St. James  July 25

Who: 
St James, son of Zebedee, was an apostles and a brother of John the Apostle, according to Christian belief. He lived at the same time as Jesus. He may have traveled to the area that is now Santiago de Compostela. He is known as James, the greater, since there is another James.

My son made the famous pilgrimage there in 2012--all the way across Spain.  There is an OK movie about it called The Way, starring Martin Sheen.  I liked it, and thought it was worth watching--just to see the giant incense that they swing in the basillica. www.theway-themovie.com

St James was beheaded in Judea in the year 44 CE. Some Christians believe that his disciples carried his body by sea to Padrón on the Galician coast. They then buried his body under what is now the cathedral in Santiago de Compostela. (Santiago means St. James)

St James' relics were discovered sometime between 791 CE and 842 CE. Santiago de Compostela then became a place of pilgrimage. Pope Leo XIII asserted that the relics of St James at Compostela were authentic in a papal bull. This papal bull was published on November 1, 1884.

To Eat: 
Try this Tarta de Santiago which is a very simple almond cake from Spain.  Very traditional with the Camino De Santiago.
http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/almond-cake-366229

To Pray:

Prayer to Saint James the Apostle

O Glorious Saint James, because of your fervor and generosity Jesus chose you to witness his glory on the Mount and his agony in the Garden. Obtain for us strength and consolation in the unending struggles of this life. Help us to follow Christ constantly and generously, to be victors over all our difficulties, and to receive the crown of glory in heaven. Amen.



To Do: 

His symbol is the scallop shell, which is also the symbol used for those who make the famous pilgrimage.  He is also represented by a pilgrim holding a staff, and a key.  

There are also documentaries and movies about this.  
http://www.theway-themovie.com/  is for teens and up.  And this trailer from a documentary: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pJDxD_UE4ZQ

​There are probably some people in your community that have done the camino.  Ask them to share their experience with your family.  

To find more about the Pilgrim Way of St. James, see this web page from St. James Cathedral







http://www.stjames-cathedral.org/liturgy/jamesjub/jamesmain.htm

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