Feast of Saint James the Apostle at Jaffa of Nazareth
As it is every year, the feast of the apostle James was celebrated on the 25th of July.
The little chapel, built in 1886 thanks to Spanish benefactors and confided to the care of the Custody of the Holy Land, stands at the highest point in the town.
Participating in the Mass, which was celebrated by Brother Amjad Sabbara, parish priest of the Latin church of Nazareth, and concelebrated by other priests, were many of the faithful from Nazareth and Jaffa.
Hymns and songs accompanied the celebration that unfolded in this church that is opened only once a year, for just this occasion.
In his homily, Father Amjad Sabbara recalled James, the son of Zebedee and Mary Salome and brother of John the evangelist, fishermen in Bethesda before being called by Jesus.
James witnessed the most important of Jesus' miracles.
He was with Peter on Tabor at the Transfiguration, and was present at the resurrection of the daughter of Jairus and during the night at Gethsemane.
Quick and impetuous in nature like his brother, the two were called by Jesus "Boanerges " (sons of thunder).
The first of the apostles to be martryred, James was decapitated in Jerusalem by order of Herod Agrippas, around the year 43 or 44.
Centuries later, born of traditions and legends, Saint James is said to have preached the Gospel in Spain. When that country fell into Arab hands (in the ninth century), it was said that the body of Saint James (Santiago in Spanish) was miraculously transported to northwestern Spain and buried in the place we know as Santiago de Compostela.
At Saint James House here in Jerusalem, the feast of the primary patron of Spain was marked with Mass celebrated by Mgr. Cesar Franco, auxiliary bishop of Madrid, don Jose Manuel des Sanchez, the director, and Brother Artemio Vitores, Custodial Vicar, together with priests and religious, in the presence of the Consul of Spain and many guests.
In his homily, the bishop exhorted the assembly to live the virtues of the apostle James, particularly friendship with the Lord, and spoke of the importance of living in Jerusalem, testifying to our being disciples of the Master.
As it is every year, the feast of the apostle James was celebrated on the 25th of July.
The little chapel, built in 1886 thanks to Spanish benefactors and confided to the care of the Custody of the Holy Land, stands at the highest point in the town.
Participating in the Mass, which was celebrated by Brother Amjad Sabbara, parish priest of the Latin church of Nazareth, and concelebrated by other priests, were many of the faithful from Nazareth and Jaffa.
Hymns and songs accompanied the celebration that unfolded in this church that is opened only once a year, for just this occasion.
In his homily, Father Amjad Sabbara recalled James, the son of Zebedee and Mary Salome and brother of John the evangelist, fishermen in Bethesda before being called by Jesus.
James witnessed the most important of Jesus' miracles.
He was with Peter on Tabor at the Transfiguration, and was present at the resurrection of the daughter of Jairus and during the night at Gethsemane.
Quick and impetuous in nature like his brother, the two were called by Jesus "Boanerges " (sons of thunder).
The first of the apostles to be martryred, James was decapitated in Jerusalem by order of Herod Agrippas, around the year 43 or 44.
Centuries later, born of traditions and legends, Saint James is said to have preached the Gospel in Spain. When that country fell into Arab hands (in the ninth century), it was said that the body of Saint James (Santiago in Spanish) was miraculously transported to northwestern Spain and buried in the place we know as Santiago de Compostela.
At Saint James House here in Jerusalem, the feast of the primary patron of Spain was marked with Mass celebrated by Mgr. Cesar Franco, auxiliary bishop of Madrid, don Jose Manuel des Sanchez, the director, and Brother Artemio Vitores, Custodial Vicar, together with priests and religious, in the presence of the Consul of Spain and many guests.
In his homily, the bishop exhorted the assembly to live the virtues of the apostle James, particularly friendship with the Lord, and spoke of the importance of living in Jerusalem, testifying to our being disciples of the Master.