Novena to St Jude
Feast: 28 Oct
When to pray: Begin on 19 Oct and finish on 27 Oct, the eve of the feast, or any nine consecutive days. A novena is prayed on nine consecutive days.
Prayer for each day
St Jude, faithful apostle and friend of Jesus, you are called the helper in hopeless cases. Bring my need before the Lord and keep me from despair. I will thank God and make your help known. Amen.
Day by day
Day 1: The apostle few remember
And Jude the brother of James, and Judas Iscariot, who was the traitor.
Luke 6:16, Douay-Rheims
St Jude, apostle of Jesus Christ, your name is read among the Twelve, yet few remember you. You followed the Lord quietly, and he chose you as his own. Teach me to serve without needing to be noticed, and to be content that God knows my name. Present my intention to Jesus, who called you, and ask him to remember me also. Amen.
Day 2: Hope when everything looks lost
And hope confoundeth not: because the charity of God is poured forth in our hearts, by the Holy Ghost who is given to us.
Rom 5:5, Douay-Rheims
St Jude, when everything around me looks lost, remind me that hope in God does not disappoint, because his love has been poured into our hearts by the Holy Ghost. Keep me from despair and from bitterness. Help me to trust that no situation is beyond the reach of the Lord, and pray that I may receive the help I need, if it is his holy will. Amen.
Day 3: Faith that asks big things
Ask, and it shall be given you: seek, and you shall find: knock, and it shall be opened to you.
Matt 7:7, Douay-Rheims
St Jude, our Lord told us to ask, to seek and to knock. Give me a faith that is not afraid to ask great things of a great God. Free me from small and timid prayer, and help me to bring my need before the Father with the confidence of a child. Join your prayer to mine, that I may ask rightly and receive what is good for my soul. Amen.
Day 4: Loyal friend of Jesus
Judas saith to him, not the Iscariot: Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself to us, and not to the world? Jesus answered and said to him: If any one love me, he will keep my word. And my Father will love him and we will come to him and will make our abode with him.
John 14:22-23, Douay-Rheims
St Jude, at the Last Supper you asked the Lord a question, and he answered that he and the Father would come and make their home with those who love him and keep his word. You were his loyal friend to the end. Obtain for me the grace to love Jesus, to keep his word, and to make my heart a home where he is glad to dwell. Amen.
Day 5: Letter of Jude: contend for the faith
Dearly beloved, taking all care to write unto you concerning your common salvation, I was under a necessity to write unto you: to beseech you to contend earnestly for the faith once delivered to the saints.
Jude 1:3, Douay-Rheims
St Jude, in your letter you urged the faithful to contend earnestly for the faith once delivered to the saints. Strengthen me to hold fast to the truth the Church has handed on, to defend it with charity, and to live it with courage. When my faith is mocked or tested, let me answer with gentleness and steadfastness. Amen.
Day 6: Patience in waiting
Expect the Lord, do manfully, and let thy heart take courage, and wait thou for the Lord.
Ps 26:14 [Ps 27:14], Douay-Rheims
St Jude, waiting is hard for me. I want an answer now, and I grow weary when heaven seems silent. Teach me to wait for the Lord, to act with courage and to let my heart take comfort in him. Help me to accept God's timing and to keep praying faithfully until his answer comes, whatever it may be. Amen.
Day 7: Thanks before the answer
Be nothing solicitous: but in every thing, by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your petitions be made known to God.
Phil 4:6, Douay-Rheims
St Jude, St Paul teaches us to make our requests known to God with thanksgiving. Before I see any answer, I thank God for his goodness, for his care of me, and for the prayers you offer on my behalf. Make my heart grateful in every circumstance, and keep me from forgetting the many gifts I have already received. Amen.
Day 8: Praying for others in despair
Bear ye one another’s burdens: and so you shall fulfil the law of Christ.
Gal 6:2, Douay-Rheims
St Jude, I do not carry my troubles alone; many others are close to despair. I commend to you all who feel abandoned, those who are gravely ill, those in debt or in danger, and those who have lost hope. Help me to bear the burdens of others as Christ commands, and pray for all who have no one to pray for them. Amen.
Day 9: Promising to make him known
Come and hear, all ye that fear God, and I will tell you what great things he hath done for my soul.
Ps 65:16 [Ps 66:16], Douay-Rheims
St Jude, on this last day of my novena I promise, with God's help, to make your intercession known and to give thanks for every grace received. Let me tell others what great things the Lord has done for my soul. Whatever God's answer to my prayer, keep me faithful to him, and bring me at last to the company of the apostles in heaven. Amen.
Scripture
Douay-Rheims numbering (modern in brackets): Gal 6:2; John 14:22-23; Jude 1:3; Luke 6:16; Matt 7:7; Phil 4:6; Ps 26:14 [Ps 27:14]; Ps 65:16 [Ps 66:16]; Rom 5:5. Scripture index
Source
Written for The Crusade, 2026. How we check sources