THE STORY OF SAINT JUDE TADEUS/THADDEUS  BY: JAN PAUL LUBEK, BD/Phd
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        The Gospel tells us that St. Jude was one of 12 apostles & a brother
of St. James the Less, also an aposlte. As described by St. Matthew (13:55), 
St. Jude and James, along with 2 other brothers (one St. Simeon of Jerusalem
aka "The City of Peace") are "brethren" of Jesus. In the Hebrew lingo, the word
"brethren" indicates a close familial relationship. St. Jude's father, Cleophas,
was murdered because of his devotion to the risen Christ & his mother, Mary, was a
cousing of the Virgin Mary, mother of God.
        Over centuries, the devotion to St. Jude as the patron of hopeless causes 
has steadily risen since his martyrdom. St. Bridget of Sweden was directed in a
vision by Our Lord to turn to St. Jude with great faith & confidence. Jesus
said: "In accordance with his surname Thaddeus, -'the admirable, loving'- he will
show himself most willing to give help. "St. Jude is traditionally shown carrying 
the image of Jesus, which represents the imprint of the Divine Countenance that
was entrusted to him by Our Lord. King Abagar of Edessa asked Jesus to cure him
of leprosy and sent an artist to return with a picture of the Master. Impressed with
his great faith, Our Lord pressed his image on a cloth and gave it to St. Jude to
take to Abagar to cure him. The king regained his health & converted to True Christianity
along with almost 100% of all of his subjects & family.
        After the death & resurrection of Jesus, St. Jude traveled throughout Mesopotamia,
Libya & Persia with St. Simon, preaching & converting many to Christianity.        
Tradition indicates that St. Jude died a Holy Martyr's Death for his unwavering faith.
Some time after his death, his body was brought to Rome & placed in a crypt in
St. Peter's Basilica; a structure that is the wonder of the world.