Hello everyone and welcome to Saint Study Episode #113 – “St. James The Lesser”
- Thank you for joining us – maybe we can all learn enough today that by the end of the program we will say, “I didn’t know that” (But now I do!)
- What is a saint? A Canonized Saint is someone recognized by the Church as having led a life of great charity & heroic virtue. Their example of how to conquer any sin imaginable is so important that it was worth recognizing these men & women in a significant way. Anyone (canonized or not) whose soul was cleansed in Purgatory and now resides in Heaven is a Saint. It is every Christian’s goal to become a saint.
We always begin our learning by inviting the Holy Spirit to be with us…
- In the Name Of The Father, Son & Holy Spirit. Amen.
- Dear Heavenly Father we ask you to be with us as we hear about the lives of your Saints. We ask that our minds be open and that you may fill us with the knowledge that was so loved by the men and women who lived lives of heroic virtue and great charity. Allow us to understand and emulate these Saints who we now know are in your company. In your name we pray, Amen.
Let’s look at The Saint for this weeks study St. James The Lesser
- Saints Birth, Life-Bio, Death, Feast Day,
  - Was the son of James and Alpheus – Brother of St. Jude Thaddeus
  - Raised in a traditional Jewish home of that era. Jewish law and scripture were taught.
  - Was a cousin to Jesus
  - Most of what we know about St. James the Lesser happened after Pentecost
  - Was first Bishop of Jerusalem
  - Worked with St. Paul on the details of the new church (including Gospels Paul was writing)
  - Was a key figure at the Council of Jerusalem in AD 51. Determined that Jewish law did not have to be followed in all cases – IE Circumcision & Ceremonial Mosaic Law
  - James supported the idea that Jewish law did not have to be followed although he did continue to observe Jewish traditions as part of his heritage.
  - Oral Tradition passed on tells us that St. James was a vegetarian, did not bath, shave or drink strong drink.
  - It is also likely that St. James read and wrote Aramaic and Greek
  - Jesus appeared to St. James after the resurrection but before the ascension.
    - (1 Corinthians 15: 5-7) “That he appeared to Cephas, then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at once, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. After that he appeared to James, then to all the apostles.”
  - According to Newadvent.org, When reading the epistles of James we see him as a man with a grave, meek, calm mind, nourished with scripture, given to prayer, devoted to the poor, resigned in persecution, the type of a just and apostolic man.
  - St. James was martyred in Jerusalem AD 62
  - Was beaten to death while praying for his attackers.
  - Feast Day May 3^rd
Patronage

apothecaries	druggists	dying people
Frascati, Italy	fullers	hatmakers
hatters	milliners	Monterotondo, Italy
Nemi, Italy	pharmacists	Uruguay

Conclusions – Interesting notes about their life or sainthood
- In this apostle Jesus has chosen another man who is a strong believer in Jewish tradition. It appears to me that Jesus uses St. James to show Jews who are hesitant to accept the new Church that Jesus had started how one can keep all the old traditions and laws and not violate the teachings of the New Christian Church. In other words that the Old and New Testament compliment each other – Not contradict each other.
- Another apostle martyred. Early Christianity was a deadly business for the early leaders. I cannot imagine hating what someone says to the point where a conclusion is reached where that person must die.
- Make no mistake about it; this kind of martyrdom still happens today.

Prayer to Saint James the Lesser

O Glorious Saint James, you were our Lord's cousin and at the same time his friend and follower. You wrote that every good and perfect gift comes to us from the Father of lights, and that faith without works is useless. You preached the divinity of Jesus until your death as a martyr. Obtain for us from the Father of lights the great gift of a living faith in Jesus' divinity which will inspire us to unstinting labor in the service of God and our fellow human beings and enable us to reach our heavenly destiny. Amen.

Preview of next episode – St. Stephen Episode 114
References
- www.ewtn.com & EWTN Television Network
- www.newadvent.org
- http://www.usccb.org (Source for the New American Bible)
- http://www.vatican.va/ - Official Vatican Web Site
- www.saints.sqpn.com
- www.catholic.org

This wraps up the first section on Mary and the Apostles.
I can’t believe how much I have learned about the early church and the apostles. With everything I learn I cherish my faith even more!
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May The Peace of our Lord

Be always with you…Have a good day!