Saint James was a son of Zebedee and Salome. He was brother of John, and probably the elder of the two. He is called “the Great” to distinguish him from the Apostle James the Less, son of Alphaeus, who was probably just shorter! They were known as Boanerges or Sons of Thunder, maybe because of their fiery tempers. Their parents seem to have been people of means. Zebedee was a fisherman in Galilee who lived perhaps in Capernaum; and had some boatmen or hired men. Salome was one of the pious women who afterwards followed Christ and helped take care of him. The brothers would have been men of ordinary education, in the common walks of Jewish life. John was personally known to the high -priest, and must have had the means to provide for the Mother of Jesus given to him at Calvary.

James was one of the first disciples to join Jesus. James and John were with their father by the seashore when Jesus called them to follow him. James was one of only three apostles whom Jesus selected to witness his Transfiguration. James and his brother wanted to call down fire on a Samaritan town, but were rebuked by Jesus. The Acts of the Apostles records that Herod had James executed by sword. The only apostle whose martyrdom is recorded in the New Testament, he is traditionally believed to be the first of the twelve martyred for his faith.

Saint James is patron saint of Spain, and, according to legend, his remains are held in Santiago de Compostela. The traditional pilgrimage there, known as the “Camino” or Way of St James, has been popular since the early Middle Ages. Local tradition tells how on 2 January AD 40, the Virgin Mary appeared to James on the bank of the River Ebro at Caesaraugusta (now Zaragoza), while he was preaching. She appeared upon a pillar, which is venerated there. It is said that his disciples later carried his body by sea to Spain, where they took it for burial at Santiago. James’ emblem was the scallop shell (or “cockle shell”), and pilgrims to his shrine often wore and wear that symbol on their hats or clothes.

Fr Matthew