Novena to St Jude: 9-Day Prayer for Hopeless Cases
A novena to St Jude for difficult cases: the traditional prayer to say each day, nine daily intentions, and when to begin before his October 28 feast.
Traditional Prayer to St. Jude
Most holy Apostle, St. Jude, faithful servant and friend of Jesus, the Church honors and invokes you universally, as the patron of difficult cases, of things almost despaired of. Pray for me, I am so helpless and alone.
Intercede with God for me that He bring visible and speedy help where help is almost despaired of. Come to my assistance in this great need that I may receive the consolation and help of heaven in all my necessities, tribulations, and sufferings, particularly (make your request here), and that I may praise God with you and all the saints forever.
I promise, O Blessed St. Jude, to be ever mindful of this great favor granted me by God and to always honor you as my special and powerful patron, and to gratefully encourage devotion to you. Amen.
Traditional novena prayer to St. Jude, as published by EWTN and the Columban Missionaries
Opening and Closing Prayer for the Novena
Opening prayer. Lord Jesus, I begin this novena in Your name. I bring You my need and ask Saint Jude, Your apostle and friend, to pray for me. Give me patience to pray for nine days, and the faith to accept Your answer. Amen.
Closing prayer. Thank You, Lord, for hearing me. Thank You, Saint Jude, for your prayers. Whatever the outcome, I trust that God is with me and that nothing is beyond His mercy. Help me to remember this time of prayer and to share my hope with others. Amen.
Day 1: Asking for Hope
Saint Jude, faithful friend of Jesus, I begin this novena tired and in need of hope. Today I simply place my need in your hands and ask you to carry it to God. Stay with me through these nine days. Amen.
Day 2: Trusting God
Saint Jude, help me to trust that God has not forgotten me, even when nothing seems to change. Quiet my worry and teach me to wait without giving up. Amen.
Day 3: Letting Go of Fear
Saint Jude, the things I fear are loud today. Ask the Lord to give me courage for what is in front of me, and peace about what I cannot control. Amen.
Day 4: For the Sick and Suffering
Saint Jude, I pray for all who are ill or in pain, and for those who care for them. Ask Christ, the Lord of Life, to bring healing, comfort and strength where they are needed most. Amen.
Day 5: For My Family
Saint Jude, I bring you the people I love and the worries I carry for them. Obtain for our home patience, forgiveness and peace. Amen.
Day 6: For Forgiveness
Saint Jude, some hopeless things are within my own heart: old hurts and old sins. Ask God to heal what I cannot, and to give me the grace to forgive and to be forgiven. Amen.
Day 7: For Perseverance
Saint Jude, you wrote to believers in a hard time and urged them to remain faithful. Help me to keep going in prayer, even if the answer is slow. Amen.
Day 8: Accepting God's Will
Saint Jude, I ask for what I need, but I also ask for the grace to accept whatever God knows is best. Let me trust that His love is greater than my plans. Amen.
Day 9: Thanksgiving
Saint Jude, thank you for walking with me these nine days. Whatever comes, I give thanks to God and promise to remember your help and to speak of your friendship to others. Amen.
How to Pray the Novena to St. Jude
A novena is nine days of consecutive prayer. Saint Jude, also called Thaddeus, is one of the twelve apostles and the author of the Epistle of Jude in the New Testament. The Church honors him as a patron of difficult cases, and many people turn to him when a situation seems almost hopeless.
How to pray it: each day, make the Sign of the Cross, say the traditional prayer above with your intention, then add the day's short prayer, an Our Father and a Hail Mary. Close with the closing prayer.
A note on the daily prayers: the traditional prayer above is the heart of the novena and is said every day. The nine short daily prayers on this page are our own, written to give each day a focus, because there is no single fixed set of nine different texts.
When to start: you can pray it at any time. Many people begin on October 19 so the novena ends the day before the feast of Saints Simon and Jude on October 28. Some parishes and shrines begin on October 20 and conclude on the feast day itself, so follow your own parish if you are praying together.
Scripture to Pray With
Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
Jude 1:21 (KJV)
Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.
Jude 1:24-25 (KJV)
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the novena to St. Jude for?
It is prayed for difficult or seemingly hopeless situations, such as illness, family trouble, or any need where you feel helpless. Saint Jude is honored as the patron of difficult cases.
When is the feast day of St. Jude?
The feast of Saints Simon and Jude is October 28.
When should I start the novena to St. Jude?
At any time you need it. To end before his feast, many people start on October 19, while some shrines begin on October 20 and finish on October 28.
How many days is the St. Jude novena?
Nine days in a row, saying the same traditional prayer each day with your intention.
Do I have to say the novena at the same time every day?
No. Choose a time you can keep, such as morning or evening. What matters is that you pray on nine consecutive days.
Last updated 2026-10-15