Saint James the Just
Also known as
• Jacobus Minor
• James the Lesser
• James the Less
• James the Younger
• James, son of Alphæus
• James, the brother of the Lord
Memorial
• 3 May
Profile
Our saint for today was a blood relative of Jesus (on his Mother’s side). James was raised in a Jewish home with all the training in Scripture and Law that was part of that life. He was known for his piety. He became a convert and one of the twelve original Apostles.
The cognomen, James the Less is not in reference to his being less important than the other James, (James the Greater), it is in reference to his age or size. He was one of the most important of the apostles; in fact he was chosen to be the first Bishop of Jerusalem. Which is why I prefer the moniker “James the Just,” when we speak of today’s heavenly worthy. James was a just and apostolic man known for his prayer life, he spent so much time on his knees praying they were described as looking thickened like a camel’s. He was devoted to the poor.
Saint Paul the Apostle noted that he went to Jerusalem and met with James and Peter to work out the plans for evangelization of the Gentiles. James and Peter called the first Apostolic Council of Jerusalem; James was the chairman. This council upheld the position that Gentile converts did not have to obey all Jewish religious law particularly circumcision ending this debate once and for all. James continued to observe them himself as part of his heritage and because he was a Jew who followed Christ.
The resident Jewish leaders did not like James. He was well versed in Jewish law and practice and a Christian leader. Because of their animosity, James was thrown from the pinnacle of the temple, and was beaten to death with clubs. Having been beaten to death, a club almost immediately became Our Saint’s symbol. This led to his patronage of fullers, hat makers, and pharmacists, all of whom use clubs in their professions. In the medieval period, the fulling of cloth often was undertaken in a water mill, this was mistakenly translated to a windmill in iconography, which is why the windmill is often connected to James. Another unhappy accident of perception like Saint Agatha and her patronage of bread makers, and bell founders….
It is said soon after the Crucifixion, James announced he would fast until Christ returned; the resurrected Jesus appeared to him, and fixed a meal for James Himself.
James wrote my most favorite of all the Epistles. I feel his words are straightforward and “no nonsense”. May I refer you Protestants to this epistle? Particularly see James Chapter 2 verse 20 “Faith without works is dead.” How come the flatulent Martin Luther missed that little tidbit eh? Ohh he didn’t, he ignored it…..
Died
• martyred c.62 while praying for his attackers
Patronage
• apothecaries
• druggists
• dying people
• fullers
• hat makers
• hatters
• milliners
• pharmacists
Representation
• fuller’s club
• man holding a book
Windmill
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