St. James the Elder

Saint James the Elder was born into a Jewish fishing family on the shores of the Sea of Galilee. The son of Zebedee and Salome, and brother of Saint John the Apostle, he left his nets at Christ’s call and became one of the first disciples. With Peter and John, James belonged to the Lord’s closest circle, present at the raising of Jairus’ daughter, the Transfiguration, and the agony in Gethsemane. His zeal was well known—he and John were nicknamed “Sons of Thunder”—yet Jesus patiently purified that fervor into faithful service. After the Resurrection, James preached the Gospel, and ancient tradition holds that his mission reached Hispania. He returned to Jerusalem, where King Herod Agrippa had him executed by the sword around the year 44, making him the first of the apostles to shed his blood for Christ. Venerated especially as patron of Spain, he is closely associated with Compostela, where tradition honors his relics and the great pilgrimage of the Way of Saint James. His feast day is December 30.