It's a matter of faith. As a Catholic I have done Novena's several times. But I believe wholeheartedly in my faith. Praying to St. Jude isn't a magic spell. You don't just say the "magic words" and presto chango! Your prayer has been answered! You are asking for heavenly assistance and intervention, but of course you must accept that this is not always possible.

Sounds like superstition to me. You would get a better response by praying directly to God one time while expecting a result.

If you believe it will work, then you will believe it worked.

As a Buddhist who has studied theology of all major religions, this is something I always failed to understand. To me, it seems like a direct violation of one of the ten commandments. Praying to anything or anyone other than God, would appear to me as if the person is puting God second and is assuming that St. Jude is a more powerfull God than God. I am unable to understand why anyone who believes in a supreme being would pray to anything other than that supreme being.

I am Catholic and have asked St. Jude many many times for intersession and as for prayers answered the same goes for when I pray to God....sometimes my prayers get answered and sometimes they don't. I have heard of the Novenas but never heard the part where you need to leave copies in the church. I will continue to pray to St.Jude and through him to God I still hope that prayers will be answered.

i have never heard of this either,only to pray the novena of st.jude for 9 days at the same time everyday, and to keep a candle lit for him and to promise to publicise it to friend and family or a like myspace. st jude does help alot he has help me so much.god bless everyone. Rosario

I found a copy of the prayer with instructions to make 81 copies and leave it in the church for nine days. I followed the instructions and what I believed was hopeless came true. It really did and it was because of my faith. The leaving of the copies I believe is to show your dedication and faith in the process. Thanks be to God and St. Jude for interceding on my behalf.

Weellll, if you'll believe that - I have a bridge in Sydney to sell you!

I made a novena to St. Jude a month ago. It said nothing about leaving copies in church. Nothing has happened yet, but he intercedes for you to God. I believe, being a Catholic, that God does what is best for you and if it is not answered the way I asked, God has a good reason for it and it will be shown to me soon why it will or not be answered. I believe God will do what is best for me and soon I will see why.

to Takei-Shihan From what i understand, you are not putting st. jude in front, what you are doing is asking her for help, but she really doesnt do anything, she recieves the prayer, but god is the one who does it. for "example",if you ask a stranger for a pencil, he may or may not give you the pencil, but if you ask his friend, and his friend asks the "stranger" it is easier for him to let you borrow the pencil. this is my understanding.

Not Biblical. That's fairly comparable to ancestor worship. Why would you want this guy's help when you could ask God? Doesn't make ANY sense WHATSOEVER to me...

I would like point out to Takei-Shihan that he is correct saying that as Christians we are not to worship any other Gods but One. And we don't! When talking about Catholics and their Novena's there is a HUGE misconception that did not get explained, and that is that Catholics who pray to Saints or his mother Mary are worshiping them. I want to make it very clear that to pray to a Saint or to Mary is NOT worship nor is it putting them above God. As a matter of fact Takei wrote the prayer to St Jude which actually points out that St Jude is NOT above GOd! God gave St Jude a special gift and God gave St Jude the graces to help those in need...But it is BECAUSE of God St Jude is able or allowed to perform miracles. The apostles were anointed to assist Christ...God is the reason for everything and is given credit...the Saints and his mother Mary are wonderful assistants...just like a store owner has managers to help him... God has appointed such positions, but by no means are they ABOVE God or to be worshiped. It is also like asking a family member to pray for you, by praying to a Saint you are only asking for them to pray for you or assist you...A Saint is a lot closer to GOD spiritually so it really helps. In a Novena to St Jude you are simply asking St Jude to hand deliver your prayer request to God and with Gods good graces St Jude is permitted to use his talent and assist you...trust me it works better than you going to God directly. St Jude and other Saints are a lot more worthy to ask favors sometimes than we are ha ha...that's all Some Catholics are just ignorant about their own faith and just aren't sure how to explain why they pray to Saints or to Mary. Many Protestants and other religions think it's worshiping them when you don't just ask God directly but of course you CAN, that is just as fine. Saints are appointed by God to help us, they are gifts from God and so are their special talents. I'm glad to have such good connections when I haven't been the best person...If I need something I can always have a Saint ask on my behalf! Novena's, in a nut shell, are wonderful. sometimes you don't always get what you want, but you get what you NEED.

I said that Novena as a teenager, cant say if it worked, who knows what I was praying for as a kid. However, the leaving 9 copies in a church is new, you don't have to do that. If it works, just come back here and tell us, tell others so tat they can benefit too. My favorite Novena as a kid was the one to St Theresa, she'll supposably send you a rose.

i am a good christian and belive in anything concerning GOD AND CHRIST and ibelive in faith so thy faith will defnatly answer your prayers.

And still, you come here wondering if the stuff works? If you tried to start your car 9 times each day for 9 consecutive days, would you realize before or after the 9th day that it's broken? Better yet would you realize it at all? Or would you pray 9 times each day, in 9 consecutive days for the next 9 days before you called a mechanic? Do you think you would have to call the mechanic 9 times each day for 9 consecutive days before he came to fix your car?

I will say yes as I just started one tonight for a very desperate situation. I certainly hope it does and when it is answered, I will post on the St. Jude novena site.

I get my prayers answered when I go directly to Jesus that is what the bible says to do.

Each and every time I've prayed the Novena to St. Jude, my prayers have been answered. I will always be grateful to St. Jude for being a saviour of mine. THANK YOU ST. JUDE FOR PRAYERS ANSWERED! P.S. I have never left copies in a church. I've only published the prayer in the newspaper or online.

I am catholic but consider myself more spiritual. I am doing a novena this week to St jude. i am following it to a t because I am in need of a miracle. Todays is the 3rd day and one good thing is i have not cried since started it. Prior to that, i cried for 3 days in a row. I am certain he will come through for me and will let you know of my miracle.

it has been 19 days since I made 81 copies leaving 9 copies in 9 different churches and praying to Saint Jude. I have to say that I'm still waiting for that answered prayer. I'm a little let down, No! I'm really disappointed because my religious believes have been challenged and I'm at lost. What do one gather from this, one can make up their own conclussion.

I don't think god makes that kidna bargain.

No. The earth would obviously be a better place.

Do saints hear prayer? Are they dead?...Can they answer prayer? And If I remember right theres alittle verse in the bible, (I dont have it offa the top of my head) But it says pretty much to not waste your time in repetitive prayer...Just cuz its said over and over doesnt mean that its gonna make that prayer come true faster, or increase the blessings or outcomes anymore than saying it once. God hears a prayer the first time, and allows the blessing to come when it is most needed to the person. He knows what the heart needs. So I dont see why saying it more than once will really help, expecially to a saint. But thats just me, and its just what the bible says. ?

Never known to fail? Great. Then hospitals will be fixed in nine days. Wars will cease in 9 days. Elvis will be resurrected in 9 days. We will all be the richest person in the world in 9 days. We will all be happy in 9 days. Who wrote that guarantee? I want to take them to court. Should be liable to a case.

I'm Catholic and as everybody sometimes faith is difficult to achieve, these days are difficult for many to stick to their religion because of the wars, the hunger, the pooverty, now the disease... Praying a Novena is sort of getting close to God trhough a Saint You might pray the Novena asking for the world sake, for the homeless, for the people whose faith is weak, for your family and friends and of course for your need, but not expecting that if you pray a Noven you will win the lotto or something, because a lot of people pray in that way, sometimes we misunderstand the meaning of praying It is good to pray and if you do it with faith God will listen

Jesus himself said in Matthew 6:7 "And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words." I am Catholic myself, and I can't understand how we missed that one. There are a few other things Catholics do that doesn't follow the Bible. I guess when you get that big as a church, you can write your own Bible? So, to answer your question, I would avoid any repetitive praying and pray to God in your own words and on your own terms.

It makes newspaper classified departments profitable but that's about it.

YES. St. Jude is the patron saint of lost causes or cases where nothing seems to work. I've prayed to St Jude 2 times in my life, followed the novena for 9 days. Before the final day, the prayers were being answered. You may not get exactly what you want but you will get what you need. Have faith.