The Two Judes
When St. Matthew and St. Mark wrote their Gospels, they attempted to avoid confusion between the two men by listing them apart. They called our St. Jude only by the name of Thaddaeus. When they listed the twelve Apostles, they placed the traitor last and classified him as: "Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him." Also in the Biblical list of the Apostles, in the Canon of the Mass, and in the Litany of the Saints our St. Jude is prayed to only by the name of Thaddaeus. This has helped to make him the "forgotten" saint. Later, when the Acts of the Apostles was written by Luke (cf. 1:13), after the infamous Judas had passed from the sight of the living, his name was dropped from the list of the apostles, and that of Mathias, his successor, was added. Then St. Jude Thaddaeus was called by his first name Jude, but for a long time he remained a "forgotten Jude."
As the name of the traitor Judas fades and the confusion about the two personalities clears up the name of out St. Jude becomes increasingly popular, especially in our own country. More lovers of St. Jude, and many of his grateful clients, express their thanks by naming their sons and daughters: "Jude" and "Judith," even Thaddaeus, shortened popularly to "Thad" is found more frequently among boys. It has long been popular in Ireland where in the old Gaelic it is "Taidg."
St. Jude is often represented as bearing a replica of our Lord on his breast. The tradition attached to this is as follows. The fame of our Lord's miracles had reached Abagaro, the King of Edessa who was afflicted with leprosy. He had heard of Jesus and sent a messenger begging him to come and cure him. In order that his faith may be tested, our Lord sent word that he could not come just then. Far from being discouraged the king sent an artist to Jerusalem for the purpose of at least obtaining our Lord's portrait. But the poor artist baffled by the splendour and brightness of that face was unable to make any reproduction. Jesus moved by compassion and wishing to console Abagaro held a cloth to his face on which was left the image of his sacred countenance. He then handed it to the king promising to send someone to heal him. Tradition says that this mission was entrusted to St. Jude, who was covered with supernatural splendour as he entered the King's premises. Abagaro knelt and faltered forth: "Art thou he of whom Jesus spoke when he sent me the message. "I will send you one of my followers who will cure you of your malady and bring life to you and your subjects?"
St. Jude replied" "Because thou didst believe in him he sent me to thee."
The King answered: "I believe in him, and my faith is such that had not the Roman army stood in the way I would have sent my own army against the Jews to rescue him out of their hands."
"He fulfilled the will of his Father," replied the apostle. "And death could not hold him, for after three days in the tomb, he arose glorious and triumphant into heaven." When he had thus spoken the holy Apostle placed his hand on Abagaro who was instantly cured of his infirmity. Many citizens were also healed, and several including the King and his court, were converted. After firmly establishing the church in Edessa, St. Jude visited the whole of Mesopotamia.
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Testimony - What St. Jude CAN DO!