Definition

1. Proper noun:
   • (New Testament) One of the twelve Apostles of Jesus Christ: According to the New Testament, Saint Jude is traditionally identified as a brother of James and one of the original followers of Jesus.
   • Patron saint of desperate cases and lost causes: In Christian tradition, particularly within the Catholic Church, Saint Jude is venerated as the patron saint of situations deemed hopeless or desperate, and is invoked in prayer for intercession.

Usage Examples

• Proper noun:
  • Many people pray to St. Jude when they feel they have nowhere else to turn.
  • The feast day of St. Jude is celebrated on October 28th.

Advanced Usage

• "St. Jude the Apostle": The full title used to distinguish him from Judas Iscariot.

  • The cathedral is dedicated to St. Jude the Apostle.

• "St. Jude's": Often used in the names of churches, hospitals, or charitable institutions.

  • She donated to the fundraising campaign for St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital.

Variants and Related Words

• Jude, Saint Jude, Judas Thaddaeus: Alternative names for the same apostle. "Judas" (not Iscariot) is used in some Gospel accounts.
• Thaddeus: Another name associated with this apostle in some biblical lists.

Synonyms

• Apostle: (in this context) One of the twelve chief disciples of Jesus Christ.
• Patron saint: A saint chosen as a special protector or advocate.

Related Phrases

• "Prayer to St. Jude": A specific devotional prayer asking for his intercession in hopeless situations.

  • In times of great difficulty, she would recite a Prayer to St. Jude.

• "St. Jude devotion": Refers to the practice of seeking the intercession of this saint.

  • He has a strong St. Jude devotion, lighting a candle every week.

Related Idioms

• "To have the patience of St. Jude": An expression implying great patience and hope in the face of persistent difficulty, though not a widely standardized idiom, it derives from his patronage.
  • Dealing with that ongoing problem requires the patience of St. Jude.

Noun

1. (New Testament) supposed brother of St. James; one of the Apostles who is invoked in prayer when a situation seems hopeless