St. James, Apostle
Feast day: July 25
The son of Zebedee and Salome, James fished for a living with his brother, John, in Galilee. Jesus called them to leave their livelihood and to follow him. Jesus nicknamed James and John “the sons of thunder.” James was with Peter and John at the raising of Jairus’ daughter from the dead. These three apostles were also at the Transfiguration and at the Agony in the Garden of Gethsemane. James was the first of the Twelve to be martyred; he was beheaded in Jerusalem by order of Herod Agrippa. According to tradition, he preached in Spain before his death. He is known as James “the Greater” to distinguish him from the other apostle by the same name. He is patron of Spain and pilgrims.
Collect
Almighty ever-living God,
who consecrated the first fruits of your Apostles
by the blood of Saint James,
grant, we pray,
that your Church may be strengthened by his confession of faith
and constantly sustained by his protection.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever.