Patron of Laborers

Why the ‘Greater’?

James is styled "the Greater" to distinguish him from the Apostle James "the Less", who was probably shorter of stature. He was the son of Zebedee and Salome. He was the brother of John, the beloved disciple, and probably the elder of the two. We know nothing of St. James's early life.

His Call

The call of St. James to the discipleship of the Messiah is reported in a parallel narration by Matthew, Mark, and Luke. The two sons of Zebedee, as well as Simon (Peter) and his brother Andrew with whom they were in partnership were called by the Lord upon the Sea of Galilee, where all four with Zebedee and his hired servants were engaged in their ordinary occupation of fishing. The sons of Zebedee "forthwith left their nets and father, and followed him" and became "fishers of men". Peter and Andrew, James and John form the first group, a prominent and chosen group especially Peter, James, and John. These three Apostles alone were admitted to be present at the miracle of the raising of Jairus's daughter, at the Transfiguration, and the Agony in Gethsemani. The fact that the name of James occurs always before that of his brother seems to imply that James was the elder of the two.

“Sons of Thunder”

Several incidents scattered through the Synoptics suggest that James and John had that particular character indicated by the name "Boanerges," sons of thunder, given to them by the Lord; they were burning and impetuous in their evangelical zeal and severe in temper. The two brothers showed their fiery temperament against "a certain man casting out devils" in the name of the Christ. When the Samaritans refused to receive Christ, James and John said: "Lord, do you wish that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them?"