Feast of St.

James, Apostle
“St. James the Great”

St. James, the brother of St. John the Evangelist, is called the
Great, or the “Elder,” to distinguish him from the other apostle of
the same name who was younger.

The two brothers were fishing with their father Zebedee when
Jesus invited them to follow him.

Jesus gave them the name Boanerges, meaning “Son of Thunder”,

because of their impetuous temper. For example, when a Samaritan
town refused to entertain Christ, they suggested that he should call
down fire from heaven to consume it. Before Pentecost, their
vocation was still imperfect, as it appeared when their mother asked
Jesus to let them sit in his kingdom on his left and right hand.

St. James, with Peter and John, had the privilege to witness the
transfiguration of Jesus on Mount Tabor, and he was the first
among the apostles to die as a martyr. During the persecution off
Herod Agrippa I, in 44, St. James was captured and condemned to
death. His accuser was so impressed by his courage that he was
converted to Christianity and was beheaded with him.

Tradition says that St. James preached the Gospel as far as Spain,
which was considered the end of the earth. His body was later
transferred from Jerusalem to the Church of Santiago de
Campostela in Spain, which since the middle Ages has become one
of the greatest centers of pilgrimages.
ST. JAMES, APOSTLE