Thaddeus
· His original name was Jude.
· The son of Alphaeus of Cleophas. His mother, Mary of Clopas, was either a sister or a close relative of Jesus’ mother, Mary, and for that reason, according to Jewish custom, he was sometimes called “the brother of the Lord.”
· Brother of James the Less. Both received training that was typical in all pious Jewish homes. This training was based on the knowledge of the Holy Scriptures and the rigorous observance of the Law. Thaddeus and James were called to the apostleship in the second year of Christ’s preaching.
· Little is known about Thaddeus’s life.
· Thaddeus was the Apostle who asked Jesus at the Last Supper why He wouldn’t manifest Himself to the whole world after His Resurrection.
· He preached the Gospel in Judea, Samaria, Idumaea, Syria, Mesopotamia, and Lybia. He returned to Jerusalem in the year 62 and assisted at the election of his brother as Bishop of Jerusalem.
· He is the author of an epistle to the Churches of the East, particularly the Jewish converts, directed against the heresies of certain groups.
· Thaddeus was a healer and an exorcist.
· It is believed that Thaddeus was martyred alongside Simon in Persia. Some believe Thaddeus was beaten to death with a club and then beheaded post-mortem while others claim he was shot to death with arrows.
· Patron saint of desperate causes.
Images
Links