Meet the Patron Saint of Lost Causes — San Judas Tadeo
When life gives you lemons, make lemonade — and raise a glass to San Judas Tadeo, the patron saint of lost causes.
Also known as Judas Thaddaeus or Jude the Apostle, the saint is widely celebrated in many cultures, especially amongst the Hispanic community. Many families give prayers to San Judas Tadeo. The faith is so great that even thieves and junkies call for its protection.
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Nothing pleases us more when we see a universal tattoo — a sign that unifies everyone and shields every soul beneath its wing. Let’s take a look at who Jude the Apsotile was and why the San Judas Tadeo tattoo is such a popular image to be portrayed onto a person’s skin.
Religion Lesson 101: Who Was San Judas Tadeo?
St. Jude Tadeo was born to Mary, the cousin to Jesus’ own mother, Mary. His father, Cleophas was the brother of James and supposed cousin of Jesus. He was both into a Jewish family speaking Greek or Aramaic and was a farmer by trade.
He is not mentioned very much in the New Testament and very little is actually known about him. St. Jude was one of the original 12 apostles of Jesus. He helped Jesus to spread the work of the Gospel in many places and was responsible for building the foundations of the early Church.
It is said that St. Jude wrote a letter to newly converted Christians who were suffering persecution. In his letter known as the Scriptual Letter of Jude, he warned them to be careful of the false teachers who were spreading wrong teachings about Christianity. Thus, he encourages them to keep persevering and to stand firm in their faith in the midst of the harsh realities that they were facing.
However, at this point in history, it meant risking one’s life to uphold one’s religion. The widespread persecutions of Christians during his time did not deter St. Jude Thaddeus from standing by his faith. As a result, he died as a martyr after being mercilessly assaulted and having his head crushed with an ax.
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He was also known as Jude or Judas, although he was frequently confused with the Judas who betrayed Jesus before his crucifixion. As a result, it is thought that St. Jude may not have gotten the recognition he deserved at the time.
San Judas Tadeo Tattoo Symbolism — What Does It Mean?
One thing’s for certain — San Judas Tadeo is one “hell” of a tattoo symbol (apologies for the phrasing). When we see an image of St. Jude we look at a visual presentation of his character and the many hardships he endured during his lifetime.
He is traditionally shown carrying a golden medallion of Jesus in his hand. The medallion is known as “The Image of Edessa,” and carries a great story behind it.
The story goes that King Abgar of Edessa was suffering from a serious illness. When he had heard of Jesus’ healing abilities he called for him to put an end to his sufferings. Jesus heard his prayers and imprinted his face onto a piece of fabric, which he handed to St. Jude to give to King Abgar. King Abgar was cured after receiving the cloth.
Not only is San Judas Tadeo the patron saint of lost causes, but he is also the patron saint of money troubles. The gold medallion is thought to signify hope in times of financial difficulty.
Many tattoos portray St. Jude with a flame around his head, symbolizing his attendance at Pentecost when he accepted the Holy Spirit alongside the other apostles.
St. Jude is also associated with wearing cloth in green color, which represents hope and rejuvenation. Believers, as well as those wearing a San Judas Tadeo tattoo, pray to St. Jude with complete and unwavering faith, with a hope to aid them in the fastest way possible.
San Judas Tadeo Tattoo — Does It Hurt & Where Should You Put It?
If you look at an image of San Judas Tadeo, you’ll notice there’s a lot of details, shades, & colors — so be prepared for a lot of pain. But don’t worry, because the pain level varies from one place to another and you can totally avoid it thanks to the tattoo pain chart.
We say — think of ways on how to make your own customizable tattoo. There’s a number of styles that you can go with and when you do find it, search for an artist that is an expert in tattooing your particular style.
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There are many times when we don’t have a clear concept of how a tattoo should look. Fortunately, we all know what San Judas Tadeo looks like, and there are many tattoo artists who would want to create their own interpretation of the saint. A saint to protect you and a tattoo that is 100 percent authentic – how wonderful is that?
Conclusion
Throughout our life, God presents us with many challenges and difficulties, followed by many joys and triumphs. However, during the dark days, we need someone to remind us that we are not alone — and for many people, that reminder is San Judas Tadeo.
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It’s totally understandable to seek help in Christianity. We all know how overwhelming it is to find solutions when you’re at your lowest. But what is the beauty in tattooing this saint? To remind you that there is hope of course.
His devotion allows believers and followers to have unwavering faith that God will triumph against any evil fear of a hopeless situation. People seek his help when feeling lost, or when life’s challenges seem too difficult to overcome.
All in all, it’s a great idea for a tattoo — and we are almost certain that you won’t be needing to cover up your tattoo. Even your grandparents will be proud to see that you are carrying a saint on your body.
