General Information
Together with his brother Saint John, Saint James was among
the first disciples called by Jesus (Matt. 4:21). These
sons of Zebedee, called the Boanerges ("Sons of Thunder"),
joined the brothers Peter and Andrew, also fishermen by
trade, in a close inner circle around Jesus. James, Peter,
and John were the only disciples present, for example, at
the Transfiguration (Luke 9) and near Jesus in the Garden
of Gethsemane. James was martyred under Herod Agrippa I
(Acts 12). According to legend, his bones were taken to
Spain, and his shrine at Santiago de Compostela was one of
the most important pilgrimage centers in the Middle Ages.
Feast day: Apr. 30 (Eastern); July 25 (Western).
Saint James (James the Lesser)
General Information
Saint James the Lesser was the Apostle James, son of
Alphaeus and disciple of Jesus (Mark 3:18). His mother,
Mary, was one of the women at the crucifixion and at the
tomb (Matt. 10:3; 27:56, Mark 15:40; 16:1; Acts 1:13).
This James is sometimes identified with James the "brother
of Jesus," although this and other identifications are
unproven. Feast day: Oct. 9 (Eastern); May 3 (Western,
since 1969).
Saint James
Advanced Information
- (1.) The son of Zebedee and Salome; an elder brother of John the
apostle. He was one of the Twelve. He was by trade a fisherman, in
partnership with Peter (Matt. 20:20; 27:56). With John and Peter he was
present at the transfiguration (Matt. 17:1; Mark 9:2), at the raising
of Jairus's daughter (Mark 5:37-43), and in the garden with our Lord
(14:33). Because, probably, of their boldness and energy, he and John
were called Boanerges, i.e., "sons of thunder." He was the first martyr
among the apostles, having been beheaded by King Herod Agrippa (Acts
12:1, 2), A.D. 44. (Comp. Matt. 4:21; 20:20-23).
- (2.) The son of Alphaeus, or Cleopas, "the brother"
or near kinsman or cousin of our Lord (Gal. 1:18, 19), called
James "the Less," or "the Little,"
probably because he was of low stature. He is mentioned along with the
other apostles (Matt. 10:3; Mark 3:18; Luke 6:15). He had a separate
interview with our Lord after his resurrection (1 Cor. 15:7), and is
mentioned as one of the apostles of the circumcision (Acts 1:13). He
appears to have occupied the position of head of the Church at
Jerusalem, where he presided at the council held to consider the case
of the Gentiles (Acts 12:17; 15:13-29: 21:18-24). This James was the
author of the epistle which bears his name.
- (3.) The Lord's brother [some scholars consider this to have been
a separate person from the person above] (Matt. 13:55; Mark 6:3;
Gal. 1:19); did not
accept Jesus' claims during His Ministry (John 7:5), but did after
the Resurrection (1Cor. 15:17). This James might also have been the
one who headed the Church at Jerusalem, and presided at the Council.
He gave advice to Paul (Acts 21).
- (4.) Father of Apostle Judas (not Iscariot) (Luke 6:16; Acts 1:13)
Also, see:
Epistle of James
Apostles
subject=Saint_James
saintjames
