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Also known as
one of the Sons of Thunder; Jacobus Major; Iago; Santiago
Profile
Son of Zebedee and Salome, brother of Saint John the Apostle, and may have
been Jesus' cousin. He is called "the Greater" simply because he became an
Apostle before Saint James the Lesser. Apparent disciple of Saint John the
Baptist. Fisherman. Left everything when Christ called him to be a fisher
of men. Was present during most of the recorded miracles of Christ.
Preached in Samaria, Judea, and Spain. First Apostle to be martyred.
The pilgrimage to his relics in Compostella became such a popular devotion
that the symbols of pilgrims have become his emblems, and he became patron
of pilgrims. His work in Spain, and the housing of his relics there, led
to his patronage of the country and all things Spanish; for centuries, the
Spanish army rode to battle with the cry "Santiago!" ("Saint James!")
Like all men of renown, many stories grew up around James. In one, he
brought back to life a boy who had been unjustly hanged, and had been dead
for five weeks. The boy's father was notified of the miracle while he sat
at supper. The father pronounced the story nonsense, and said his son was
no more alive than the roasted fowl on the table; the cooked bird promptly
sat up, sprouted feathers, and flew away.
Died
44 at Jerusalem; stabbed with a sword by King Herod Agrippa; legend says
his body was taken by angels, and sailed in a rudderless, unattended boat
to Spain where a massive rock closed around it; relics at Compostella,
Spain
Canonized
Pre-Congregation
Patronage
against arthritis, against rheumatism, apothecaries, arthritis sufferers,
blacksmiths, Chile, druggists, equestrians, furriers, Guatemala, horsemen,
knights, laborers, Nicaragua, pharmacists, pilgrims, rheumatoid sufferers,
riders, soldiers, Spain, Spanish conquistadors, tanners, veterinarians
Representation
cockle shell; dark-bearded man holding a book; dark-bearded man holding a
scroll; dark-bearded man holding a sword; dark-bearded man with a floppy
pilgrim's hat, long staff, water bottle, and scallop shell; elderly,
bearded man wearing a hat with a scallop shell; key; man with shells
around him; mounted on horseback, trampling a Moor; pilgrim with wallet
and staff; pilgrim's hat; pilgrim's staff; scallop shell; sword
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