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St. James’ courageous martyrdom has inspired the conversion and pilgrimage of manyLet us today hail the bright star which once made Compostella so resplendent with its rays that the obscure town became, like Jerusalem and Rome, a center of attraction to the piety of the whole world. Let us today hail the bright star which once made Compostella so resplendent with its rays that the obscure town became, like Jerusalem and Rome, a center of attraction to the piety of the whole world. As long as the Christian empire lasted, the sepulcher of St. James the Great rivaled in glory...

John Davis Ferron and his wife moved to the Village of St. James in 2020. They loved their new home, including two “very nice looking cranes” already in their front planter. The birds were placed there by the previous owner and had been there for years. Then came the dreaded knock on the front door by Community Standards. An anonymous complaint had been received about the birds. The couple grudingly removed the cranes. “However, many of our neighbors who also have cranes and other decor in there front yards are unaffected,” he said. Ferron said it’s a perfect example as...

Reverend Mother Dawn Frankfurt just finished leading her congregation of St. James Episcopal Church of Wichita, Kansas in celebrating the birth of the baby Jesus. Carols were sung, liturgies were performed and communion taken, all in the name of the miracle baby who was sent from Heaven to save the world. The congregation was invited to contemplate and rejoice over the mysterious miracle of God incarnate, formed in Mary’s womb by the power of the Holy Spirit, giver of life. Perhaps the participants in St. James’ Christmas Eve service had warm and fuzzy feelings as they saw a customary Christmas...

Muslim groups are demanding Spanish citizenship for potentially millions of descendants of Muslims who were expelled from Spain during the Middle Ages. The growing clamor for "historical justice" comes after the recent approval of a law that would grant Spanish citizenship to descendants of Sephardic Jews expelled from Spain in 1492. Muslim supporters say they are entitled to the same rights and privileges as Jews because both groups were expelled from Spain under similar historical circumstances. But historians point out that the Jewish presence in Spain predates the arrival of Christianity in the country and that their expulsion was a...

"But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken….” A Reflection on the Sin of GossipBy: Msgr. Charles Pope One of the more under-rated categories of sin are the sins of speech. There are many ways we sin, but perhaps the most common way is by speech. Too easily, almost without thought, do we engage in gossip, idle chatter, lies, exaggerations, harsh attacks, uncharitable observations and remarks. With our tongue we can spread hatred, incite fear and maliciousness, spread misinformation, cause temptation, discourage, teach error,...

A 10-year legal battle is drawing to a close in the Holy Land over several astounding biblical relics, including a limestone box said to have held the bones of the purported brother of Jesus and the first-ever relic of biblical King Solomon's First Temple. But are they real or the greatest hoax in a hundred years? Last year, the Israel Antiquities Authority failed to prove in court that the items were forged by antiquities collector Oded Golan. Now the IAA seems to have changed its tune, and the two parties found themselves in court again in early August. Now Israel...

WASHINGTON- An inscription on a burial artifact that was recently discovered in Israel appears to provide the oldest archaeological evidence of Jesus Christ, according to an expert who dates it to three decades after the crucifixion. Writing in Biblical Archaeology Review, Andre Lemaire, a specialist in ancient inscriptions at France's Practical School of High Studies, says it is very probable the find is an authentic reference to Jesus of Nazareth. The archaeology magazine planned to announce the discovery at a news conference Monday. That Jesus existed is not doubted by scholars, but what the world knows about him comes almost...

July 25, 2006 Feast of Saint James, Apostle Psalm: Tuesday 31 Reading 1 2 Cor 4:7-15 Brothers and sisters: We hold this treasure in earthen vessels, that the surpassing power may be of God and not from us. We are afflicted in every way, but not constrained; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our body. For we who live are constantly being given up to death for the sake of...

James the Less "Contributed to Integrate the Original Jewish Dimension of Christianity" VATICAN CITY, JUNE 28, 2006 (Zenit.org).- Here is a translation of Benedict XVI's address at today's general audience. The Pope spoke of the Apostle James the Less. * * * Dear Brothers and Sisters, Beside the figure of James "the Greater," son of Zebedee, of whom we spoke last Wednesday, another James appears in the Gospel, who is called "the Less." He also forms part of the list of Twelve Apostles chosen personally by Jesus, and is always specified as "son of Alphaeus" (cf. Matthew 10:3; Mark 3:18;...

James the Greater "His Path Is a Symbol of the Pilgrimage of Christian Life" VATICAN CITY, JUNE 21, 2006 (Zenit.org).- Here is a translation of the address Benedict XVI gave at today's general audience. The Pope dedicated is talk to the figure of the Apostle James the Greater. * * * Dear Brothers and Sisters: We continue with the series of portraits of the apostles chosen directly by Jesus during his life. We have spoken of St. Peter and of his brother Andrew. Today we meet the figure of James. The biblical lists of the Twelve mention two people with...

July 25, 2005Feast of Saint James, Apostle Psalm: Monday 33 Reading I2 Cor 4:7-15 Brothers and sisters:We hold this treasure in earthen vessels,that the surpassing power may be of God and not from us.We are afflicted in every way, but not constrained;perplexed, but not driven to despair;persecuted, but not abandoned;struck down, but not destroyed;always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus,so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our body.For we who live are constantly being given up to deathfor the sake of Jesus,so that the life of Jesus may be manifested in our mortal...

PHILIP the Apostle Memorial3 May (Roman calendar) (formerly 1 May); 14 November (Greek calendar) ProfileDisciple of Saint John the Baptist. Apostle. Brought Saint Nathanael to Christ. Confidant of Jesus. Little is known about him, but scriptural episodes give the impression of a shy, naive, practical individual. Preached in Greece and Asia Minor. Martyr. Bornat Bethsaida, Palestine Diedmartyred c.80 at Hierapolis, Phrygia CanonizedPre-CongregationPatronagehatters, Luxembourg, pastry chefs, UruguayPrayersPrayer to...Representation elderly bearded man holding a basket of loaves and a cross which is often t-shaped elderly man casting a devil from the idol of Mars; elderly man crucified on a tall cross; elderly man...

JAMES the Lesser Also known asJacobus Minor; James the Younger; James the Just Memorial3 MayProfileApostle. Cousin of Jesus. Brother of Saint Jude Thaddeus. One of the first to have visions of the risen Christ. First Bishop of Jerusalem. Having been beaten to death, a club almost immediately became his symbol. This led to his patronage of fullers and pharmacists, both of whom use clubs in their professions. Like all men of renown, large stories grew up around James. He is reported to have spent so much time in prayer that his knees thickened, and looked like a camel's. Soon after...

May 3, 2005Feast of Saints Philip and James, Apostles Psalm: Tuesday 21 Reading I1 Cor 15:1-8 I am reminding you, brothers and sisters,of the Gospel I preached to you,which you indeed received and in which you also stand.Through it you are also being saved,if you hold fast to the word I preached to you,unless you believed in vain.For I handed on to you as of first importance what I also received:that Christ died for our sinsin accordance with the Scriptures;that he was buried;that he was raised on the third dayin accordance with the Scriptures;that he appeared to Cephas, then to...

July 25, 2003Feast of Saint James, Apostle Psalm: Friday 32 Reading I Responsorial Psalm Gospel Reading I2 Cor 4:7-15 Brothers and sisters:We hold this treasure in earthen vessels,that the surpassing power may be of God and not from us.We are afflicted in every way, but not constrained;perplexed, but not driven to despair;persecuted, but not abandoned;struck down, but not destroyed;always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus,so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our body.For we who live are constantly being given up to deathfor the sake of Jesus,so that the life of Jesus may...

NPR just reported on the fake ossuary of St. James in Toronto--but with a spin that it had been purported to the ossuary "of a brother of Jesus"--thus putting their rather non-orthodox spin on things (i.e., questioning the Virgin Birth, etc.) Nice work again from our government's radio network. NPR--an affront not only to all Christians but to all Americans.

May 3, 2003Feast of Saints Philip and James, Apostles Psalm: Saturday Week 20 Reading I Responsorial Psalm Gospel Reading I1 Cor 15:1-8 I am reminding you, brothers and sisters,of the Gospel I preached to you,which you indeed received and in which you also stand.Through it you are also being saved,if you hold fast to the word I preached to you,unless you believed in vain.For I handed on to you as of first importance what I also received:that Christ died for our sinsin accordance with the Scriptures;that he was buried;that he was raised on the third dayin accordance with the Scriptures;that...

July 25, 2002Feast of James, apostle Psalm: Thursday Week 33 Reading I Responsorial Psalm Gospel Reading I2 Cor 4:7-15 Brothers and sisters:We hold this treasure in earthen vessels,that the surpassing power may be of God and not from us.We are afflicted in every way, but not constrained;perplexed, but not driven to despair;persecuted, but not abandoned;struck down, but not destroyed;always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus,so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our body.For we who live are constantly being given up to deathfor the sake of Jesus,so that the life of Jesus may...