Saint Jude prayer for help in a desperate situation
Bringing an impossible need to the apostle of hopeless causes
Morning Prayer editorial team · Updated: November 2026
Saint Jude Thaddeus, apostle and patron of desperate cases, is the saint people turn to when every door seems closed. Pray this prayer when you have run out of your own answers and need an intercessor who understands what it is to be forgotten.
Let us pray
Saint Jude, faithful apostle and friend of Jesus, you walked beside the Lord, heard His voice, and gave your life for His name. The Church honors you as the patron of impossible and desperate causes, and so I come to you today with the one thing I no longer know how to carry.
You know what it is to be overlooked. For centuries people hesitated to call on you because your name resembled that of the betrayer. Yet you waited patiently, and now you are the saint whom the hopeless seek out. Look kindly on me, because I too feel passed over, and the situation before me seems beyond repair.
Take my intention to the heart of Jesus: (name your need here). Ask Him to do what I cannot, to open a way where I see only walls, to soften hearts that have hardened, to give healing where medicine has reached its limit. I do not demand a particular answer; I ask for His answer, and for the strength to accept it with peace.
While I wait, Saint Jude, keep me from bitterness. Remind me that God has not forgotten me, that He counts my tears, and that the cross I carry today can become a place where His glory is seen. Help me to pray not only for myself but for everyone else tonight who is whispering your name in a hospital, a courtroom, a kitchen, or a prison cell.
Blessed apostle, pray for us, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ. Amen.
Blessing
May Saint Jude carry your need before the throne of God, and may you know, even before the answer comes, that you are not forgotten.
How to pray this prayer
- Find a quiet moment and breathe slowly.
- Read the prayer aloud or in your heart.
- Add your own intention before the Amen.
Frequently asked questions
Who is Saint Jude?
Saint Jude Thaddeus was one of the twelve apostles, a relative of Jesus and the author of the short Letter of Jude. He is not Judas Iscariot. He preached in Mesopotamia and Persia and died a martyr. His feast is October 28, shared with Saint Simon.
How long should I pray to Saint Jude?
Pray as long as the need lasts. Many people make a nine-day novena, others pray daily until they receive peace about the matter. The saints encourage persistence, not a fixed quota of prayers.
Do I have to publish a thank-you if my prayer is answered?
No. The old custom of publishing thanks in a newspaper is a pious tradition, not a condition. Thanking God at Mass, telling a friend, or helping someone else in need are all beautiful ways to show gratitude.
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