St Jude son of Alphaeus also named Cleophas brother of Joseph, Mary’s sponse and so first cousin of Jesus.

Since his childhood, as he was a relative and surely familiar with Mary and Joseph, he was discile of Jesus.

His brothers were James first Bishop of Jerusalem, Joseph known as the Just, Simon, second Bishop of Jerusalem ; Mary Salome, wife to Zebadiah and mother of James the Elder; John the faourite disciple.

He was of generous mind and extremely sensitive determined to be a follower of Jesus with absolute resolution up to martyrdom.

His activity was almost undoubtebly carried out in Mesopotamia, Judea and Persia and behind him he left conversion and mracles According to tradition near Suamyr Jude Taddeus with his friend Simon the Canaanite happened to run in to the obstinate opposition of the pagan priests who incitet the people against them and in the end sent them to death. Jude, in particular, was beaten furiosly, tied up, laid down on a stack of wood and burnt.
Many miraculous events are handed down both in the occurence of his torture and then in the tradition and again in the piety of the believers and devotees.

He is invoked as “THE PATRON SAINT OF HOPELESS AND DESPERATE CASES”.
(These notes are taken from a booklet by the Rector of the Royal Sanctuary of Racconigi Don Gian Franco Troya) In my opinion St. Jude can be seen as the Saint of the union of Christians because of the good appreciation he has hamong the Churches: on June 19th he is celebrated in the Greek Church; on February 16th in the Armenian Church; on July 2nd in the Coptic Church and in October 28th by in the latin Church. Of this saint we can only say mervellous things.

The people who have felt him close in the most unexpected moments have indebted to geve ap: Hi is sent by God to ward off with his intervention to sustain faith, to encourage the undertakings of the ones who devote themselves to god but meet with difficulties which seem to sink their hope and obscure their devotion. We advise everyone to pray this great cousin and friend of Jesus as so St. Bernarde and St. Bridget and we suggest to learn almost by heart his wondwrful “LETTER” that to be found after the Gospel among the revealed books of the New Tesdtament.

To you all we wish you can gratly feel his friendship.