Evening Novena for Terri

St. Jude Novena

-- Seventh Day

There must have been a lovely humility about St. Jude.

He left to the other Apostles the aggressive action and speech that were worth recording.

Once he breaks the silence to write a letter that is filled with his humble love for the Savior and his eagerness to see all men love Him and follow Him.

After a brief journey alone he joins forces with Saint Simon, almost as if he distrusted himself.

Clearly he wished to share with someone else the conversions he made and the miracles he wrought and the souls he won.

After the flame and glory of martyrdom he almost disappears from history. Few altars were erected to his honor. Few churches were named for him. The fact that there had been a Judas kept people from christening their sons Jude. So few remembered to pray to this almost forgotten Apostle...

...until close to our times, this age of the common man, when the ordinary man and woman rediscovered this dear and humble Apostle and gave him the compliment of their confidence.  He was a little like themselves. They felt that a humble saint would perhaps have fewer clients.

To the human Saint Jude, in many ways like ourselves, we say:

O God, who through Thy blessed Apostle Jude has brought us into the knowledge of Thy name, grant that by advancing in virtue we may set forth his everlasting glory, and by setting forth his glory we may advance in virtue. Through Our Lord Jesus Christ, thy Son, who livest and reignest with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost. God, World without end.

Amen.