Pray with St Jude
Entrust a trial to God, ask for strength, rediscover hope, or simply give thanks.
You can begin with the prayer that best corresponds to what you are experiencing. You do not need to read the entire page, find perfect words, or feel anything in particular.
These prayers are offered to accompany you. You can read them slowly, pause over a sentence, or speak to God in your own words.
Why ask for St Jude’s intercession?
In the Catholic faith, asking for a saint’s intercession means asking that saint to pray for us before God. We can thus turn to St Jude as a brother in faith, united with Christ.
We do not worship St Jude or attribute any independent power to him. We ask him to accompany us through his prayer. The Catechism reminds us that the saints intercede for us and for the whole world. Catechism of the Catholic Church, no. 2683
Our trust rests in God. Prayer is not a way to obtain a result through a formula; it is a relationship with God in which we present our needs to him and open ourselves to his will. Catechism of the Catholic Church, nos. 2734–2741
How can you begin?
If you can, take a moment of quiet. You may make the sign of the cross:
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Present to God what is in your heart: a worry, someone you love, a decision, a joy, or a difficulty you do not yet know how to express.
Then choose a prayer. You can conclude with a few moments of silence or with the Lord’s Prayer.
Your medal can remind you of this practice, but it is not necessary in order to pray.
A simple prayer
To turn to God, even when words fail.
Lord Jesus Christ,
I come to you as I am today:
with my faith and my questions,
my joys, my worries, and my limitations.
Receive what I carry in my heart.
Teach me to listen to your word
and to recognize the opportunities to love
that you place along my path.
St Jude, apostle of the Lord,
pray for me.
Ask God to strengthen my faith,
sustain my hope,
and help me grow in charity.
Lord, enlighten my decisions.
Give me the strength to do the good that is possible for me
and to entrust to you what lies beyond me.
May your Spirit guide me today
and help me move forward with you.
Amen.
A prayer in times of trial
To entrust a difficult situation to God, whether for yourself or for someone else.
Father of mercy,
you know the trial I am going through.
You know my fears, my weariness,
and the questions for which I can find no answer.
I entrust this situation to you
and all those it affects.
You may silently name your intention here.
Through Jesus Christ, your Son,
I ask for the help I need:
relief, light, and the strength to continue.
St Jude, faithful apostle of Christ,
pray for me in this trial.
Ask the Lord to sustain me
when I no longer know how to move forward.
Father, help me discern the next step,
ask for help,
and welcome those who can support me.
In uncertainty, keep me in your love.
May your Spirit give me courage and discernment.
Amen.
A prayer of hope
For moments of discouragement and paths whose outcome we cannot yet see.
Lord Jesus,
when the future seems closed to me,
help me not to reduce my life
to what is causing me pain today.
Let the hope rooted in your love
grow within me.
Help me recognize small signs of goodness,
the possibilities that remain open,
and the hands reaching out to me.
St Jude, witness to Christ,
pray that I may persevere in trust,
without denying my difficulties
or pretending to be stronger than I am.
Lord, teach me patience
when answers are slow in coming,
courage when a decision must be made,
and humility when I need support.
May your Spirit renew my heart
and help me take a life-giving and loving action today.
Amen.
A prayer of thanksgiving
To thank God for help received, a joy, or someone’s presence.
God our Father,
I thank you for the gifts I have received,
for the people who have accompanied me,
and for the good I can recognize in my life.
Today I offer you my gratitude.
You may silently name what you would like to thank God for.
Thank you for the strength found in difficult times,
for light along my path,
and for the acts of kindness that have sustained me.
St Jude, apostle of Jesus Christ,
thank you for praying for us.
Pray that my gratitude may become
care for others, generosity, and fidelity to the Gospel.
Father, keep me close to those who are still waiting for help.
Teach me to share without imposing anything
and to love without seeking a reward.
Through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Amen.
Praying without judging yourself
You can pray with confidence while still experiencing doubt, sadness, or silence. Not feeling peace immediately does not mean that your prayer is wrong.
None of these prayers guarantees healing or the resolution of a problem. A difficulty that persists is not a measure of a person’s faith.
Prayer can accompany the steps needed to receive help. It does not replace medical care or professional support. You can also speak with a priest or someone you trust.
Continue for nine days
If you would like to continue this practice, a novena to St Jude offers nine days of prayer centered on an intention.
The aim is not to obtain a result after a particular number of recitations, but to take time regularly to turn to God, persevere in trust, and pray for others as well.
The four prayers on this page are original compositions offered by Saint Jude Medals for personal prayer. They are not official liturgical texts.
Through St Jude, lead hearts to Christ.