Prayers to Judas

[Epistemes]

I pray to Judas every evening before falling asleep. I state my belief that he is in heaven with Jesus and I ask for his intercession like I would any other saint.

Will I go to Hell for this practice??

 

[Contrabass101]

Why do you do that?

Why do you believe that?

Why do you think you’ll go to hell?

 

[James0235]

I pray to Judas every evening before falling asleep. I state my belief that he is in heaven with Jesus and I ask for his intercession like I would any other saint.

Will I go to Hell for this practice??

I don’t know that it is necessarily a sinful practice. But, it is probably pointless. The Bible very strongly suggests that Judas is in hell:

**The Son of Man indeed goes, as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed. It would be better for that man if he had never been born."Then Judas, his betrayer, said in reply, “Surely it is not I, Rabbi?” He answered, “You have said so.” (Matthew 26:24-25)

When I was with them I protected them in your name that you gave me, and I guarded them, and none of them was lost except the son of destruction, in order that the scripture might be fulfilled. (John 17:12)

**I am unaware of the Church ever formally declaring that Judas is in hell though. If that is true than you should probably be praying for Judas rather than to him.

James

 

[Fidelis]

I can’t see one being sent to hell for this (unless there’s something else you’re not telling us about your motives). I think the general consensus will be, given what we know about Judas from the Scriptures and the fact that the Church has had plenty of time to consider canonizing him but has not, is you are quite likely wasting your prayers.

If your thinking is sincere but mistaken and your motive is pure, God can, of course direct, your prayers to whatever good He deems will accomplish His will.

 

[randomguy0187]

you know, St. Jude is also sometimes referenced as St. Judas Thaddaeus People tend to forget him because he shares a name with Judas Iscariot.

here’s a common prayer to him (which references the above fact):

Most holy apostle, St. Jude, faithful servant and friend of Jesus, the name of the traitor who delivered thy beloved Master into the hands of His enemies hath caused thee to be forgotten by many, but the Church honors and invokes thee universally as the patron of hopeless cases, of things despaired of. Pray for me, who am so miserable. Make use, I implore thee, of that particular privilege accorded to thee, to bring visible and speedy help where help is almost despaired of. Come to my assistance in this great need that I may receive the consolation and succor of Heaven in all my necessities, tribulations, and sufferings, particularly – (Mention your request) and that I may praise God with thee and all the elect throughout eternity. I promise, O blessed Jude, to be ever mindful of this great favor, and I will never cease to honor thee as my special and powerful patron, and to do all in my power to encourage devotion to thee. Amen.

 

[Sophomore]

I too wonder what the purpose, or maybe better stated, the motivation behind praying to Judas Iscariot. God’s grace is all powerful and he certainly could have redeemed Judas in the last moments of his life. The Church, however will never declare Judas or anyone else, outside of Lucifer, to be in Hell. It never has/never will.

I believe that Judas’ redemption is best left in God’s hands. Maybe better to pray for him instead of for his intercession before Christ.

Now as for St. Jude; I believe that the Thomas family would argue with you regarding his being overlooked: stjude.org/stjude/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=3f08fa2454e70110VgnVCM1000001e0215acRCRD&vgnextchannel=bc67ef9e87018010VgnVCM1000000e2015acRCRD

 

[randomguy0187]

Now as for St. Jude; I believe that the Thomas family would argue with you regarding his being overlooked: stjude.org/stjude/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=3f08fa2454e70110VgnVCM1000001e0215acRCRD&vgnextchannel=bc67ef9e87018010VgnVCM1000000e2015acRCRD

touche the overlookedness (I know I just made up a word) of St. Jude is more of a historical thing (quote from wikipedia):

Many Christians, especially in the past, reckoned him as Judas Iscariot and avoided prayers on behalf of him. Therefore he was also called the “Forgotten Saint”. Devotion to Saint Jude began again in earnest in the 1800s, starting in Italy and Spain, spreading to South America, and finally to the U.S. (starting in the area around Chicago) owing to the influence of the Claretians in the 1920s. Novena prayers to St. Jude helped people, especially newly arrived immigrants from Europe, deal with the pressures caused by the Great Depression, World War II, and the changing workplace and family life.

 

[Nita]

I pray to Judas every evening before falling asleep. I state my belief that he is in heaven with Jesus and I ask for his intercession like I would any other saint.

Will I go to Hell for this practice??

As Sophomore suggested, it might be better to pray FOR Judas:

1. pray that God grant him the grace of final repentence (time is not a factor with God)
2. if he did repent, there is the possibility he is still in Purgatory. Pray for him as you do for others who die and may be in Purgatory…

Our prayers are not wasted. If they cannot be applied to the one we specify, God will use them elsewhere.

Nita

 

[Paul2274]

you know, St. Jude is also sometimes referenced as St. Judas Thaddaeus People tend to forget him because he shares a name with Judas Iscariot.

I’ve never heard of St Jude refered to as St Judas, interesting.

There is a St JUDAS CYRIACUS
Also known as
Cyriacus of Ancona; Judas Quiriacus; Quiriacus
Memorial
4 May
Profile
Bishop of Ancona, Italy, possibly the first. Martyred, possibly while on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem. His name has led to much speculation about his origin, about which we know nothing for sure, and many legends, some blatantly anti-Jewish, have been attached to his story.
Name Meaning
praise (Judas)
Patronage
Ancona, Italy

Paul

 

[holdencaulfield]

I pray to Judas every evening before falling asleep. I state my belief that he is in heaven with Jesus and I ask for his intercession like I would any other saint.

Will I go to Hell for this practice??

How could Judas be in Heaven. Not only did he condemn our Lord to death, but by doing so he alienated himself from God. So he is surely in Hell. Furthermore he committed suicide, which the Church teaches as a sin that will send one to Hell, because they have had no possible chance of repenting. I wouldn’t say you would go to Hell, however I would advise you stop this immediately as this would be similar to praying to a demon.

 

[holdencaulfield]

you know, St. Jude is also sometimes referenced as St. Judas Thaddaeus People tend to forget him because he shares a name with Judas Iscariot.

St. Jude’s real name is Judas Thaddaeus. I believe the name change took place sometime before he wrote his epistle. St. Jude is the patron saint to people of hopeless causes, because people often forget who he is, because he shares the name with Judas Iscariot.

"Then Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said, “But, Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?” (John 14:22)

“When they arrived, they went upstairs to the room where they were staying. Those present were Peter, John, James and Andrew; Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew; James son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James.” (Acts 1:13)

“Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and a brother of James” (Jude 1)

 

[Yerusalyim]

How could Judas be in Heaven. Not only did he condemn our Lord to death, but by doing so he alienated himself from God. So he is surely in Hell. Furthermore he committed suicide, which the Church teaches as a sin that will send one to Hell, because they have had no possible chance of repenting. I wouldn’t say you would go to Hell, however I would advise you stop this immediately as this would be similar to praying to a demon.

I quote for you the words of Christ, Judge not, lest ye be judged…You have NO IDEA what was in the heart and mind of Judas Iscariot at the point of his death. How could he be in heaven? Because God is a loving and merciful and just God.
Actually, Judas betrayed Jesus, Pilot condemned Jesus to death. It is possible that Judas repented before his death…YOU have no idea. The Catholic Church has never said any specific individual is in hell…you know better than the Church? Stop being so judgemental…What Judas did was wrong, but you have NO IDEA what the state of his soul was when he died.

I wouldn’t recommend praying to Judas…though I’m sure if he’s not there the intention is picked up on and God knows your heart. I would only ask for the prayers of declared saints and family members who have gone before you.

 

[LilyM]

I too wonder what the purpose, or maybe better stated, the motivation behind praying to Judas Iscariot. God’s grace is all powerful and he certainly could have redeemed Judas in the last moments of his life. The Church, however will never declare Judas or anyone else, outside of Lucifer, to be in Hell. It never has/never will.

I believe that Judas’ redemption is best left in God’s hands. Maybe better to pray for him instead of for his intercession before Christ.

I too wonder - Epistemes, upon what information do you base your belief that Judas Iscariot is in heaven? Are you privy to special information that no other Catholic of the last 2000 years has had? Has he obtained miracles for you through his intercession? If so it may warrant sending to Rome to investigate!

In the end, I would be extremely hesitant to treat as certain the fate of any soul apart from those whose lives have been documented and canonisation officially pronounced by the Church.

Surely it is overreaching at least a little to presume knowledge of such things which are surely, apart from those souls whose sainthood He makes known to us, God’s business alone. Not a damnable sin, I’m sure, but grasping the wrong end of the stick at least.

 

[Fidelis]

Nothing against the OP or the question, but has anyone noticed the recent surge in interest – even sympathy – for Judas Iscariot in these forums?

Is it, perhaps, because of the recent spate of dopey books and TV specials about the so-called “Gospel of Judas”?

The "Gospel of Judas"

Interview With Father Thomas Williams, Theology Dean

ROME, APRIL 5, 2006 (Zenit.org).- *The National Geographic Society has announced its intentions to publish an English translation of an ancient text called “The Gospel of Judas” later this month.

The 31-page manuscript, written in Coptic, purportedly surfaced in Geneva in 1983 and has only been translated now.

ZENIT asked Legionary Father Thomas D. Williams, dean of theology at the Regina Apostolorum university in Rome, to comment on the relevance of the discovery.*

Q: What is the “Gospel of Judas”?

Father Williams: Though the manuscript still must be authenticated, it likely represents a fourth- or fifth-century text, and is a copy of an earlier document produced by a Gnostic sect called the Cainites.

The document paints Judas Iscariot in a positive light, and describes him as obeying a divine ordinance in handing over Jesus to the authorities for the salvation of the world.

It may well be a copy of the “Gospel of Judas” referred to by St. Irenaeus of Lyons in his work “Against the Heresies,” written around A.D. 180.

Q: If authentic, what challenge would this document pose to traditional Christian belief? Will it “shake Christianity to its foundations” as some press releases have suggested?

Father Williams: Certainly not. The Gnostic gospels, of which there are many besides this one, are not Christian documents per se, since they proceed from a syncretistic sect that incorporated elements from different religions, including Christianity.

From the moment of their appearance, the Christian community rejected these documents because of their incompatibility with the Christian faith.

See entire article:
zenit.org/article-15726?l=english

 

[dz102789]

We do not know who is in hell and we shouldn’t speculate, but i would STRONGLY suggest not asking for intercession from Judas. Seeing that it is strongly suggested in scripture that Judas committed a mortal sin and didn’t repent there is a possibility that he is in hell, and praying to someone in hell is like praying to a demon and it can bring about great evil. You are possibly putting yourself and your spiritual life in GREAT DANGER! Only ask for the intercession of saints and blessed’s recognized by the Church.

 

[mschrank]

I pray to Judas every evening before falling asleep. I state my belief that he is in heaven with Jesus and I ask for his intercession like I would any other saint.

Will I go to Hell for this practice??

No, but you might get in touch with the devil that oppressed him and he might help you get there.

 

[holdencaulfield]

No, but you might get in touch with the devil that oppressed him and he might help you get there.

Yes, good point.

 

[Gottle_of_Geer]

As Sophomore suggested, it might be better to pray FOR Judas:

1. pray that God grant him the grace of final repentence (time is not a factor with God)
2. if he did repent, there is the possibility he is still in Purgatory. Pray for him as you do for others who die and may be in Purgatory…

Our prayers are not wasted. If they cannot be applied to the one we specify, God will use them elsewhere.

Nita

God is not affected by time, but we are - otherwise, it would be possible to pray that (say) the Second World War might be averted, Or any other past evil one cares to think of. ​

 

[blessed_wife]

I pray to Judas every evening before falling asleep. I state my belief that he is in heaven with Jesus and I ask for his intercession like I would any other saint.

Will I go to Hell for this practice??

First of all, as the Holy Mother Church never states whether a soul is in Hell, I shall certainly not judge if you will be in hell. You, like me, are at the Mercy and Just Judgment of Christ. Second of all, why would you pray to one of the Apostles who you are not sure whether he is in Heaven or Hell when the Church has declared myriad Saints to be in Heaven? Who knows. Maybe Judas the Iscariot was immediately cast down into the pits of Hell as he still refused to accept the love and mercy of Jesus. Or maybe Judas is still in Purgatory. Or maybe Judas repented, but that one, in my opinion seems the less likely as he hung himself after running away and turning Jesus over…I guess we shall all find out at the Final Judgment.

 

[holdencaulfield]

Judas could have repented if he wanted to. I see no reason that would have prevented him from doing so. I believe he felt guilt over what he did, so he hung himself. If he had wanted to repent then he could of just like St. Peter. Look at St. Peter, now he is the leader of the Church. Perhaps he thought that he wouldn’t have been able to been forgiven, however this is contrary to everything he had learned from Christ. Furthermore, St. Luke records that Judas was possessed by Satan. Why would you pray for someone who was possessed. I don’t think anyone would say anything against praying for his soul in Purgatory, however if anyone is in Hell, I think it would be Judas. But who am I to judge.

“Then Satan entered Judas, called Iscariot, one of the Twelve.” (Luke 22:3)