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James  , son of Zebedee
(d. AD 44) was one of the first disciples of Jesus. He was the son of Zebedee and Salome
and brother of John the Evangelist. He is called Saint James the Greater to distinguish him
from the other apostle named James (James, son of Alphaeus) (also known as James the Lesser).
James is described as one of the first disciples to join Jesus. The Synoptic Gospels state that
James and John were with their father by the seashore when Jesus called them to begin traveling.
According to Mark, James and John were called Boanerges, or the "Sons of Thunder." The Acts of the
Apostles 12:1-2 records that King Herod had James executed by sword.
His remains are said to be buried in Santiago de Compostela in Galicia (Spain).
Saint James is the patron saint of Spain and is related to the reconquista in the role
of moor-slayer. His burial town, Santiago de Compostela, is considered the third most
holy town of Catholicism (after Jerusalem and Rome). The pilgrimage to the grave of
the Saint has become the most popular pilgrimage for Western European Catholics from
the early middle ages onwards; making him one of the patron saints of pilgrimage. |
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THE SONS OF THUNDER
In Luke's gospel, Jesus spots early warning signs from his disciples as they travel
toward Jerusalem. These early warning signs indicate that violence is on the way unless
someone puts a stop to it. James and John show us why they were nicknamed Sons of Thunder.
Their outburst, upon entering a Samaritan village, was a thunderous early warning signal
to Jesus. One he countered, so that people would not be swept away by violence.
We know little about why Samaritans hated Jesus and his followers. Like all hatred on
the part of one group of people toward another, it is difficult to discover where it all started.
Perhaps there were tribal, cultural and ethnic differences that had created enmity between
Samaritans and Jesus' followers. This animosity becomes visible in today's story when the
Samaritans refuse to offer hospitality to Jesus and the disciples as they travel the hot,
dusty and dangerous road to Jerusalem.
Several incidents scattered through the Synoptics suggest that James and John had that
particular character indicated by the name Boanerges, sons of thunder, given to them by
the Lord (Mark 3:17); they were burning and impetuous in their evangelical zeal and severe
in temper. James and John, hungry, tired and expecting Middle Eastern hospitality, washed
feet, good food, and a place to sleep are outraged that it is denied them. And so, their thundering
voices are raised toward Jesus: "Lord, do you want us to command fire to come down from heaven
and consume them?" (Luke 9:54; cf. 9:49)
These firebrands, James and John, give Jesus an early warning signal that the disciples
still have not understood the nonviolent message Jesus has been trying to teach them. They still
don't understand that military might and violent warfare will not save them, or the world in which
they live. Later (Luke 22:47-51), as Roman troops come to arrest Jesus, his followers try to
defend him by crying out, "Lord, shall we draw our sword?" Before Jesus has a chance to respond,
one of them slices off the ear of a man charged to arrest him. When Jesus sees this, he cries out: "Enough!"
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The two sons of Zebedee, as well as Simon (Peter) and his brother Andrew with whom they were
in partnership (Luke 5:10), were called by the Lord upon the Sea of Galilee, where all four with
Zebedee and his hired servants were engaged in their ordinary occupation of fishing. The sons of
Zebedee "forthwith left their nets and father, and followed him" (Matthew 4:22), and became
"fishers of men".
St. James was afterwards with the other eleven called to the Apostleship
(Matthew 10:1-4; Mark 3:13-19; Luke 6:12-16; Acts 1:13). In all four lists the names of Peter
and Andrew, James and John form the first group, a prominent and chosen group (cf. Mark 13:3);
especially Peter, James, and John. These three Apostles alone were admitted to be present at the
miracle of the raising of Jairus's daughter (Mark 5:37; Luke 8:51), at the Transfiguration
(Mark 9:1; Matthew 17:1; Luke 9:28), and the Agony in Gethsemani (Matthew 26:37; Mark 14:33).
The fact that the name of James occurs always (except in Luke 8:51; 9:28; Acts 1:13 -- Greek Text)
before that of his brother seems to imply that James was the elder of the two. It is worthy of
notice that James is never mentioned in the Gospel of St. John; this author observes a humble
reserve not only with regard to himself, but also about the members of his family.
HIS MARTYRDOM
On the last journey to Jerusalem, their mother Salome came to the Lord and said to Him:
"Say that these my two sons may sit, the one on thy right hand, and the other on thy left, in
thy kingdom" (Matthew 20:21). And the two brothers, still ignorant of the spiritual nature of
the Messianic Kingdom, joined with their mother in this eager ambition (Mark 10:37). And on their
assertion that they are willing to drink the chalice that He drinks of, and to be baptized with
the baptism of His sufferings, Jesus assured them that they will share His sufferings (Mark 5:38-39).
James won the crown of martyrdom fourteen years after this prophecy, A.D. 44. Herod Agrippa I,
son of Aristobulus and grandson of Herod the Great, reigned at that time as "king" over a wider
dominion than that of his grandfather. His great object was to please the Jews in every way, and
he showed great regard for the Mosaic Law and Jewish customs. In pursuance of this policy, on the
occasion of the Passover of A.D. 44, he perpetrated cruelties upon the Church, whose rapid growth
incensed the Jews. The zealous temper of James and his leading part in the Jewish Christian
communities probably led Agrippa to choose him as the first victim. "He killed James, the brother
of John, with the sword." (Acts 12:1-2). According to a tradition, which, as we learn from Eusebius
(Hist. Eccl., II, ix, 2, 3), was received from Clement of Alexandria (in the seventh book of his lost
"Hypotyposes"), the accuser who led the Apostle to judgment, moved by his confession, became himself
a Christian, and they were beheaded together. As Clement testifies expressly that the account was
given him "by those who were before him," this tradition has a better foundation than many other
traditions and legends respecting the Apostolic labours and death of St. James.
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Feast Day: July 25 ~ Attributes: Scallop, travelers hat ~ Patronage: Veterinarians, equestrians,
furriers, tanners, pharmacists; Guatemala, Nicaragua, Spain, Santiago de Queretaro, Sahuayo |