A Novena to Saint Jude and the Sacred Heart of Jesus

Saint Jude is a busy saint. Along with Saint Anthony of Padua and the Blessed Virgin Mary, he hears a lot of novenas. It's not surprising, of course, that Catholics turn to him; after all, he is known as the patron saint of lost causes, a worker of miracles, and the help of the hopeless.

This short novena to Saint Jude and the Sacred Heart of Jesus is traditionally prayed nine times per day (all at once or spread throughout the day) for nine days. It is then published—an act which can be as simple as sending it to your friends by e-mail or posting it in an online forum, placing an ad in the classified section of a newspaper or on the back of your church bulletin, or printing up copies to leave at your parish church.

A Novena to Saint Jude and the Sacred Heart of Jesus

May the Sacred Heart of Jesus be adored, glorified, loved, and preserved throughout the world, now and forever.

Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us.

St. Jude, worker of miracles, pray for us.

St. Jude, help for the hopeless, pray for us.

An Explanation of the Novena to Saint Jude and the Sacred Heart of Jesus

At first glance, the combination of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and Saint Jude in one novena seems like overkill. Isn't a prayer to one or the other sufficient? But when we remember that Saint Jude is the patron saint of lost causes—of those in danger of giving up hope—the prayer suddenly makes sense. Christ's love for mankind, expressed in the image of His Sacred Heart, is the source of the theological virtue of hope. The promotion of devotion to the Sacred Heart reminds those in danger of despair that there is always hope so long as they turn to Christ.

Definitions of Words Used in the Novena to Saint Jude and the Sacred Heart of Jesus

Sacred Heart: represented as a physical heart, which serves as a symbol of His humanity, the Sacred Heart of Jesus represents Christ's love for all mankind

Adored: something that is worshiped or venerated; in this case, the Sacred Heart of Jesus

Glorified: something is praised and worship or acknowledged to be worthy of praise; in this case, the Sacred Heart

Preserved: something kept alive in the hearts and minds of men; in this case, the Sacred Heart

Miracles: events not explainable by the laws of nature, which are therefore attributed to the work of God, often through the intercession of saints (in this case, Saint Jude)

Hopeless: literally without hope or in despair; when used theologically, however, it is meant metaphorically, as in someone whose situation seems hopeless, because no one is without hope so long as he or she has recourse to God