Marilyn Manibusan | For The Pacific Voice

Archbishop Anthony Sablan Apuron delivers the homily at the festal Mass celebrating the Feast of St. Jude Thaddeus Oct. 24 at St. Jude Church in Sinajana. Hundreds gathered with Archbishop Anthony and Palé Gus Gumataotao, Pastor, to honor the patron saint of seemingly impossible causes.

Today, millions of people around the world turn to Saint Jude, patron saint of seemingly impossible or difficult causes, when they feel most helpless and alone.  This powerful, miraculous saint continues to be a true friend and a beacon of hope to those who call on him, no matter how desperate the need.

On Guam, hundreds of devotees of St. Jude joined parishioners of Sinajana to give public recognition and thankfulness to their patron saint at the annual fiesta in October for the favors granted by God through the intercession of St. Jude.

In his homily at the festal Mass Oct. 24, Archbishop Anthony Sablan Apuron said, “Today, as we gather here to honor St. Jude, the patron of this humble parish of Sinajana, we are reminded that Jesus inspired devotion to St. Jude when He directed Saint Bridget of Sweden (about the year 1370) to turn to St. Jude with great faith and confidence.”

Palé Gus Gumataotao, Pastor of St. Jude Parish in Sinajana, climbs the steps of the church with altar boys during the traditional procession honoring their patron saint Oct. 24.

“In keeping with his surname,” the archbishop said. “Thaddeus, meaning generous, courageous and kind, Jesus says: ‘He will show himself most willing to help!’”

Descendant from the line of David, this apostle Jude, in his Epistle in the New Testament, gives himself the title: “a bondservant of Jesus Christ and brother of James”.  James the Less is also one of the Twelve Apostles. Jude and James are described by Matthew (13:55) as the “brethren” of Jesus, meaning cousins.

The Jewish people, proud of their lineage, kept exact records of their ancestors, and we see that St. Jude’s father, Cleophas, was the brother of St. Joseph and St. Jude’s mother, Mary of Cleophas — who stood underneath the cross — was the cousin of the Blessed Virgin Mary (their mothers were sisters).

St. Jude is traditionally depicted carrying the image of Jesus in his hand.  The archbishop explained the image represents the imprint of the Divine Countenance that was entrusted to him by Jesus. It was said that King Abagar of Edessa asked Jesus to cure him of leprosy and sent an artist to bring him a drawing of Jesus.  Impressed with Abagar’s great faith, Our Lord pressed His face on a cloth and gave it to St. Jude to take to Abagar and cure him.  The king was cured and converted to Christianity along with most of his subjects in Edessa.   St. Jude is also depicted with a “tongue of fire” on his forehead to symbolize the Day of Pentecost, identified as the beginning of his preaching ministry.

Eucharistic ministers of St. Jude and choir members behind them participate in the festal Mass Oct. 24.

The archbishop said it was St. Jude who asked Jesus at the Last Supper why He would not manifest himself to the whole world?  He said in John 14:22, “Lord, what is this all about?  Do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?  St. Jude wanted to know why, and Jesus said in reply: “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word and my Father will love him and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him.”  (John 14:23)

St. Jude, like other leaders, was concerned with the growing apostasy (desertion from one’s faith) of some members due to the efforts of false prophets.  He reminds us in his Epistle that the God who brought the people out of Egypt and then destroyed those who would not believe; who has kept the angels who left their proper dwelling in eternal chains; and who destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah by fire, is the same God who offers eternal life in heaven for those who will believe, truly love God and our neighbors and fulfill all of his commandments.

St. Jude died a martyr’s death.  His body lies in a crypt under St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. TAYUYUTE HAM SAN JUDE TADEUS!  AYUDANTE GI CHINATSAGA!