Saint
Saint James the Less
- Country / origin
- Galilee / Jerusalem
- Life
- 1st century
- Feast
- 3 May
Awaiting theological review
Who was this?
James son of Alphaeus, one of the Twelve, called the Less to distinguish him from James son of Zebedee. The Latin tradition identifies him with James, the brother of the Lord and leader of the Church in Jerusalem, to whom the Letter of James is attributed. He is celebrated with Saint Philip on 3 May.
In Scripture: Matthew 10:3
Biblical profile: James, son of Alphaeus →Patron of
- Montevideo (Uruguay)
When to ask for intercession
- faith shown in deeds
- patience in trials
- for the Church in Jerusalem
A short prayer
Saint James, intercede for me, that my faith may show itself in what I do.
Written for cento53 as a simple personal prayer of intercession — not a liturgical text.
What we know — and how
Historians debate
Whether James son of Alphaeus and James the brother of the Lord are the same man is debated; the Latin liturgy keeps them together.
The next question