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 Heir 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: EMV 45

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

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

Apostolic journey in Judea: EMV 70

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

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

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

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

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

EMV 141 EMV 142

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

EMV 225

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

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

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

End of year celebrations in Nazareth: EMV 303 EMV 312

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

EMV 465

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

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

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

The resurrection of Lazarus: EMV 547 EMV 548

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

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

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

Resurrection Sunday: EMV 621 EMV 626

From Resurrection to Ascension: EMV 628 EMV 629 EMV 630 EMV 631 EMV 633 EMV 635 EMV 636 EMV 638 EMV 639 EMV 640 EMV 647 EMV 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?" – Mgr 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 Marie d'Agréda, 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 Marie d'Agréda (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, Marie d'Agréda 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."