St. James the Less: Feast Day, Patronage & Prayers
Updated: Oct 3
Feast day: May 3 (Feast of Sts. Philip and James, Apostles)
Patron of: Uruguay (with St. Philip).
About St. James the Less
St. James the Less, son of Alphaeus, was one of the Twelve Apostles. He is called "the Less," or the younger, to distinguish him from James the son of Zebedee. Western tradition identifies him with James, "the brother of the Lord," meaning a close relative of Jesus, who became the respected leader of the Church in Jerusalem. St. Paul names this James among those to whom the risen Christ appeared, and he spoke with authority at the Council of Jerusalem, where the apostles welcomed Gentile converts without requiring them to follow the whole Mosaic law.
The Letter of James in the New Testament is traditionally attributed to him. It is intensely practical: faith without works is dead, the tongue must be tamed, the rich must not be preferred over the poor, and "the trying of your faith worketh patience." Its instruction that the sick should call the priests of the Church to anoint them is a foundation of the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick. According to the historian Josephus and early Christian writers, James was martyred in Jerusalem around the year 62. He is honored with St. Philip on May 3.
Prayers to St. James the Less on Daily Catholic Prayers
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