Saint James the Less
James the Less, or the Just, was born in Galilee. He was called by Jesus to follow him, with his brother, Jude. After Pentecost, he settled in Jerusalem and became its first bishop. An example of dedication, trust and holiness, Saint James is celebrated on May 3rd.
Biography of Saint James, son of Alphaeus
Saint James, son of Alphaeus, was nicknamed “the just” because of the great integrity of his life. Pious and faithful to Christ in all circumstances, Saint Paul spoke of him as a “pillar” of the Church of Jerusalem. Saint James wrote a letter in which he invites us to live his faith in a very concrete way, and advocated above all the love of the Lord and openness to one’s neighbor: “Before God our Father, it is pure and undefiled religious behavior to visit orphans and widows in their distress.”
He won many conversions, which brought him into trouble. He died in the year 62, at the age of 96, pushed from the top of the temple wall and stoned. His bones are in the Basilica of the Holy Apostles in Rome.
Legend of Saint James, brother or cousin of Christ
Though we often find the expression “brothers of Jesus,” in the Gospels, to designate Saint James the Less and Saint Jude, it is never clearly said that Saint Mary and Saint Joseph gave brothers to Jesus. It should be noted that in Jewish culture, the term “cousin” can be understood as “close relative.” Saint Matthew and Saint Mark also related this bond of kinship between the Savior and Saint Jude:
“When Jesus had finished these parables, he moved on from there. Coming to his hometown, he began teaching the people in their synagogue, and they were amazed. “Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers?” they asked. “Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t his mother’s name Mary, and aren’t his brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas?” (Matthew 13:53-53)
“Jesus left there and went to his hometown, accompanied by his disciples. When the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were amazed. “Where did this man get these things?” they asked. “What’s this wisdom that has been given him? What are these remarkable miracles he is performing? Isn’t this the carpenter? Isn’t this Mary’s son and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas and Simon? Aren’t his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him.” (Mark 6:1-3)
The two evangelists will maintain this mystery when they write that the mother of James and Jude is called Mary, and that at the time of Christ's crucifixion, she is at the foot of the Cross:
“When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, “Surely he was the Son of God!” Many women were there, watching from a distance. They had followed Jesus from Galilee to care for his needs. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of Zebedee’s sons.” (Matthew 27:54-56)
“And when the centurion, who stood there in front of Jesus, saw how he died, he said, “Surely this man was the Son of God!” Some women were watching from a distance. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joseph, and Salome.” (Mark 15:39-40)
Although these two writings can be confusing, it must be remembered that the name “Mary” was very widespread at the time and it is very likely that several women thus named gathered at the foot of Christ. In addition, we know that the father of Jacques and Jude was called Alphaeus. No confusion is therefore possible.
Jesus and Saint Jude both grew up in Nazareth and were born around the same time. It is therefore more likely to say that Jude was Jesus' cousin, through his mother. He followed Christ all his life, growing up by his side and then becoming his disciple.
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Letter from Saint James the Just
“James, servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes of the Diaspora, greetings! Consider it an extreme joy, my brethren, to stumble upon all kinds of trials. As you know, such verification of your faith produces endurance, and endurance must be accompanied by perfect action, so that you are perfect and honest, without anything missing. “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.” But let him ask in faith, without the slightest hesitation, for he who hesitates resembles the waves of the sea that the wind stirs and raises. Let him not imagine, that man, that he will receive from the Lord anything, if he is divided, unstable in all his conduct. Let the brother of humble condition take pride in being raised, and the rich man, in being humiliated, for he will pass like the flowering grass. Indeed, the sun has risen, as well as the burning wind, it has dried up the grass, its flower has fallen, the beauty of its appearance has disappeared; similarly, the rich man will wither in all his undertakings. Blessed is the man who endures the trial with perseverance, for, once his value has been verified, he will receive the crown of the life promised to those who love God.
In the trial of temptation, let no one say: “My temptation comes from God. “God, in fact, cannot be tempted to do evil, and he himself does not tempt anyone. Everyone is tempted by their own lust, which drives and seduces them. Then lust conceives and gives birth to sin, and sin, having reached its end, begets death. Make no mistake, my beloved brothers, the best gifts, the perfect gifts, all come from above, they come down from the Father of lights, he who is not, like the stars, subject to periodic movement or eclipses. He wanted to generate us by his word of truth, to make us as the first fruits of all his creatures. Know this, my beloved brothers: everyone must be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger, because man's anger does not realize what is right according to God. This is why, having rejected all that is sordid and all overflowing with wickedness, welcome in gentleness the Word sown in you; it is this that can save your souls. Put the Word into practice, do not just listen to it: it would be an illusion to you. For if someone listens to the Word without putting it into practice, he is comparable to a man who observes his face as it is in a mirror, and who, immediately after, goes away forgetting how it was. “But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.” If you think you are a religious person without putting a brake on your tongue, you are deceiving yourself, such a religion is worthless. “Before God our Father, it is pure and undefiled religious behavior to visit orphans and widows in their distress.”
Praying with the Apostle Saint James
Saint James, you who received from Jesus Christ our Lord the grace to heal wounds, I allow myself to invoke your name so that my wounds will close and never reopen, so that my pains will go away and not come back, so that my blood will stop flowing out of my body. Saint James, who suffered what I suffer under the stones that were thrown at you, I beg you to leave me alive. Amen. Amen.
Eternal and almighty God, you have enlightened us with the teachings of the first bishop of Jerusalem, the Apostle Saint James; grant us, through his intercession, to confess the Christian faith in word and deed, and one day to be able to access the holy city, the new Jerusalem. Through Jesus Christ, our Lord Amen”.
Continue your prayer to Saint James with Hozana
In this month of May, this month of Mary, pray to the Blessed Virgin with Saint James the Just!
This international novena of prayer and fasting for Ukraine and Russia helps us to implore God, with the intercession of Ukraine's saints and meditations by Pope Francis, to put an end to war with a fair peace.Pray for our Ukrainian brothers and sisters.
