St Jude Prayer for Hopeless Causes and Desperate Situations
Turning to the patron of the impossible when every other door has closed
Morning Prayer editorial team · Updated: November 2026
Saint Jude Thaddeus, apostle and relative of Jesus, is the saint people turn to when they have run out of options. Bring him the situation you have labeled hopeless and let him carry it to Christ.
Let us pray
Saint Jude, faithful apostle and friend of Jesus, I come to you because I have run out of places to go. The Church calls you the patron of hopeless causes, and I have one.
You know what it is: the illness the doctors have stopped talking about, the relationship everyone says is over, the debt that cannot be repaid, the loved one who has walked so far from God that no one expects a return. I have prayed and waited and tried everything I know. Now I bring it to you.
You walked with Jesus. You saw Him heal the incurable, raise the dead, and forgive the unforgivable. You know that nothing is impossible for Him. Take my petition to Him with the confidence of a man who watched Him do the impossible every day.
Pray for me that I do not give up. Pray that my faith is not measured by whether I get the answer I want, but by whether I keep trusting God when I do not. Pray that I recognize His help when it arrives, even if it looks different from what I imagined.
Saint Jude, you were forgotten for centuries because people confused your name with the betrayer. You know what it is to be overlooked. Do not overlook me now. Intercede for this hopeless cause, and I promise to make your name known and to give thanks to God for every grace received. Amen.
Blessing
May Saint Jude carry your impossible need to Christ, and may you receive the grace to hope against hope.
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
Why is Saint Jude the patron of hopeless causes?
Because his name resembled Judas Iscariot, few people prayed to him for centuries, so he is said to be especially eager to help those who finally do. His letter in the New Testament also urges perseverance in hard times.
How do I pray a Saint Jude novena?
Pray this or a similar prayer for nine consecutive days with your intention. Many people also attend Mass or light a candle. His feast day is October 28.
People also pray
Our Lady of Perpetual Help novena prayer
Nine days of prayer to the Mother whose help never runs out
Read more →Divine Mercy novena: nine days to the fountain of mercy
A nine-day prayer bringing different souls to Jesus each day
Read more →Novena to St Joseph for work, family, and a holy death
Nine days of prayer to the guardian of the Holy Family, with daily intentions
Read more →St Peregrine prayer for those with cancer
Asking the patron of cancer patients to intercede for healing, strength, and hope
Read more →St Dymphna prayer for anxiety and mental illness
Asking the patron of the mentally and emotionally troubled for peace and healing
Read more →Novena to the Sacred Heart of Jesus: Nine Days of Trust
A daily prayer to the Heart that loves us without measure
Read more →More prayers to St. Jude Thaddeus
View all →Saint Jude prayer for help in a desperate situation
Bringing an impossible need to the apostle of hopeless causes
Read more →St Jude novena: nine days of prayer for hopeless causes
A nine-day prayer to Saint Jude for a desperate or long-standing need
Read more →Do you need prayer?
Share your intention and our community will pray for you.