Where are we?
Click on the compass!
Dominicans of Canada
Ordrer of Preachers
Copyright 2014 ©
It is with great pleasure that invite you to the 2020 Saint Jude Novena that is starting today and that will end on the Feast Day of Saint Jude, on October 28th...
For over 60 years, the Canadian Dominican Friars are busy spreading the devotion to the ApostleSaint-Jude. During the Fifties, this ministry, which had humble beginnings on Laval Street, in Montreal, moved to the former St. Agnes Irish church, on Saint Denis Street. The Dominicans changed the church into a Shrine and started spreading the devotion to Our Lady of the Rosary and toSaint-Jude.
In 2007, because of a decrease in the number of religious personnel available for the ministry, the Dominicans had no other choice but to sell the buildings on Saint Denis Street. The offices of the Saint-Jude Apostolic Works were moved to their convent of Saint-Albert-le-Grand, located at 2715 Côte-Saint-Catherine Road, facing the University of Montreal. A «Saint Jude and Rosary Oratory» was set up so that people can continue offering their prayers to God, through the intercession of Saint-Jude.
It
is a very ancient devotion. In fact, if we go back as far as the 12th
century, we see the great Saint Bernard honor, in a particular way, a
relic of this powerful Apostle. He asked the one, who had protected and
helped him so well in many situations, to continue his assistance.
St. Brigid of Sweden (1302-1373) received this advice from the Lord : « PraySaint-Jude with trust because faithful to his name Thaddeus – gentle and kind – he will be swift to help you.». In the sixteenth century, Blessed Colomba of Rietti devoted all her energies to spread his worship.
Nowadays,Saint-Jude is honored in almost all the European countries. He has millions of friends in the United States of America, in Martinique, in Guadeloupe and in Nigeria. In Canada, it is the Dominicans who are responsible for spreading the devotion, here at the Saint-Jude Oratory. An immense correspondence network links up French and English Canada, some American states, Martinique, Guadeloupe, and Haiti.
Invoked in desperate causes (delicate, difficult, impossible), he is known as the saint of hope. In the letters and prayer intentions that we receive daily, the cries of help and distress alternate with acknowledgments, donations thanksgiving for favors received.
According to the evangelists Matthew and Mark, Yehudah, or Jude, brother of James the Minor, was a close relative and friend of Jesus, with whom he lived during his three years of ministry. Jude was one of the twelve Apostles chosen by Jesus among his disciples. Not wanting to confuse him with another Yehudah, Judas Iscariot, Matthew and Mark named him Judas Thaddeus. Thaddeus means abundant, gentle, merciful, kind in Syriac, and courageous in Aramaic. After the Pentecost, he went preaching in Palestine, Arabia, Armenia, Mesopotamia and, along with the Apostle Simon, he evangelised Persia, between 64 and 69 AD, where they were both clubbed to death.Saint-Jude is always represented holding a club in his hand, many times mistaken for a walking stick.
O kindSaint-Jude, our faithful intercessor to Jesus, receive the following special intentions : to present them to the Almighty Lord, Root of all good. Above all, grant us an increase of our faith in His love. May each day find us closer in our relationship with our Heavenly Father. KindSaint-Jude, you who has revived hope in our hearts, you whose model merits and life bring us the divine blessings and graces, be our advocate, and lead us to Jesus and Mary. With you, blessed apostle, we give thanks and praise God with all our heart for His innumerable kindnesses. Amen.
