ST JUDE HISTORY

According to tradition, Saint Jude suffered martyrdom about 65 AD in Beirut, in the
Roman province of Syria, together with the apostle Simon the Zealot, with whom he
is usually connected. The axe that he is often shown holding in pictures symbolizes
the way in which he was killed.Their acts and martyrdom were recorded in an Acts
of Simon and Jude that was among the collection of passions and legends
traditionally associated with the legendary Abdias, bishop of Babylon, and said to
have been translated into Latin by his disciple Tropaeus Africanus, according to the
Golden Legend account of the saints.[20]
Sometime after his death, Saint Jude's body was brought from Beirut to Rome and
placed in a crypt in St. Peter's Basilicawhich was visited by many devotees. Now his
bones are in the left transept of St. Peter's Basilica under the main altar of St.
Joseph in one tomb with the remains of the apostle Simon the Zealot. According to
another popular tradition, the remains of St. Jude were preserved in an Armenian
monastery on an island in the northern part of Issyk-Kul Lake in Kyrgyzstan at least
until the mid-15th century. Later legends either deny that the remains are preserved
there or claim that they were moved to a yet more desolate stronghold in the Pamir
Mountains.
What is a novena?
A novena is the reciting of powerful prayers and devotions for a special request
over nine consecutive days. Traditionally, a novena included praying, fasting,
and meditating
*Do I have to be Catholic to make the novena? Do I have to be
religious?
No! You only have to be someone having a difficult time coping with one (or
more) difficult problems in your life that do not seem resolvable on your own.
You're human! It's alright to be overwhelmed sometimes.
*How often and for how long should the novena be said?
Traditionally, the novena prayer is said for 9 days. The 9 days signifies the 9
days the early Apostles prayed together during the time between the
Ascension of Jesus, and Pentecost, when they experienced the powerful
presence of the Holy Spirit. However, there is no hard and fast "rule" for
praying; it is best if you adopt a series of prayers and a rhythm for saying
them that is comfortable for you and allows you to open a dialogue with God.