Fr. Lawrence Jagdfeld, O.F.M., Administrator
The Church celebrates the Feast of Sts. Philip and James today, two of the Twelve, the term used by the evangelists to identify the twelve men who were chosen from among Jesus' many disciples as his special companions. Two of the Twelve were named James. One is described as James, the son of Alphaeus and the brother of John; the other is called James, the brother (or cousin) of Jesus. Today's feast celebrates the latter of the two.
St. Philip is mentioned several times in the Gospel of St. John, both in the first chapter, and again later during the farewell discourse. Philip's comments follow the "I AM" statement found at John 14:6: I AM the way and the truth and the life.
St. James became the leader of the community of Jerusalem after the resurrection and is probably the author of the Letter of St. James in the Christian Scriptures.
Both Saint Philip and Saint James are said to have been martyrs for the faith. St. Philip is said to have been either crucified or beheaded in Hierapolis after converting the wife of the proconsul of that city to Christianity. The legend surrounding his martyrdom claims that the crowd tried to save him from the cross as he continued to preach from the cross, but that he insisted that they leave him on the cross to die as Jesus had died. St. James was either stoned or thrown from the parapet of the Temple of Jerusalem.
As we celebrate their Feast, we are reminded once again of the vocation of every Christian to preach the Gospel whether convenient or inconvenient, through the example of our lives and by confession of our faith.