*   *   *   *

*   *   *   *

October 23 is the Feast Day for James, brother of Jesus, also known as St. James of Jerusalem. (Where he ended up later in life.) He’s one of several “Jameses” in the New Testament…

…about which there seems to be some confusion, not least of all on my part. He’s sometimes confused with James, the son of Zebedee, also called James the Greater, “to distinguish him from James, son of Alphaeus (James the Less)…

And if that wasn’t confusing enough, this James of Jerusalem is also known as “James the Just.” (Because of how pious he became in response to the Crucifixion; he changed from not believing in Jesus to becoming one of His most devoted followers. See John 7:5, that Jesus’ brothers didn’t believe His claims – “even His own brothers did not believe in Him” – from which some infer that this James “was not a disciple of the Lord until after the Resurrection.”)

But while many New Testament writers refer to him as brother of Jesus, Catholic teaching holds that he was actually a cousin, or step-brother “from a previous marriage of Joseph.” And tradition holds that for many years he was the leader of the Christian congregation in Jerusalem, and that he wrote the Epistle of James. (“Although the Epistle itself does not state this explicitly.”)

And speaking of confusion, there appear to be at least three men named James mentioned in the New Testament, and possibly as many as eight. That led me in past posts to confuse him with “St. James the Greater,” whose feast day is July 25. (Among other things, James the Greater is the “patron saint of pilgrims,” especially Camino pilgrims like me.)

This James is mentioned by the Jewish historian Josephus, who calls him “the brother of Jesus the so-called Christ.” Josephus also reports that he was much respected even by the Pharisees for his piety and strict observance of the Law. However, his enemies took advantage of an interval between Roman governors in 62 AD to have him put to death. His death is also reported by the second-century Christian writer Hegesippus.

For more enlightenment on this topic see Men Named James in the New Testament – Agape Bible Study, detailed in the notes. More to the point, the James remembered on October 23 is – as noted – said to have written the Epistle of James. Other New Testament books – the Pauline epistles and Acts of the Apostles  – show him as key to the Christians of Jerusalem.

When Paul arrives in Jerusalem to deliver the money he raised for the faithful there, it is to James that he speaks, and it is James who insists that Paul ritually cleanse himself at Herod’s Temple to prove his faith…  Paul describes James as being one of the persons to whom the risen Christ showed himself … and in Galatians 2:9 Paul lists James with Cephas (better known as Peter) and John the Apostle as the three “pillars” of the Church.

There’s also confusion on how he died. “According to Josephus James was stoned to death by Ananus ben Ananus.” But Clement of Alexandria relates that ‘James was thrown from the pinnacle of the temple, and was beaten to death with a club.’” Either way, he was important.

Next up, Saints Simon and Jude, two of the other 12 Apostles, whose Feast Day is October 28.

*   *   *   *

*   *   *   *

The upper image is courtesy of St. James Of Jerusalem Brother Of Jesus – Image Results.

The Book of Common Prayer reference: The “corporate-mystical” prayer is on page 339, the post-communion prayer for Holy Eucharist, Rite I.

Feast days are designated days on the liturgical (church) calendar “set aside to commemorate events, saints, or doctrines that are important in the life of the Church. These can range from Solemnities, which are the highest-ranking feast days like Easter and Christmas, to optional memorials that celebrate lesser-known saints.” Feast Days: Celebrating the Church’s Calendar.

For more on this “James” in the New Testament, see St. James of Jerusalem at The Lectionary – Satucket. Or James, brother of Jesus – Wikipedia. I also borrowed from On Saints Luke, and James of Jerusalem – 2021. And re: Men Named James in the New Testament. The site listed the following men named James in the New Testament:  1) James the son of Zebedee and brother of the Apostle St. John (James the Greater);  2) James the “brother” of Jesus (whose Feast Day is October 23);  3) the Apostle James, “son of Alphaeus;”  and 4) James, the father of the Apostle Jude. Other sources indicate there were as many as six “Jameses” in the Bible.

See also Hegesippus (chronicler) – Wikipedia: “Hegesippus’ works are now entirely lost, save eight passages concerning Church history quoted by Eusebius… Through Eusebius, Hegesippus was also known to Jerome, who is responsible for the idea that Hegesippus “wrote a history of all ecclesiastical events from the passion of our Lord down to his own period,” c[irca] 110 – c. 180 AD.

The lower image is courtesy of Saints Simon And Jude Images – Image Results.

*   *   *   *