Saints + Scripture: Feast of Saint James

The Popish Plot
Theology Thursday: "Be a Catholic Nerd"

'Tis the Feast of Saint James, Apostle (died 44, the Greater, the Son of Zebedee, one of the two "Sons of Thunder;" originally Ya'qob, in Latin Iacobus, in English Jacob), martyred in the reign of the Roman emperor Claudius, at the command of the client tetrarch Herod Agrippa: Apostle-link ūnus, Apostle-link duo, & Wikipedia-link; Apostles-link & Wikipedia-link Apostles.

Commentary: Wayback Machine. Brother of St. John the Apostle [27 December].

Quoth the Holy Redeemer bulletin:

James is described as one of the first disciples to join Jesus. The Synoptic Gospels state that Jesus & John were with their father by the seashore when Jesus called them to follow Him. James was one of only three apostles whom Jesus selected to bear witness to His Transfiguration.

Wikipedia-link Synoptic Gospels

Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings—Feast of St. James
The Second Letter to the Corinthians, chapter four, verses seven thru fifteen;
Psalm One Hundred Twenty-six, verses one(b/c) & two(a/b), two(c/d) & three, four & five, & six;
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter twenty, verses twenty thru twenty-eight.

Commentary: Reflection by Bishop Robert Barron (Word on Fire):

Friends, today in our Gospel the mother of James and John asks Jesus on their behalf for high places of authority in his kingdom. Ah, there is the voice of ambition. Some people don’t care at all about money or power or pleasure—but they care passionately about honor. A lot of people can identify with James and John. They want to go places; they want to be movers and shakers in society. Perhaps a number of people reading this reflection are filled with these emotions.

But Jesus turns the tables on them: "You do not know what you are asking." He is indeed a King, and he will indeed rule Israel, but his crown will be made of thorns, and his throne will be a Roman instrument of torture.

And so he tries to clarify: "Can you drink the chalice that I am going to drink?" The key to honor in the kingdom of God is to drink the cup of suffering, to be willing to suffer out of love, to give one’s life away as a gift. Look at the lives of the saints. It is not about aggrandizing the ego, but emptying it out.

Video reflection by Monsignor James Vlaun: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Christopher, Martyr (died circa 251, A.K.A. Offero), martyred in the reign of the Roman emperor Decius, a victim of the Decian Persecution; one of the Fourteen Holy Helpers: Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link; Persecutions-link & Wikipedia-link Persecution, & Helpers-link & Wikipedia-link Helpers.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Olympias of Constantinople, Deaconess (circa 361-408, A.K.A. the Younger; also spelt Olympiad): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Deaconess.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Glodesind of Metz, Abbess (died circa 608): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.

'Tis also the festival of Blessed Rodolfo Acquaviva, Priest & Martyr, S.J. (1550-1583), martyred by Hindu rebels: Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link.

Papal Quote o' the Day

"The coming of the Holy Spirit does not take the Cross away from human reality. It is not a talisman that immunizes human life from sufferings & misfortunes."
—Pope St. Paul VI (1897-1978, feast day: 29 May)

Saint Quote o' the Day

"Learn to love humility, for it will cover all your sins."
—St. Anthony of Padua, Doctor of the Church (1195-1231, feast day: 13 June)