Saint James The Apostle Feast Day - 25 July

Quoted, in part, from Catholic Daily Readings [1]:

Nothing is known of St. James the Greater’s early life, though it has been established that he is the son of Zebedee and Salome and brother of John the disciple.

The title “the Greater” was added to St. James’ name to help distinguish him from the Apostle James “the Less,” who is believed to have been shorter than James “the Greater.”

Saint James the Greater was one of Jesus’ first disciples. James was fishing with his father and John the Apostle when Jesus came to the shores of the Sea of Galilee and called for the fisherman, who were unable to catch any fish that day, to dip their nets in the water once again.

When the fishermen followed Jesus’ instructions, they found their nets full, and after emptying the fish on board, the boats nearly sank from their weight.

Later, James was one of only three called by Jesus to witness his Transfiguration, and when he and [John,] his brother[,] wanted to call fire upon a Samaritan town, both were rebuked by Jesus.*

[*Quoted from Biblegateway, Luke 9:51-55, New International Version:

51 As the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem. 52 And he sent messengers on ahead, who went into a Samaritan village to get things ready for him; 53 but the people there did not welcome him, because he was heading for Jerusalem. 54 When the disciples James and John saw this, they asked, “Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them?” 55 But Jesus turned and rebuked them. [2]]

Following Christ’s Ascension, James spread the Gospel across Israel and the Roman kingdom as well. He traveled and spread the Word for nearly forty years in Spain.

[According to ancient local tradition, on 2 January AD 40, the Virgin Mary appeared to James on the bank of the Ebro River at Caesaraugusta, while he was preaching the Gospel in Spain. She appeared upon a pillar, Nuestra Señora del Pilar, and that pillar is conserved and venerated within the present Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar, in Zaragoza, Spain. [3]]

Later, James returned to Jerusalem but was martyred for his faith by King Herod, who decapitated him. Saint James the Greater is known as the first apostle to die.

[[A]fter his martyrdom at the hands of Herod Agrippa, his disciples carried his body by sea to Iberia, where they landed at Padrón on the coast of Galicia, then took it inland for burial at Santiago de Compostela. [4]]

In the ninth century his remains were discovered and moved to a tomb in Santiago de Compostela. Today, his remains can still be found in the Cathedral of Santiago [in Galacian, Catedral Basilica de Santiago de Compostela. [5]]

[1] https://catholicreadings.org/saint-of-the-day-july-25-saint-james-apostle-date-of-birth-country-of-birth-profession-place-of-work-date-of-death-place-of-death-feast-day-beatification-date-canonization-date/

[2] https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+9%3A+51-55&version=NIV, quoted without reference.

[3] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_the_Great, quoted with hyperlinks and references.

[4] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_the_Great, first paragraph, third line in the section entitled Mission in Spain and burial at Compostela, quoted without hyperlinks.

[5] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santiago_de_Compostela_Cathedral