St. James the Greater
Apostle
St. James the Greater
Apostle
Patron of Laborers
For James there was no indication that this was the day that his life would change. The dawn for him was not the bright beginning of a new day, but the end of long fruitless night of fishing. As James sat mending his nets in the boat with his brother John and his father Zebedee, he must have watched in wonder as his partner Simon brought in nets loaded with fish he had caught at the command of Jesus. Was he shocked when he saw Simon and his brother Andrew walk away from this incredible catch at a word from this same Jesus?
As he watched Jesus walk toward him followed by Simon and Andrew, did he feel curiosity, fear, hope, envy? Jesus didn't pass him by but, stopping by their boat, called James and his brother John to do just what Simon and Andrew had done. Without argument or discussion, James and John left their boat and even their father behind, and followed Jesus.
The first thing James saw after he followed Jesus was his teaching with authority in the synagogue and the cure of Simon's mother-in-law.
We all know that Jesus was the focus of James' life from then on, but it is also evident that James held a special place in Jesus' life.
He was chosen by Jesus to be one of the twelve apostles, given the mission to proclaim the good news, and authority to heal and cast out demons. To be named one of the twelve James must have had faith and commitment.
But even among the apostles he held a special place. When Jesus raised Jairus' daughter when all thought her dead, he only allowed James, John, and Peter to come with him. Even more important when he went up to the mountain to pray, he wanted James, John, and Peter to go with him. And it was there on the mountain they were privileged to witness what no one else had seen -- Jesus transfigured in his glory, speaking to Moses and Elijah, as the voice of God spoke from a cloud.
And with Simon Peter, James and John were the only ones of the apostles that Jesus gave a special name: Sons of Thunder.
To be singled out in these ways, James must have been a close and respected friend of Jesus.
It's no wonder then that James, along with John, felt that he had the right to go to Jesus and ask him to give them whatever they asked. As a mark of his love, Jesus didn't rebuke them but asked them what they wanted. They showed their lack of understanding of his mission when the asked that he let one of them sit on his right and the other on his left when he came into his glory. He replied that they didn't know what they were asking. They didn't see the cross in his future, but an earthly throne. Could they drink of the cup he would drink of? They replied that they could. He assured them they would indeed drink of that cup.
(Matthew has their mother asking for this favor for her sons. Despite the bad reputation their mother got for this, it should be remembered that she too had followed Jesus in his travels, providing for him, and was one of the women who stayed with Jesus as he was crucified when the apostles, including her son James, had fled.)
The other apostles were furious at this request. But Jesus used this opportunity to teach all of them that in order to be great one must be a servant.
James and John did show further lack of understanding of their friend and Lord when he was turned away by Samaritans. They wanted to use their newfound authority as apostles not to heal but to bring fire down on the town. (Perhaps Jesus gave them their Sons of Thunder nickname because of their passion, their own fire, or their temper.) Jesus did reprimand them for their unforgiving, vengeful view of their power.
But despite all these misunderstandings, it was still James, Peter, and John that Jesus chose to join him in prayer at the Garden of Gethsemane for his final prayer before his arrest. It must have hurt Jesus that the three of them fell asleep on this agonizing evening.
James did drink of the cup Jesus drank of, all too shortly after the Resurrection. Acts 12:1 tells us that James was one of the first martyrs of the Church. King Herod Agrippa I killed him with a sword in an early persecution of the Church. There is a story that the man who arrested James became a convert after hearing James speak at his trial and was executed with him.
James is called James the Greater because another younger apostle was named James. He should not be accused with this James, or the James who is a relative of Jesus, or the James who was an elder of the Church in Jerusalem and heard Peter's defense of baptizing Gentiles. James, son of Thunder, was dead by then.
Legends have sprung up that James evangelized Spain before he died but these stories have no basis in historical fact.
James is the patron saint of hatmakers, rheumatoid sufferers, and laborers.
In His FootstepsWhat name would Jesus give you if he would describe who you are and your gifts?
Prayer:Saint James, pray for us that we may be willing to leave everything to follow Jesus as you did. Help us to become special friends of Jesus as you were. Amen
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Dear Saint James,
Since I come from a village which is being protected by your patronage, kindly help me to overcome my difficulties in my faith and instill the willingness to sacrifice anything and everything for the faith in Christ. Enable me to become a martyr like you for Christ. Pray for me for the forgiveness of my sins and strength and courage to overcome the world. Amen.
Why dont you at lest have l10 facts about him gosh yall fail i mean i failed a report becaues i only got little facts i needed ten and i only had 3 wtc
Dear Saint James The Greater, Apostle of our Lord Jesus Christ, You were there during the tabulations of those days, pray for me and my family that we all follow your footsteps that you left what you were preoccupied with and you made a firm decision to follow the Christ, pray for us to join you in the glory with our Lord Jesus, Pray for us that we have the holy spirit in our lives, We also ask you to pray for Jackline my wife to find employment as she been unfairly dismissed from her previous job, pray for us that all bad evils or strings of curses are completely broken and burned to ashes and buried with the devil. we pray all this for you who was close to the Lord here on earth and in heaven. Amen.
This site was opened by me today as a reminder of the day I had been to the Church of St.Anne Penang, Malaysia, along with my wife,a Hindu friend drove me in his car to the church.
I am happy to read the life of Saints & looking forward to have a next visit to St.Anne's Church for the next year Novena 2013.
Wishing Rev. Fathers & Members of the Church A HAPPY FEAST, GOD BLESS & The good work on this site.
I have read many commentries on the life of St. James but this one is touching. We are in a period when people feel they know the bible so much. The story of the lives of Saints is a treasure not yet discovered by preachers to attract many souls back to the Church.
St.James the greater, apostle and martyr. Happy feast day. Please pray that I be humble in my Christian life. Give me great graces to work for the glory of God. Thank you for your life,
St. James the Apostle, please help me to tide over the situation that I face today, with humility, courage and fortitude.
St.James the dearest disciple of Jesus....pls pray for us and my family that in our lives may his will be done and pls pray that our lives are upto his mercy and also pls pray that we may filled &strengthened by his holy spirit.Amen.....thank U for all you prayers for us !! All glory to god !!
well helped for a school project ;)
i guesss this was helpful for my school project so thanks =D
I was looking for his missionary journey for report...greaaaat:(
we are going into the times when saints will come to the forefront, people will be directed to this,from a simple programe came complicated minds, tell your friends, we have won the war, raise your heads, its over, the gate is closed, praise the lord, and his blessed mother.xxx
ST.JAMES PRAY FOR US
I LOVE GOD
I like the it it gives better info then Wikipedia
I can't Believe that this Web Haz so much Saints WOW
I never forgot my God St.James bz now which position i am sitting that is the gift my st james. Again i wl do toomuch help to my st james church in my native place
My wife and I are planning to honor St. James by completeing the walk sometime in 2012. He is an inspiration to all catholics and it is our honor to complete this for him.
Its a very well written document and resourceful. One typo error but not a big deal many people most of got the main idea of the biography it was well organized according to topic not like others write on run sentences where people cant the main topic they are looking for but otherwise very helpful must of took alot of time to write this excellent report
Its a very well written document and resourceful. One typo error but not a big deal many people most of got the main idea of the biography it was well organized according to topic not like others write on run sentences where people cant the main topic they are looking for but otherwise very helpful must of took alot of time to write this excellent report