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CHRISTIAN APOSTLE JAMES THE LESS
The sound tree bears good fruit
St. James the Less, the author of the first Catholic
Epistle, was the son of Alphaeus of Cleophas. His mother
Mary was either a sister or a close relative of the
Blessed Virgin, and for that reason, according to Jewish
custom, he was sometimes called the brother of the Lord.
The Apostle held a distinguished position in the early
Christian community of Jerusalem. St. Paul tells us he
was a witness of the Resurrection of Christ; he is also
a "pillar" of the Church, whom St. Paul consulted about
the Gospel.
According to tradition, he was the first Bishop of
Jerusalem, and was at the Council of Jerusalem about the
year 50. The historians Eusebius and Hegesippus relayed
that St. James was martyred for the Faith by the Jews in
the Spring of the year 62, although they greatly
esteemed his person and had given him the surname of
"James the Just."
Tradition has always recognized him as the author of the
Epistle that bears his name. Internal evidence based on
the language, style, and teaching of the Epistle reveals
its author as a Jew familiar with the Old Testament, and
a Christian thoroughly grounded in the teachings of the
Gospel. External evidence from the early Fathers and
Councils of the Church confirmed its authenticity and
canonicity.
The date of its writing cannot be determined exactly.
According to some scholars it was written about the year 49
A.D. Others, however, claim it was written after St. Paul's
Epistle to the Romans (composed during the winter of 57-58
A.D.). It was probably written between the years 60 and 62
A.D.
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St. James addresses himself to the "twelve tribes that are in the
Dispersion," that is, to Christians outside Palestine; but nothing
in the Epistle indicates that he is thinking only of Jewish
Christians. St. James realizes full well the temptations and
difficulties they encounter in the midst of paganism, and as a
spiritual father, he endeavors to guide and direct them in the
faith. Therefore, the burden of his discourse is an exhortation to
practical Christian living.
Symbol - Saw
St. James the Lesser is depicted by the symbol of a saw, which
reminds us of his departure from Earth. He was a brother of the
Apostle Matthew and shares his feast day with the Apostle Philip on
May 1st. An ancient historian claims that James was pushed
from a pinnacle of the temple at the age of 96. Near death, he rose
to ask forgiveness for his enemies, who then beat him with a
fuller's bat and sawed his body in pieces. Variants:
Brother of the Lord, Jacobus Minor;
James of Jerusalem; James the Younger;
James the Just.
The disciples said to Jesus, "We know
that you are going to leave us. Who will be our leader?" Jesus said
to them, "No matter where you are you are to go to James the Just,
for whose sake heaven and earth came into being."
Év de Thomas, XII
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