After reading missionary Gustavo Almeida's moving canonical text about his pilgrimage to the Campo Santo in Quintino on Championship Sunday, there's no one who doesn't feel like a believer. And today, more than ever, being a Flamengo fan is an exercise in faith. Even though I'm not Catholic, I'm the kind of fan who, when I read the news that the Flamengo team visited the Parish of Saint Jude Thaddeus to ask for the patron saint's blessing, feels closer to God. Entire libraries have been written about the fact that Flamengo is much more than a team, but in humility, I'd like to add that for the multitudes of communists, agnostics, dialectical materialists, atheists, and punks among our fans, Flamengo also bridges the gap with the divine. Personally, I harbor the hope that Flamengo will also intercede for nonbelievers in the highest courts of the upper floors.

In some strange way that my crude faith prevents me from expressing accurately or truthfully, the image of our stars adorned with the Mantle, in a contrite attitude in the sacred setting of the church, brings a sense of comfort and security that I find no parallel in the material world, and so I dare not even attempt to describe it. Putting my feet back on the ground, I emphasize the importance of maintaining this tradition of respect and worship at Flamengo. This tradition apparently began in the 50s thanks to the religious devotion of a priest whose name I've already been told but which I've miserably forgotten. But it's not difficult to know who our Patron Saint was.

Saint Jude Thaddeus, the Saint of desperate causes, was one of the Twelve Apostles chosen by the Son of Man to accompany him on his tour of the Holy Land. His father, Alphaeus, was the brother of Saint Joseph; his mother, Mary Cleophas, a first cousin of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Therefore, Jude Thaddeus was a first cousin of Jesus. Jude Thaddeus' brother, James, called the Lesser, was also a disciple of Jesus. He preached the Gospel until he reached Persia, where he was martyred after suffering many tortures. In his images, he is depicted with a club or an axe in his hand, as conflicting accounts claim he was beheaded or murdered with a club.

His body was taken to Rome, where it is venerated in St. Peter's Basilica. In 1539, Pope Paul III granted a plenary indulgence to those who visit his tomb on his feast day, which the Church established as October 28th. Ecclesiastical writers teach us that Saint Jude was the saint of devotion of Saint Bernard of Clairvaux and Saint Bridget, who fervently believed in his power of intercession in circumstances where, having exhausted all human means, causes seem utterly lost or hopeless. I don't know if there is a ranking of saints, but it must be admitted that being the Saint of Saints isn't for everyone.

Experts say the way to appeal to the Patron Saint is through persistent, humble, and trusting prayer, which attracts miracles. And this is how one should approach Saint Jude: with prayers, masses, novenas, visits to his chapels or churches where his image is located, and also, most especially, with alms. The lawyers present will help me, but I believe that in the specific case of the red-and-blacks, going to Maracanã Stadium this Wednesday during the game can technically be considered a visit to the temple of Saint Jude.

Now that we are only hours away from a huge, colossal battle, I see no reason not to deploy every resource at our disposal. Although I am very confident in our manifest destiny to dominate the world, I transcribe below one of the countless prayers dedicated to our Patron Saint.

St. Jude Thaddeus, glorious Apostle, faithful servant and friend of Jesus, many Christians invoke you as the special patron of desperate causes: pray for me. Pray for me that I may receive consolation and help from Heaven in my tribulations and anguish, especially (4-0), and that, finally, I may bless our God for all eternity, with you and with all the elect. So be it.