What a blessed day for St. Jude Church and Shrine and for the more than 4,800 pilgirms who came to venerate the arm relic of St. Jude! Pictures do not convey the depth of grace that we all received that day.
Visit our Live Stream page and navigate to the St. Jude Relic Mass recording (on February 2) to hear an amazing homily by Fr. Carlos about the history and miraculous interventions of St. Jude.
Fr. Terry went on 1570AM Holy Spirit Radio a few days before the event to talk about St. Jude, the visiting relic, our own 1st class relic of St. Jude, and a little history about his priesthood. To listen, click below!
We are happy to announce that St. Jude parish has been selected to host a one-day event that honors and reverences the 1st-class relics of St. Jude Thaddeus on Friday, February 2, 2024. This is part of a national tour of the relics that is slowly making its way among certain parishes across the United States.
The relic will be available for veneration in the church beginning at 1:00pm. Veneration will be suspended during a very special Mass beginning at 7:00pm and will resume after Mass until 10:00pm. Our homilist will be Fr. Carlos Martins, the director of Treasures of the Church, who is traveling with the relic. The church is wheelchair accessible. The Mass will be livestreamed.
livestream page
A Plenary Indulgence will be granted to those who are in a state of grace and complete the ordinary requirements.
Please read "How to venerate St. Jude's relics" and "Plenary Indulgence" below.
Confessions will be available during veneration of the St. Jude relic.
Location: Chapel
Times: 1:00pm to 7:00pm; 8:00pm to 10:00pm
God often uses physical objects to convey His grace. The Sacraments are the most obvious example of this, but God also uses special prayers and objects known as sacramentals, which "signify effects, particularly of a spiritual nature, which are obtained through the intercession of the Church." (CCC1667) This means that sacramental obects do not themselves confer grace, but the graces and blessings asked for are received through the intercession of the Church, which includes the saints.
Biblical examples of blessings imparted on others through relics of holy people include:
There are three levels of relics:
The visiting relic is a 1st class relic, thus you may touch items to the reliquary to make your items 3rd class relics.
Venerating St. Jude's Relics while at St. Jude Church
May the Apostle of the Impossible, Saint Jude Thaddeus, obtain for you every good gift. May you and all those you love experience his holy friendship and intercession.
PDF Version of Veneration Instructions
The Holy See has issued a plenary indulgence available to all pilgrims who venerate Saint Jude’s relics. The Apostolic Penitentiary published the decree, Protocol Number 00471/2023-190/23/I. A plenary indulgence can be obtained when the usual requirements are fulfilled (see the document below for details). If a member of the faithful is unable to fulfill all the requirements of a plenary indulgence, he or she would receive a partial indulgence.
How to Gain a Plenary Indulgence
The most reliable ancient records identify the place of St. Jude’s martyrdom and burial to be the city of Beirut. Sometime later, his body was transferred to Rome and placed in a crypt within the original St. Peter’s Basilica, completed by the Emperor Constantine in 333AD. Today, his remains are in the left transept of the current Basilica (completed in 1626), below the main altar of St. Joseph, within a tomb also holding the remains of the Apostle Simon. This resting place has become a popular destination for pilgrims who have a devotion to the Apostle of the Impossible.
The arm of the saint was separated from the greater portion of his remains several centuries ago and placed in a simple wooden reliquary carved in the shape of an upright arm in the gesture of imparting a blessing.
During the period of veneration on February 2, St. Jude medals, books, and other souvenirs will be available for purchase, as well as a free-will offering (checks made out to Treasures of the Church). These funds will go towards the renovation of the St. Jude Shrine in Rome.
Website for more details:
apostleoftheimpossible.com
Helpful article from Ascension Press:
Making Sense of Relics and Pilgrimages