MANILA, Philippines — Friday, we remember the life and works of St. Jude, Patron of Desperate Cases.

There is no clear information with regard to St. Jude’s birth and early years. What little knowledge we know about him today is a by-product of legend. St. Jude, also known as Thaddeus, was said to have been born in the town of Paneas in the northern region of Galilee northern Israel.

He was the son of Alpheus and Mary, cousin of the Virgin Mary. He was the brother of James the Less and Simeon whom he assisted in his election as Bishop of Jerusalem in the year 62.

St. Jude was one of the first disciples of Jesus who preached the Gospel in several places like Judea, Samaria, Idumaea, Syria, Mesopotamia, and Libya. He also preached to the city of Edessa, Turkey, and Palestine.

St. Jude was the author of the Epistle (letter) to the Churches of the East, in particular the Jewish converts. His preaching was strongly directed towards heresies of the Simonians, Nicolaites, and Gnostics.

He is patron of desperate cases because his letter in the New Testament emphasized that the faithful should hold on in the environment of harsh, difficult circumstances, just as their forefathers had done before them.

He is often depicted in art as a man dressed in green and white Biblical-era clothing holding a golden metal pendant. Some images show him with a small flame atop his head, signifying the Baptism of Fire which was received by the Disciples of Jesus at Pentecost. Tradition says that St. Jude was murdered by a pagan in a mob in Beirut, Lebanon, in 65 A.D.

In times of hardships and difficulties, let us pray for the intercession of St. Jude and be faithful followers of Christ. MABUHAY!