pray for us and all who invoke your aid.

May the Sacred Heart of Jesus be adored and loved in all tabernacles of the world until the end of time, Amen. May the most Sacred Heart of Jesus be praised and glorified now and forever. Amen. St. Jude, pray for me and hear our prayers.

Blessed be the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

Blessed be the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

Blessed be St. Jude Thaddeus in all the World, and for all eternity.

St. Jude, glorious apostle, faithful servant and friend of Jesus; the name of the traitor has caused you to be forgotten by many. But as the true Church invokes you universally as the patron of things despaired of; pray for me who am so miserable. Pray for me that I may finally receive the consolation and succor of heaven in all my necessities, sufferings and tribulations, particularly that of (state intention) and that I may Bless God with the Elect through eternity.

I promise you, O Blessed Jude, to be ever mindful of this great favor; to always honor you as my special and powerful patron; and to do all in my power to gratefully encourage devotion to you. Amen.