The Feast of St. James

Today is the feast of St. James, brother of St. John the beloved. St. James was one of the three pillars of the Church (Gal. 2:9) and was one of the three apostles, along with his brother St. John and St. Peter, who were present in many private events of the Lord's ministry where the rest of the Twelve were not, e.g., the Transfiguration (Matt. 17:1; Mark 9:2). He was also the first apostle to be martyred, beheaded by King Herod Agrippa I. There is an ancient tradition that makes St. James the primary apostle to Spain, prior to his beheading, although doubts to that have been raised. Still, who are we to question the efficacy of asking one of the pillars of the Church for aid?