James of Zebedee the Apostle

Drawing of James of Zebedee the Apostle by Lorenzo Ferri according to the indications of Maria Valtorta. Source: documentary collection of the Maria Valtorta Heritage Foundation.

From Bethsaida, second disciple of Jesus. Son of Zebedee and Mary Salome, mother of the apostles John and James. It is this seniority in the apostolate that earned him the later title of "major" to distinguish him from his namesake, James of Alphaeus (the minor), cousin of Jesus who would later join the apostolic group.

Fisherman by profession and tradition, James comes from a large Family whose exact composition is unknown. He indeed has several brothers, including the very famous John the Evangelist, and sisters. He settled in Capernaum with John and Zebedee to facilitate the apostolate (frequent travels). Nicknamed son of thunder (Boanerges) like his brother John because of his impetuous character.

He proved this when, driven out of a Samaritan village, he proposed with his brother to call down Fire from heaven on the rebellious village.

This Family had business relations with High Priest Annas, which explains why John, at the time of the Passion, could enter the Temple.

"When we go to Jerusalem, I will send my brother to Annas. I could go too, since I know that old fox. But John knows better how to handle it. And Annas loved him once, when we listened to the words of that old wolf, believing he was a lamb!"

he said when the Apostles were seeking to save Jesus, expelled by the Sanhedrin. The fishermen of Bethsaida form, as expected, a brotherhood. James of Zebedee the Apostle indeed confided to Jesus about Peter:

"I have been with him since childhood. I know him as if he were my brother".

Character and Appearance

James physically resembles his father Zebedee. Of a fiery temperament, he receives from Jesus the nickname "Son of thunder" for his vehemence against his adversaries, notably wanting, together with his brother John, to deal with Judas and all opponents. Impulsive and trembling, which is confirmed by Mary in the portrait she draws of him at the end of his life: "the impulsive one, to the point that Jesus nicknamed him the Son of thunder".

His Journey

Witness of the The Transfiguration of the Lord, witness of the Last Supper, of the Resurrection-, of the Ascension and Pentecost., but not of the Passion during which he had fled.

Apostle of the first renewal:

"I too was with Andrew the Apostle at the Jordan, but I did not notice him until the indication of the Baptist. I too immediately believed. When He left after his shining manifestation, I remained like someone passing from a sunny summit to a dark prison. I burned to find back the Sun. Yet, after dozens of days of useless waiting, anguished searching, which by their uselessness made the loss of our John—arrested for the first time—even more painful, when he appeared, coming from the desert, I did not recognize him right away".

He priviligedly attended, alongside Peter and John, the miracle of the daughter of Jairus and that of the The Transfiguration of the Lord. Therefore, he is a prominent apostle.

He is the first apostle martyr.

His Name

James has the same root as Jacob (Ia'acob): etymologically: "he who takes by the heel; who supplants"; another proposed etymology is: "he (God) guards, protects" - Historical: Jacob, son of Isaac and Rebecca; the twin brother of Esau, who took the name Israel after wrestling with the angel.

Where is he mentioned in the work?

Preparation for the Public Life: GRM 45

Calling of the first Apostles: GRM 47 GRM 47 GRM 48 GRM 49 GRM 50 GRM 51 GRM 53 GRM 54 GRM 55 GRM 56

Beginning of the apostolate in Galilee: GRM 57 GRM 58 GRM 60 GRM 61 GRM 62 GRM 64 GRM 65

Apostolic journey in Judea: GRM 70

Choice of the last Apostles: GRM 85 GRM 91 GRM 92 GRM 93 GRM 94 GRM 95 GRM 96 GRM 97

The last shepherds: GRM 98 GRM 99 GRM 100 GRM 102 GRM 103 GRM 104 GRM 105 GRM 108 GRM 109

In Judea before the communal life: GRM 110 GRM 111 GRM 112 GRM 115 GRM 116 GRM 117 GRM 118

Teachings on the Ten Commandments: GRM 119 GRM 120 GRM 121 GRM 122 GRM 123 GRM 124 GRM 125 GRM 126 GRM 127 GRM 128 GRM 129 GRM 130 GRM 131 GRM 132

End of year celebrations: GRM 133 GRM 134 GRM 135 GRM 136 GRM 137 GRM 138 GRM 139 GRM 140.

GRM 141 GRM 142

The Samaritan Woman: GRM 143 GRM 144 GRM 145 GRM 146 GRM 147 GRM 149

The female apostolate: GRM 152 GRM 153 GRM 154 GRM 155 GRM 157 GRM 158

In Galilee, the choice of the Apostles: GRM 160 GRM 162 GRM 164 GRM 165 GRM 166

The Sermon on the Mount: GRM 169 GRM 170 GRM 171 GRM 172 GRM 173 GRM 174 GRM 176

Apostolate in Galilee: GRM 177 GRM 178 GRM 179 GRM 180 GRM 181 GRM 182 GRM 183 GRM 184 GRM 185 GRM 185 GRM 186

The second paschal journey: GRM 187 GRM 188 GRM 189 GRM 190 GRM 191 GRM 192 GRM 193 GRM 194 GRM 195 GRM 196 GRM 197 GRM 198 GRM 199 GRM 200 GRM 201 GRM 202 GRM 203

Apostolate in Judea: GRM 205 GRM 206 GRM 206 GRM 207 GRM 208 GRM 210 GRM 211 GRM 212 GRM 212 GRM 214 GRM 215

Apostolate in Philistia: GRM 216 GRM 217 GRM 218 GRM 219 GRM 220 GRM 221 GRM 222 GRM 223 GRM 224.

GRM 225

The conversion of Mary Magdalene: GRM 228 GRM 230 GRM 232 GRM 233 GRM 235 GRM 237 GRM 238 GRM 239 GRM 240 GRM 241 GRM 242 GRM 243 GRM 244 GRM 247 GRM 248 GRM 249 GRM 250 GRM 251 GRM 252 GRM 253 GRM 254 GRM 255

Sending of the Apostles and Disciples on Mission: GRM 256 GRM 257 GRM 260 GRM 261 GRM 262 GRM 265 GRM 268 GRM 269 GRM 271 GRM 272 GRM 273 GRM 274 GRM 275 GRM 276 GRM 277 GRM 278 GRM 279 GRM 280

Perea, Gilead and Trachonitis: GRM 281 GRM 284 4.149 - GRM 286 GRM 287 GRM 288 GRM 289 GRM 290 GRM 293 GRM 294 GRM 295 GRM 296 GRM 297 GRM 298 GRM 299 GRM 300 GRM 301 GRM 302

End of year celebrations in Nazareth: GRM 303 GRM 312

The journey of the Disciples to Antioch: GRM 313 GRM 314 GRM 315 GRM 316 GRM 318 GRM 319 GRM 320 GRM 321 GRM 322 GRM 323 GRM 324 GRM 325 GRM 326

Phoenicia and Upper Galilee: GRM 327 GRM 328 GRM 329 GRM 330 GRM 331 GRM 332 GRM 333 GRM 334 GRM 335 GRM 336 GRM 338 GRM 339 GRM 340 GRM 341 GRM 342 GRM 343 GRM 344 GRM 345 GRM 346 GRM 347

The Transfiguration and the Bread of Heaven: GRM 348 GRM 349 GRM 350 GRM 351 GRM 352 GRM 353 GRM 354 GRM 355 GRM 356 GRM 357 GRM 358 GRM 359 GRM 360 GRM 361 GRM 362 GRM 363

The penultimate Passover: GRM 364 GRM 365 GRM 366 GRM 367 GRM 368 GRM 369 GRM 370 GRM 371 GRM 372 GRM 374 GRM 375 GRM 376 GRM 377 GRM 378

In Judea: GRM 379 GRM 380 GRM 381 GRM 382 GRM 383 GRM 384 GRM 385

AGodx in Judea: GRM 386 GRM 387 GRM 388 GRM 389 GRM 390 GRM 391 GRM 392 GRM 394 GRM 398 – GRM 399 GRM 402 GRM 403

Plain of Sharon: GRM 404 GRM 405 GRM 406 GRM 407 GRM 408 GRM 410 GRM 411 GRM 412

Pentecost, Decapolis and Esdraelon Plain: GRM 413 GRM 414 GRM 415 – GRM 416 GRM 417 GRM 418 GRM 419 GRM 420 – GRM 421 GRM 422 GRM 423 – GRM 424 GRM 425 – GRM 426 – GRM 427 GRM 428 GRM 429 GRM 430 GRM 431 GRM 432

Summer in Nazareth: GRM 435 GRM 436 GRM 437 GRM 440 GRM 441 GRM 443 GRM 444 – GRM 445 GRM 446 GRM 447 – GRM 448 GRM 449 GRM 450 GRM 451 GRM 452 GRM 453 GRM 454 – GRM 455 GRM 456 GRM 457 GRM 458 GRM 459 GRM 460 – GRM 461 GRM 462

GRM 465

In Syro-Phoenicia: GRM 466 GRM 467 GRM 469 GRM 470 GRM 471 GRM 475 GRM 473 GRM 474 GRM 475 GRM 481

In Moab and Judea: GRM 497 GRM 498 – GRM 504 GRM 507 GRM 509 GRM 511 GRM 515 GRM 517 GRM 520 GRM 521

The Feast of Dedication: GRM 529 GRM 532 GRM 535 GRM 536.

The resurrection of Lazarus: GRM 547 GRM 548

The exile in Samaria: GRM 551 GRM 552 GRM 553 GRM 554 GRM 556 GRM 566 GRM 571 GRM 574 GRM 575

The return to Jerusalem: GRM 577 GRM 582 GRM 586 GRM 106

Holy Week: GRM 590 GRM 593 GRM 594 GRM 596 GRM 597 GRM 598 GRM 600

Resurrection Sunday: GRM 621 GRM 626

From Resurrection to Ascension: GRM 628 GRM 629 GRM 630 GRM 631 GRM 633 GRM 635 GRM 636 GRM 638 GRM 639 GRM 640 GRM 647 GRM 649

Learn more about this character

James the Greater in Traditions

Saint James of Compostela

James of Zebedee the Apostle was the first apostle martyr during the persecution of Herod Agrippa I, the last king of the Jews, in 41-44. This grandson of Herod the Great and brother of Herodias was a companion of Caligula, the mad emperor. He died devoured by worms.

James the Greater is said to be the evangelizer of Spain, either during a missionary journey or through the transmission of his body brought by his faithful to Liberum Donum (or Iria Flavia), future Santiago de Compostela (field of stars) when a star apparition indicated the place in the 9th century where the Relics of the apostle were buried. Saint James of Compostela then became the major pilgrimage site known today, and a center of resistance against the Muslim occupiers.

Zaragoza, Our Lady of the Pillar:

Extracts from "The revealed lives of the Virgin Mary - What value? What authenticity?" – Msgr. René Laurentin, François-Michel Debroise:

According to an ancient tradition, the Virgin Mary, while still on earth, would have aided James the Greater evangelizing Spain. She would have been transported to Spain, especially Zaragoza (Cesaraugusta), where she left an icon and a pillar (pilar in Spanish), founding the Basilica of N.D. del Pilar.

These facts are not mentioned by Maria Valtorta but are reported by other visionaries:

Apparitions in Spain

1. According to Mary of Agreda, at the request of James the Greater, who went to evangelize Spain, Mary was first transported by the Angels of Jerusalem to Granada. She saved him and his Disciples from imminent death (The Mystical City of God – Book 7, Chapter 16, §§ 322 to 325, pages 160 to 164). Later, Mary appeared again, this time in Zaragoza, "an apparition as certain as it is famous in the world, and […] confirmed by such great miracles" says Mary of Agreda (ibid – page 160). Jesus entrusted to the Virgin His will to bring the apostle back to Jerusalem to suffer martyrdom there and "to build, before leaving Zaragoza, in that same city, in your honor and under your title a Temple where you will be venerated and invoked" (ibid – Chapter 17, § 347, pages 189 and 190). Mary brought the statue representing her, venerated ever since at the Basilica of the Pilar. James, in return, asked her to protect the kingdom of Spain. (ibid - §§ 353 and 354, pages 195 and 196). This happened, Mary of Agreda specifies, "in the year 40, on the night after January 2nd", a few days before Mary's return to Jerusalem "four days before her departure to Ephesus". Mary was then "fifty-four years, three months, and 24 days old" (ibid - § 358, page 201). In Ephesus, Mary receives the visit of the apostle returning from Spain (ibid - Book 8, Chapter 1, § 382, page 225). Marie d’Agréda concludes: "James had left Jerusalem to go preach; for the holy apostle left in the year 35, on August 20, and after the apparition he dedicated himself to building the Temple (Basilica), returning to Jerusalem and preaching, for one year, two months and twenty-three days, and he died on March 25 of the year 41" (ibid - Book 7, Chapter 17, § 358, page 201). Mary is transported to Jerusalem where she witnesses James’ martyrdom (Acts 12:1) (ibid – Book 8, Chapter 2, § 398, page 241). His Disciples remove his body and carry it to Galicia "to the place where God wanted it to be laid" (ibid - § 400, page 243)
2. According to Anne-Catherine Emmerich, James the Greater landed in Spain near Gibraltar (Gades). "He stayed about four years in that country and made several journeys" (Visions – Volume 3, Chapter IX, page 428). He was arrested and sentenced to death. In a dream, he saw an angel free him and transport him to Rome where he was arrested but acquitted. Returning to Spain, he was again saved in Granada with his Disciples by Angels sent by the Virgin Mary. He went to "Caesar-Augusta", the Roman name of Zaragoza. James implored Mary's Protection against the increasing persecutions. "A bright light suddenly shone above his head". Angels appeared carrying "a column of light from which descended a ray that seemed to mark a place". Mary appeared and ordered the apostle to raise a Church at that place where "Mary’s intercession would be an unshakable pillar" (ibid page 429). He left Spain and went to Jerusalem passing through Ephesus to visit Mary. In Jerusalem, he was arrested and put to death by beheading on Calvary "eight years after the Ascension and long before the death of the Blessed Virgin" (ibid page 431). So the visionary suggests 38 as the actual date of the Ascension; 41 according to the visionary. This second approximation is better.
3. Maria Valtorta does not mention the Apparitions of Mary to James, nor a visit of James.
4. According to Consuelo, Mary assisted James and his Disciples, prisoners in Granada. But it is the Spirit of God who transports her near James. An angel, appearing as a friendly man, breaks his chains. (Mary, star of evangelization - § 8.2, pages 127 and 128). Later, accompanied by a "myriad of Angels and archAngels" Mary went to Zaragoza, "the chosen city" in the midst of the Aragon people, "an instrument of choice" (ibid - § 9.3, pages 134 and 135). She comforts James and his Disciples. The Angels brought an image of Mary and a marble column (the famous "pilar" (pillar) that gives its name to the sanctuary). The Disciples, following divine will announced by an archangel, quickly built a chapel to shelter the image and its column. The Virgin Mary then revealed to Consuelo the privileged destiny of Zaragoza, and its Basilica of the Pilar before which cherubs stand guard continuously (ibid - § 9.3, page 142).

The Golden Legend of Jacobus de Voragine

In volume 2 of this very famous 13th-century compilation, James the Greater is presented as follows:

"This apostle was called James, son of Zebedee, James, brother of John, Boanerges, that is, son of thunder, and James the Greater. He is called James, son of Zebedee; not only because he was his son in the flesh, but to explain his name. Zebedee means giving or given, and Saint James gave himself to J. C. by his death, which was a martyrdom; and he was given by God to be our spiritual patron.

He is called James, brother of John, because he was his brother and, in the flesh and resemblance of conduct. Both indeed had the same zeal, the same desire to know, and had the same wishes. They had the same zeal to avenge the Lord; indeed, when the Samaritans did not want to accept J.-C., James and John said: "Do you want us to command that fire come down from heaven and consume these people?"

They had the same taste for learning: they were the main ones who questioned J.-C. about the day of judgment and other things to come. They had the same wishes, for both wanted to have a place, one on the right and the other on the left of J.-C. He is called son of thunder, because of the loudness of his preaching, since he scared the wicked, urged the lazy, and gained general admiration for the depth of his words. It was the same with Saint John; of whom Bede said: "He resounded so high that if he had resounded a little more, the whole world could not have contained it."

He is called James the Greater as the other is called the Lesser: 1° because of vocation; he was called first by J.-C. 2° because of familiarity; J.-C. seems to have been more familiar with him than with the other; this is certain because the Savior admitted him into His secrets; thus He admitted him to the resurrection of the young girl, and to His glorious Transfiguration; 3° because of his passion; for he was the first of the Apostles to suffer martyrdom. Just as he is called greater for being first in the honor of the apostolate, so he can be called greater for being the first to the glory of eternity."

Notes and references

Note: Quotations from the work of Maria Valtorta on this page currently use machine-translated text and will gradually be replaced by the official English translation. Until then, the official translation may be consulted through the reference link provided with each quotation.