Today is the Feast Day of Saints Philip and James, Apostles
Today is the Feast Day of Saints Philip and James, Apostles
Saints Philip and James, pray for us!
The Feast of Saints Philip and James
Today is the feast day of Saints Philip and James. This feast day originated in the 6th century, honors two of Christ's apostles, each distinct in their call and contributions to the early Church.
Saint Philip, one of the first followers of Jesus. It was Philip who introduced Bartholomew (also known as Nathanael) to Christ (John 1:45-46), and later, he played a significant role in the feeding of the five thousand by engaging in a revealing dialogue with Jesus about how to feed such a large crowd (John 6:5-7). Tradition holds that Philip preached the Gospel in Greece, Phrygia, and Syria, where he met his martyrdom.
Saint James, often known as James the Less to distinguish him from James the son of Zebedee, is a figure with a somewhat more complex historical footprint. He is identified in the Scriptures as the son of Alphaeus (Mark 3:18). Early Church Father St. Jerome posited this James was the same person as James, the brother of Jesus, who led the Jerusalem Church and authored the Epistle of James. In his epistle, James emphasizes practical aspects of faith, urging believers to demonstrate their faith through righteous deeds (James 2:14-26). Jerome’s view reflects a tradition that saw these roles and titles converging in one person.
However, by the time the feast day for Philip and James was established in 560, their stories and identities were viewed through the lens of these early interpretations. Scholars will often distinguish between James the son of Alphaeus and James, the brother of the Lord, considering them separate individuals. James the Less is celebrated particularly for his leadership of the Jerusalem Church and his martyrdom in 62 AD, an event chronicled by the Jewish historian Josephus, not directly in the Biblical texts.
The ascetic life attributed to James, though not explicitly documented in the Scriptures, aligns with the descriptions of his character and the nature of his epistle, which calls for humility, patience, and a prayerful life. Such characteristics suggest a deeply spiritual man devoted to the austere and sincere practice of his faith, influencing his community through a lived example of dedication and piety.
The celebration of the feast of Saints Philip and James as a single feast day speaks to the early Church’s efforts to honor these apostolic fathers collectively. This shared feast not only reflects the unity of the Apostolic age but also serves as a reminder of the diverse paths through which the Gospel was preached—through Philip’s missionary journeys and James’s pastoral leadership. Each apostle, in his unique capacity, contributed profoundly to the foundation upon which the Christian faith is built, and their joint feast day invites the faithful to reflect on the richness of these apostolic legacies.
Today’s Mass Collect
O God, who gladden us each year with the feast day of the Apostles Philip and James, grant us, through their prayers, a share in the Passion and Resurrection of your Only Begotten Son, so that we may merit to behold you for eternity.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever.