The quiet town of Rawang in the Archdiocese of Kuala Lumpur came alive this week as hundreds of Catholics and devotees gathered at the Church of St. Jude for the annual novena and feast-day celebration in honour of the patron saint of hopeless causes.
For nine evenings, beginning on October 16 and leading up to the feast on October 28, parishioners and visitors from across Selangor and beyond have been attending special Masses, rosaries, and prayers to seek the intercession of St. Jude Thaddeus, whom many turn to in times of despair and difficulty.
The parish has long been a centre of devotion to the saint who is a cousin of Jesus and the writer of the 26th book of the New Testament. The annual celebration has grown over the decades, drawing not only Catholics but also non-Christian visitors who come out of curiosity or personal gratitude for favours received.
Each evening, the church grounds came alive with pilgrims and parishioners lighting candles before the statue of St. Jude, their faces aglow with faith and quiet hope. Many placed handwritten petitions and notes of thanksgiving at his feet, entrusting their burdens and blessings alike to the patron of desperate causes.
This year’s celebration, held under the theme “Pilgrims of Hope,” invited the faithful to journey together in trust and perseverance, a reminder that even in uncertainty, hope lights the way.
The Church of St. Jude in Rawang concluded its Feast Day celebrations yesterday, the nearest Sunday to October 28, with a solemn Mass in honour of its patron saint. Earlier, on October 25, hundreds of devotees took part in a candlelit procession, following the beautifully adorned statue of St. Jude, gently borne on a car, around the church grounds.
This time-honoured tradition, deeply etched in the parish’s history, remains a moving testament to the enduring triumph of faith over despair, the very grace St. Jude continues to inspire in those who seek his intercession.
Origin of Devotion to St Jude
The origins of devotion to St. Jude date back centuries, stemming from a misunderstanding and reinforced by faith. In the early Church, many believers hesitated to pray to him because his name, “Jude”, sounded too much like that of “Judas Iscariot”, the apostle who betrayed Jesus.
Out of fear or confusion, his name was often left unspoken, until, in desperation, people began turning to him when all else had failed.
That is how St. Jude came to be known as the patron of hopeless causes, the last resort when every other avenue seemed closed.
His reputation deepened in the Middle Ages, when saints such as St. Bernard of Clairvaux and St. Bridget of Sweden reported visions encouraging devotion to him for impossible cases.
According to one popular tradition, Jesus appeared to St. Bridget of Sweden in a vision, telling her to pray to St. Jude Thaddeus, whose surname “Thaddeus,” meaning amiable or loving, signified his willingness to help both spiritually and materially. That divine message, passed down through generations, helped spread St Jude’s name and his compassion throughout the Christian world.
Today, that same devotion burns brightly in Rawang. Every evening, devotees fill the church grounds, lighting candles before the statue of the saint and placing handwritten notes of petition and thanksgiving at his feet. Around them, stalls buzz with activity, selling rosaries, medals, and food, a reflection of both faith and fellowship.
Lesser Known Devotion to St Simon
Though October 28 is officially celebrated as the Feast of Saints Simon and Jude, both of whom were apostles, popular devotion has long centred on St. Jude Thaddeus, the saint many turn to in times of desperation. Yet St. Simon the Zealot, whose name is paired with Jude in the Church calendar, also holds a distinctive place in Christian tradition.
Little is known about Simon’s life beyond his title “the Zealot,” which suggests his passionate commitment to the Jewish faith before following Christ. Tradition holds that he and St. Jude travelled together on missionary journeys and were martyred in Persia.
Because Simon was believed to have been martyred by being sawn in half, he became the patron saint of saw workers, tanners, woodworkers, and leather craftsmen. His patronage over these trades reflects the instruments associated with his martyrdom and his steadfast faith unto death.
While devotion to both apostles is celebrated on the same day, the name of St. Jude Thaddeus has, over the centuries, taken on a special prominence. His association with hopeless or “impossible” causes made him a beacon of hope for believers across generations, including the faithful who gather each year at the Church of St. Jude in Rawang.
