I'm not a Christian so I could be wrong...

[CurlewKate]

...but is it a little insensitive to tell someone (not me, and not a very close friend so no need for good wishes for me) who is about to have major surgery, that you are praying to St Jude for them?

It is when you know, as many do, that Jude is the patron saint of hopeless causes.

Because I know what praying to St Jude actually means due to this thread, as an atheist, I think it’s very funny

St Jude is also patron Saint of hope and desperate situations. Most Saints are patrons of more than one thing.

Suddenly reflecting on the song hey jude with additional relevant info

It's definitely something to do with hope because there's hospitals called st Jude and there is (or was) a major USA children's hospital charity hospital. Being c of e I'm not really up to date on saints

TBH as an Atheist I couldn't care less who anyone prayed to wrt my health. St Jude being the patron saint of lost causes bothers me not a jot as he doesn't mean anything to me. If the person doing the praying believes it will help then let them crack on makes no difference to me.

I’d think praying to St Jude - the patron saint of hopeless cases?? would be very insensitive, but not praying per se.

It would be a truly wasted day if nobody took offence for something :)) Even a good willing, innocent prayer

"What do you pray to Saint Jude for?

Healing power is our Patron Saint's “sweet spot.” St. Jude's promises, even for what seem to be the most hopeless situations, are tied directly to his attentive listening, to his love of God and of us, and to our prayer. Devotional prayer to St. Jude inspires us to turn to him for healing."

Sorry-I was assuming everyone knew what I meant. Not prayers generally. Specific prayers to St Jude-the patron saint of lost causes! Or is he only that to Catholics?

St jude is a Rc saint yea. People pray to St jude "in desperate times" for healing I think the lost causes has been lost in translation a bit.

Oh well, at least this thread has shown up a lack of general knowledge among Mumsnetters!

It’s not a lack of general knowledge, it’s a lack of not caring about religion.

I think it’s a lack of general knowledge.

Whether you’re a believer or not, Christianity underpins much of our history and cultureand it’s impossible to fully understand those without a decent knowledge of Christianity.

It should be much better taught in schools IMO.

My late lovely mum was Church of Scotland too..she used to pray to St J, whenever she lost something . I swear it seemed to work 😂
I'm agnostic so used to be bewildered by it.

Not all branches of Christianity are big on saints. Including the branch underpinning much of the last 500 years of history in the UK, if you want to go there.

I agree I do think taking an interest and knowing a little bit about religion /Christianity/ other faiths should be general knowledge. I'm not religious I don't believe in God's or saints but I find religion interesting.

This

But it’s not just that it’s interesting. You can’t understand much of our history, our culture or our institutions if you don’t have a good knowledge of Christianity.

You obviously don't know who St Jude is...

My mother would be praying to St Anthony as apparently he's an all rounder who doesn't just find lost things. My friend's mother would be similar. However I'm never heard of anyone going to Jude for general stuff. He's only got one specialism and that's lost causes.

I think it would be appalling to say that to someone and I'm an atheist who thinks it's all nonsense. I would, however, appreciate someone telling me they would pray for me or pray to a different saint so long as their specialism wasn't anything awful.

@Boredlass "It’s not a lack of general knowledge, it’s a lack of not caring about religion"

I disagree. General knowledge is just that, general. Not only relating to stuff you're interested in.

He probably passed the job on to St Anthony as he's your man for lost stuff.

I think someone saying a prayer for you is nice - but not to St Jude! I would find that a bit upsetting.

OK - from this thread I have seen the healing prayer but before that I would have thought of the lost causes.

I honestly don’t think that not knowing all the RC saints is indicative of a lack of general knowledge

lots of people will know the more ‘basic’ saints

Bollocks. At least read the thread.

And if you actually read my post you would see that I say I have never heard of him being utilised for anything other than lost causes so yes, I would think it was appalling.

I was brought up Irish catholic so am well versed in saints. I don't know anyone, including the nuns at school, who would think of him for anything else. You would only pray to him if the illness was very severe/life threatening.