May 3
THE FEAST OF ST. APOSTLES PHILIP AND JACOB
St. Philip, like Peter and Andrew, came from Bethsaida, and like them he was a disciple of John the Baptist and then became a disciple of Jesus Christ. It was he who said to Jesus, "Lord, show us the Father," and heard in reply, "He who has seen me has seen the Father" (Jn 14:8-9).
St. James the Younger, son of Alphaeus (also called Cleopas), was a relative of the Lord Jesus Christ and is therefore mentioned in the New Testament as "brother of the Lord" (Gal 1:19). His mother, Mary Cleopas, stood at the cross together with the Virgin Mary (Jn 19:25). St. James was the leader of the Jerusalem Church and author of the council epistle included in the canon of the New Testament. He played a significant role at the Council of Jerusalem (cf. Acts 15:13). He suffered martyrdom in 62.
Source: ILG
