Portal:Catholic Church/Patron Archive/July 25 2007

Saint James, son of Zebedee (d. AD 44) was one of the disciples of Jesus. He was the son of Zebedee and Salome and brother of John the Evangelist. He is called Saint James the Greater to distinguish him from the other apostle named James (James, son of Alphaeus). James is described as one of the first disciples to join Jesus. The Synoptic Gospels state that James and John were with their father by the seashore when Jesus called them to begin traveling. According to Mark, James and John were called Boanerges, or the "Sons of Thunder." The Acts of the Apostles 12:1-2 records that King Herod had James executed by sword.

His remains are said to be buried in Santiago de Compostela in Spain. Saint James is the patron saint of Spain and is related to the reconquista in the role of moor-slayer. His burial town, Santiago the Compostela, is considered the third most holy town of Catholicism (after Jerusalem and Rome). The pilgrimage to the grave of the Saint has become the most popular pilgrimage for Western European Catholics from the early Middle Ages onwards; making him one of the patron saints of pilgrimage.

Attributes: Scallop, traveller's hat

Patronage: Veterinarians, equestrians, furriers, tanners, pharmacists; Guatemala, Nicaragua, Spain, Santiago de Querétaro, Sahuayo

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