The collect for today, the Feast of St. James the Apostle, from The Book of Common Prayer (Canadian, 1962):
GRANT, O merciful God, that as thine holy Apostle Saint James, leaving his father and all that he had, without delay was obedient unto the calling of thy Son Jesus Christ, and followed him; so we, forsaking all worldly and carnal affections, may be evermore ready to follow thy holy commandments; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The Lesson: Acts 11:27-12:3a
The Gospel: St. Mark 10:32-40
Saint James the Greater was one of the Twelve Apostles chosen by Jesus Christ and is remembered as a devoted disciple, missionary, and the first apostle to die for the Christian faith. He and the Apostle John were sons of Zebedee, a fisherman. James was among the first disciples called by Jesus when the latter encountered the brothers at the Sea of Galilee (Matthew 4:21). Jesus saw them mending nets in their boat, and “immediately they left their boat and their father and followed him” (Mark 1:19–20).
Jesus nicknamed James and John the “Sons of Thunder” (Boanerges, Mark 3:17), apparently reflecting their passionate and impetuous temperament. On one occasion, they asked Jesus to command fire from heaven upon a Samaritan village that refused them hospitality (Luke 9:54). They also requested places of honour for them in Jesus’ kingdom—one at his right and one at his left—prompting a lesson on servant leadership (Mark 10:35–40).
James belonged to Jesus’ innermost circle, alongside Peter and John. He witnessed key moments of Christ’s ministry unseen by the other apostles: the raising of Jairus’s daughter (Mark 5:37), the Transfiguration (Matthew 17:1), and the agony in the Garden of Gethsemane (Mark 14:33). These experiences underscore the profound trust Jesus placed in him.
Following the Resurrection and Pentecost, James continued his apostolic mission, preaching the Gospel in Judea. His life of dedication culminated in martyrdom around AD 44. The Acts of the Apostles records: “About that time Herod the king laid violent hands on some who belonged to the church. He killed James the brother of John with the sword” (Acts 12:1–2). Herod Agrippa I ordered the execution to appease Jewish leaders, making James the first of the Twelve Apostles to be martyred.
In early medieval times, a belief arose that James had traveled to Spain as a missionary before his death in Jerusalem. Legends developed around his relics, which were reportedly discovered in Galicia, Spain, making Santiago de Compostela a major pilgrimage destination throughout the medieval period. It remains one of the world’s most visited pilgrimage sites today (There is, however, no firm evidence that James visited Spain during his lifetime.)
Artwork: Noel Coypel, Saint James the Greater Led to Execution, 1661. Oil on canvas, Louvre, Paris.