Feast of Saint James, Apostle

Often referred to as James the Greater, this son of Zebedee and his brother John were fishermen by trade. The brothers were with their father mending their nets when Jesus was passing by and invited them to become “fishers of men.” James and John left their nets, their boat, and their father to follow Jesus. James was among the most courageous and enthusiastic apostles. He was present when Jesus brought Jairus’ daughter from death into life, and he witnessed both the Transfiguration and the agony in the garden of Gethsemani.

Known as the “sons of thunder,” James and John were both bold and a bit unruly at times. When the Samaritans would not welcome Jesus because he was on his way to Jerusalem, James and John asked Jesus: “Lord, do you want us to call down fire from heaven to consume them” (Luke 9: 54). Matthew’s Gospel reports that their mother approached Jesus to request that her two sons “…sit, one at your right and the other at your left, in your kingdom” (20: 21), while Mark’s Gospel notes that the brothers said: “Grant that in your glory we may sit one at your right and the other at your left” (10: 37). Jesus replied, “You do not know what you are asking. Can you drink the cup that I am going to drink,” and they responded, “We can” (Matthew 20: 22). Jesus then told them they would indeed drink the cup and share his baptism of pain and death, but that sitting at his right hand or left was not his to give.

After the life, death , and resurrection of Jesus Christ, Saint James, like many apostles,  embarked on journeys to proclaim the Gospel. According to historical and ecclesiastical accounts, he travelled as far as the Iberian Peninsula (modern-day Spain and Portugal). Saint James’ courage and determination never wavered, and his martyrdom is recorded in the Acts of the Apostles. “About that time King Herod laid hands upon some members of the church to harm them. He had James, the brother of John, killed by the sword…” (Acts 12:1-2).