Letter of July 15, 2005

SAINT JAMES APOSTLE ~ July 25 The Most Reverend Carl F. Mengeling, Bishop of Lansing It’s no surprise that most Catholics agree that Saint Peter has been from the start, and for two millennia, the most known, venerated, popular and celebrated of the Twelve Apostles.

But to most Catholics, except in Spain, it’s a surprise that ‘Number Two’ is Saint James. He’s called James the Greater to distinguish him from the other called James the Less.

The tomb of St. Peter in the Basilica on Vatican Hill in Rome where he was crucified in 64 AD continues to be the premier destination for millions of pilgrims.

Along with Jerusalem and the Holy Land, the tomb of St. James has also been among the top three goals for pilgrims.

The pilgrimage was a dominant feature of European life for a thousand years, from 500-1500. Millions went on pilgrimage to various shrines. Waves of pilgrims journeyed to three major destinations on designated routes that criss-crossed Europe. These three sites were associated with Our Lord or the Saints.

They were the sacred sites in Jerusalem and the Holy Land, the Tombs of Peter and Paul in Rome and the Tomb of St. James at Santiago de Compostela in Spain.

Geoffrey Chaucer (+1400) in Canterbury Tales, tells about 29 pilgrims on the journey to the Tomb of St. Thomas Beckett in Canterbury Cathedral.

After the discovery of the Tomb of St. James the Apostle in the 800's, the pilgrimages began. Soon a network of pilgrim routes across Europe also led to Compostela. A massive church was built and consecrated in 899. In 997, it was destroyed by the Caliph of Cordoba. The present great church, containing the tomb, was begun in 1075 and consecrated in 1128.

Santiago became one of the most popular pilgrimages of the Middle Ages (James in Spanish is ‘Santiago’ or ‘San Diego’).

In a recent Holy Year, more than 5 million went to Compostela. An estimated 1.5 million go annually. Pope John Paul II was a pilgrim at Compostela in 1982. He was a pilgrim again during the 1989 World Youth Day at Compostela.

This Saint James is the patron saint of Spain, Guatemala and Nicaragua. St. James inspires us as one who accepted Jesus’ call and experienced in an intense way the love and friendship of Jesus who said: "I no longer call you slaves, I call you Friends".

James is very prominent in the Gospels together with his brother John and Peter. This threesome were close to Jesus, who ‘took with him Peter, James and John’.

He was from Bethsaida in Galilee. His parents were Zebedee and Salome. His mother is mentioned with other women at Calvary and at the tomb on Easter. His father Zebedee and the son James and John were in the fishing business.

They were partners with Simon and his brother Andrew. It was on the shore of the Sea of Galilee, after a poor night of fishing, that Jesus came upon the little fishing company. After the miraculous catch, Jesus called them to follow him. Of James and John, the Gospels say: "they left their Father Zebedee and the hired men in the boat and went off in his company".

In his list of the Twelve, Mark reveals that Jesus gave the three special names: "He appointed the Twelve as follows: Simon to whom he gave the name Peter; James, son of Zebedee; and John the brother of James (he gave these two the name Boanerges, or Sons of Thunder".

The ‘THREE’, Peter, James and John were present with Jesus at most of the decisive events. Three events stand out, but one happened on the day Jesus called on the fishermen at the home of Simon and Andrew when they witnessed the healing of Simon’s mother-in-law.

They were alone with him as he raised to life the daughter of the Synagogue Leader Jairus. "He would not permit anyone to enter the house except Peter, James, and James’ brother John". They witnessed the glory of Jesus’ Transfiguration on Mt. Tabor.

"Six days later, Jesus took Peter, James, and his brother John up on a high mountain by themselves. He was transfigured before their eyes".

They were with him during the Agony in Gethsemane and witnessed his betrayal by one of the Twelve. "He took along Peter and Zebedee’s two sons".

St. James’ ultimate witness to Jesus was martyrdom in the year 43. Herod Agrippa (+44) was king of Judea from 41-44. Luke gives details in Acts of the Apostles, Chapter Twelve: "During that period, King Herod started to harass some of the members of the church. He beheaded James the brother of John. When he saw that this pleased certain of the Jews, he took Peter into custody too". St. James was the first of the Twelve to be martyred for Christ.

The best spiritual preparation for St. James Day is a reflection on the Scripture Readings of the Mass. His feast has a special Preface for our Meditation: ‘Jesus, our Redeemer, called St. James from humble labor with fishing nets and made him a fisher of men for their salvation. He responded to the divine call with a prompt and faithful spirit; therefore he merited to undergo the torment of martyrdom and to enter into glory before the other apostles of the Lord’.