St. James, the Greater July 25th

 

Today we celebrate the feast of St. James, the apostle, often called “James the Greater”. He was called by Jesus to be closely associated with Him throughout His public ministry. He was one of three, together with Peter and John, whom Jesus would take aside, as privilege witnesses. All three were present at the transfiguration on Mount Tabor, at the raising of the daughter of Jairus to life, and during the agony of Jesus in Garden of Gethsemane.

He and his brother John were called sons of thunder, because of their temper, as they wanted to call down fire on those who reject Jesus.

James and his brother John, most likely asked their mother, Mrs. Zebedee, to ask Jesus, if they could have places of honor in Our Lord’s kingdom.

The Apostles learned the lesson Jesus taught on this occasion: “Anyone among you who aspires to greatness, must serve the rest”.

There is a tradition, he preached the Gospel in Spain before he returned to Jerusalem. Santiago, Spain is named after him.

As noted in the Acts of the Apostles. He was the first apostle to share the cup of suffering and death, which the Lord spoke of in today’s Gospel.

According to tradition, James, brother of Saint John the Evangelist, traveled with great effort to Roman Hispania (modern-day Spain) to evangelize the local tribes. He not only confronted great difficulties but he also saw very little apostolic fruits of conversion. Tradition says that when he was at his lowest point of discouragement, in A.D. 40, while he was sitting by the banks of the Ebro river in Zaragoza, Mary appeared to him accompanied by thousands of angels, to console and encourage him. The Virgin Mary, with the Child Jesus in Her arms standing on a pillar, asked Saint James and his eight disciples to build a church on the site, promising that “it will stand from that moment until the end of time in order that God may work miracles and wonders through My intercession for all those who place themselves under My patronage.” “The church of Our Lady of the Pillar in Zaragoza, is the first church dedicated to Mary in history and it remains standing to this day, having survived invasions and wars.

When St. James returned from Spain in 42AD, he was brought before King Herod Agrippa, and his fearless confession of Jesus crucified, so moved the public procurator that he declared himself Christian on the spot. James and the procurator were carried off together for execution. The procurator turned to James asking for his forgiveness, but he hesitated since he had not yet been baptized. God quickly called to his mind the Church’s faith, that the blood of martyrdom supplies for the sacrament, he then embraced him with the words, “Peace be with you!” Together they knelt for the sword, and together received the crown of martyrdom.

In Santiago, the basilica of St. James is believed to hold his relics. The basilica also contains the world largest thurible, which is swung with incense, only on special occasions.

There is also a legend St. James, centuries later, appeared on a horse near the ocean to scare off attacking Muslims.

Today, let us ask Mary, the Queen of Apostles, to grant us that transformation, which changed James from seeking the greatest honor, to accept the chalice of suffering. Through our daily martyrdom, may we accept the chalice of suffering.