James was born in Bethsaida, Galilee, Roman Empire. He was the son of Zebedee and Salome, and brother of John, the Evangelist. The name James is the Greek translation of the Hebrew name Jacob, meaning with "Strong With God."
One day, he and his brother John were their boats, mending their nets. Jesus and called them. "At once they left their nets and followed Jesus" (Matthew 4:20).
On their vocational journey, James and John had to correct their human imperfections. First, they had such an impetuous temper that Jesus "named Boanerges, that is, sons of thunder (Mark 3:17). Then, out of human ambition, they requested Jesus to sit on his kingdom on his left and right hand (Matthew 20:21).
James, together with Peter and John, had the privilege to witness the glorious event of transfiguration of Jesus on Mount Tabor (Matthew 17:1), as well as his greatest solitude in the Garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 26:37).
According to tradition, James preached the Gospel at Zaragoza, Spain in the year 40 AD. He was disappointed when the Spanish people didn't listen him. One night at Caesaraugusta, Hispania, as he was praying with his disciples at the banks of the Ebro, the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to him upon a pillar, commanding him to erect an oratory in that place and telling him to go back to Jerusalem for his martyrdom. One of his apostles delayed not to obey this injunction, and with the assistance of his disciples soon constructed a small chapel in the place where the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared.
In the year 44 AD, James went back to Jerusalem. Days later, King Herod Agrippa had James arrested and locked him up in Antonia Fortress. He was charged with treason against the Roman Empire. The news of James' arrest came to the disciples of Jesus and the Christians, so they fervently prayed for James' release. However, by the next day, King Herod Agrippa ordered James to be executed by beheading.
James was one of the first of the twelve apostles to be martyred for his faith in Jesus. He is the only apostle whose martyrdom is recorded in the New Testament. His body was transferred back to Spain, to the Church of Santiago de Compostela.
James was venerated by all Christian denominations. In Western Christianity, his feast day is July 25. In Eastern Christianity, his feast day is April 30. In Hispanic Church, his feast day is December 30. Saint James the Great is the patron of veterinarians, tanners, pharmacists, equestrians, furriers, woodcarvers, and oyster-fishing.
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Book of Ancient Saints: Volume 1
No FicciónSaints are people, who are accepted as being holy, religious, and virtuous. In Christianity, more than thousands of saints gave up their life for God or died for Jesus Christ. This volume are true-to-life stories of saints who were born between BC...
