Saint of the Week: St. Jude
8/27/2025
St. Jude / Judas Thaddeus
Apostle
1st Century AD
Unlike Apostles Peter and John, Jude was one of Jesus’ more mysterious, lesser-known followers. He receives but token mention in the Synoptic Gospels, the gospel of John, and the book of Acts. The two Judes (or Judases) completed Jesus’ circle of 12 disciples, but were distinguished by their surnames, Iscariot and Thaddeus. Judas Thaddeus’ identity is even more confusing since some verses refer to him as the brother of Jesus and James (Matt 13:55; Mark 6:3) and another identifies him as the son of James (Luke 6:16). Tradition says he was the son of Cleopas and Mary, the Virgin Mary’s cousin. Only in the gospel of John is Jude afforded a “speaking part” when he asks Jesus why he chose to reveal himself to his disciples and not to the whole world (John 14:22). None of his other deeds during Jesus’ short ministry were recorded in the four gospels. But he is mentioned once more in the Book of Acts as one of the disciples who remained with the small group of new Christians after Jesus’ death and ascension. He is also credited with writing a brief epistle between 65-80 AD that bears his name. Addressed to unknown recipients, the epistle cautions readers of the danger in believing false teachers and concludes with a call to remain steadfast in the Christian faith. Apart from this epistle, all other information associated with Apostle Jude is gleaned from church traditions, such as his meandering evangelic mission throughout the Levant, Mesopotamia, and Cyrenaica (Libya), as well as his return to Jerusalem in 62 AD to help elect his brother, St. Simeon, as Bishop of Jerusalem. He was allegedly martyred in Syria or Persia along with fellow apostle, Simon the Zealot (both of whom were bludgeoned and beheaded), and is venerated as the patron saint of desperate causes and situations.
