Why Is St. Jude the Patron Saint of Lost Causes?

Why is St. Jude the patron saint of lost causes?

A candle of St. Jude. / Credit: Francesca Pollio/CNA CNA Staff, Oct 28, 2025 / 04:00 am (CNA). On Oct. 28, the Catholic Church celebrates the feast of St. Jude, also known as Thaddeus, one of Jesus’ 12 apostles.He is believed to have written the Letter of Jude, one of the shortest books of the Bible, and is thought to have been martyred in Beirut around 65 A.D. He is typically depicted with a club or axe, symbolizing the way he died, as well as …

Feast of St. Jude (Oct. 28): Why is he the patron saint of lost causes? - Biweekly Newspaper for the Diocese of Richmond %

On Oct. 28, the Catholic Church celebrates the feast of St. Jude, also known as Thaddeus, one of Jesus’ 12 apostles. He is believed to have written the Letter of Jude, one of the shortest books of the Bible, and is thought to have been martyred in Beirut around 65 A.D. He is typically depicted with a club or axe, symbolizing the way he died, as well as with a flame above his head, which refers to Pentecost. Although Jude is not mentioned much in…