About St. Jude Thaddeus Shrine of Saint Jude Thaddeus San Francisco, California . After the death and resurrection of Jesus, Saint Jude, the brother of James the Less and a cousin of Christ, traveled throughout Mesopotamia for a period of ten years preaching and converting many to Christianity. He died a martyr's death as tradition tells us he was clubbed to death and his head was then shattered with a broad ax. Sometime after his death, Jude's body was brought to Rome and placed in a crypt in Saint Peter's Basilica. Few things tell more about a man than the way in which a man speaks of himself.
Few things are more revealing than the titles by which a man wishes to be known.
Servant of Jesus Christ Saint Jude regarded himself as having one goal, one distinction in life, and this was to be permanently committed to the service of Jesus Christ. This permanent commitment ultimately rewarded Jude with the crown of martyrdom. When Jude introduces himself, he also addresses himself to his fellow Christians who also are called, loved, and kept by Jesus Christ. Jude is ready to render judgment of himself. Like Jude, every Christian who is committed to Christ, has a responsibility, accompanied by the joy of the call, and must always be ready to meet judgment of himself because of the talents that God gave him.