The signs of grace that are given through the Sacraments reveal a deeper reality to us, our spiritual connection with God. Each of the seven Sacraments do “make sacred” visible, physical ways we affirm the invisible presence of God in our lives and in our hearts.
These are outward signs of inward presence as we accept the role God plays in every facet of our paths to Him.
Devotion to St. Jude is defined by our heightened awareness of hope and healing in our lives. Each one of the Sacraments of Baptism, Reconciliation, Eucharist, Confirmation, Matrimony, Holy Orders, and Anointing of the Sick include a significant facet of hope and healing power. Our Baptism and Confirmation remain with us throughout our lives as members of the Christian family. Reconciliation and Eucharist are gifts that keep on giving us hope and healing as we unburden our human struggles with sin, receive God’s mercy, and express our gratitude through receiving Christ in the Eucharist. Marriage and Holy Orders contain God’s gift of hope in the vows taken to make Him central to our vocations.
St. Jude’s intercessory healing power is so profoundly similar to the Anointing of the Sick—God’s loving, healing presence is called upon in sickness and struggle. We bring St. Jude and God into these difficult experiences through prayer, through laying on of hands, to witness the outward signs of the inward healing presence of God’s love. We can do this whenever healing presence is needed, invoking St. Jude in prayer.