National Shrine of St. Jude St. Jude is the Catholic patron saint of hope and impossible causes and one of Jesus’ twelve Apostles. The National Shrine of St. Jude and the St. Jude League provide the path for petitions of need and gratitude to be delivered directly to the altar of St. Jude at the National Shrine. As in all the decades past, we place the people’s intentions at the altar weekly, and offer their requests in our Masses and our prayers. The devotees of St. Jude throughout this country form an inspired prayer community.