Today the Church honours the Apostles Philip and James. Before the establishment of Saint Joseph the Worker in 1955, this feast was celebrated on the First of May. Their bodies repose in the Basilica of the Holy Apostles in Rome and their relics are regarded as one of the greatest treasures of the Eternal City. There is reason to believe that the First of May was the anniversary of their translation. For a long time the Church of Rome kept special feasts in honour of only Saints Peter and Paul, Saint John the Evangelist and Saint Andrew (the brother of Peter).
Philip was born at Bethsaida, and was one of the twelve Apostles that were first called by Christ our Lord. It was from Philip that Nathanael learned that the Messiah had come who was promised in the Law. And by him also he was led to our Lord. We have a clear proof of the familiarity with which Philip was treated by Christ in the fact of the Gentiles addressing themselves to this Apostle when they wished to see the Saviour. Again, when our Lord was about to feed the multitude in the desert, he spoke to Philip and said: “Where can we buy bread that these may eat?” Having received the Holy Ghost, he went into Scythia, which was the country allotted to him in which to preach the Gospel. He converted almost its entire people to the Christian Faith. Having finally reached Hierapolis in Phrygia, he was crucified there for the name of Christ and then stoned to death on the Calends of May (May 1st). The Christians buried his body in the same place, but it was afterwards taken to Rome and, together with the body of the Apostle Saint James, was placed in the Basilica of the Twelve Apostles.
It is of James that Saint Paul speaks in his Epistle to the Galatians when he says: “But other of the Apostles I saw none, saving James, the brother of the Lord.” Such was James’ holy life that people used to strive with each other to touch the hem of his garment. At the age of 96 years — of which he had spent 30 governing the Church of Jerusalem in the most saintly manner — as he was one day preaching with great courage Christ the Son of God, he was attacked by stones being thrown at him, after which he was taken to the highest part of the Temple and cast headlong down. His legs were broken by the fall, and as he was lying half dead upon the ground, he raised up his hands towards Heaven and thus prayed for his executioners: “Forgive them, O Lord! For they know not what they do.” While so praying, he received a blow on the head with a fuller’s club and gave up his soul to his God in the seventh year of Nero’s reign. He was buried near the Temple from which he had been thrown down. He wrote a Letter which is one of the seven Catholic Epistles.
Dom Prosper Gueranger:
Two of the favoured witnesses of our beloved Jesus’ Resurrection come before us on this day. Philip and James are here, bearing testimony to us that their Master is truly risen from the dead, that they have seen Him, that they have touched Him, that they have conversed with Him (1 John i. 1) during these forty days. And, that we may have no doubt as to the truth of their testimony, they hold in their hands the instruments of the martyrdom they underwent for asserting that Jesus, after having suffered death, came to life again and rose from the grave. Philip is leaning upon the cross to which he was fastened, as Jesus had been. James is holding the club with which he was struck dead.
Philip preached the Gospel in the two Phrygias, and his martyrdom took place at Hierapolis. He was married when he was called by our Saviour, and we learn from writers of the second century that he had three daughters, remarkable for their great piety, one of whom lived at Ephesus, where she was justly revered as one of the glories of that early Church. James is better known than Philip. He is called, in the sacred Scripture, Brother of the Lord (Galatians i. 19) on account of the close relationship that existed between his own mother and the Blessed Mother of Jesus. He claims our veneration during Paschal Time inasmuch as he was favoured with a special visit from our Risen Lord, as we learn from Saint Paul (1 Corinthians xv. 7). There can be no doubt, but what he had done something to deserve this mark of Jesus’ predilection. Saint Jerome and Saint Epiphanius tell us that our Saviour, when ascending into Heaven, recommended to Saint James’ care the Church of Jerusalem, and that he was accordingly appointed the first Bishop of that city.
The Christians of Jerusalem, in the fourth century, had possession of the Chair on which Saint James used to sit when he assisted at the assemblies of the faithful. Saint Epiphanius also tells us that the holy Apostle used to wear a lamina of gold on his forehead as the badge of his dignity. His garment was a tunic made of linen. He was held in such high repute for virtue that the people of Jerusalem called him “The Just,” and when the time of the siege came, instead of attributing the frightful punishment, they then endured to the deicide they or their fathers had committed, they would have it to be a consequence of the murder of James, who, when dying, prayed for his people. The admirable Epistle he has left us bears testimony to the gentleness and uprightness of his character. He there teaches us with an eloquence of an inspired writer, that works must go along with our Faith, if we would be Just with that Justice, which makes us like our Risen Lord.
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Holy Apostles, you saw our Risen Jesus in all His glory. He said to you on the evening of that great Sunday: “Peace be to you!” He appeared to you during the forty days following, that He might make you certain of His Resurrection. Great indeed must have been your joy at seeing, once more, that dear Master who had admitted you into the number of His chosen Twelve, and His return made your love of Him more than ever fervent. We address ourselves to you as our special patrons during this holy Season, and most earnestly do we beseech you to teach us how to know and love the great mystery of our Lord’s Resurrection. May our hearts glow with Paschal joy, and may we never lose the New Life that our Jesus has now given us.
You, Philip, were all devoted to Him, even from the first day of his calling you. Scarcely had you come to know Him as the Messiah, than you announced the great tidings to your friend Nathanael. Jesus treated you with affectionate familiarity. When about to work the great miracle of the multiplication of the loaves, it was to you that He addressed Himself and said to you: “Where will we buy bread, that these may eat?” (John vi. 5) A few days before the Passion of your Divine Master, some of the Gentiles wished to see this great Prophet of whom they had heard such wonderful things, and it was to you they applied. How fervently did you not ask Him at the Last Supper to show you the Father! Your soul longed for the divine Light, and when the rays of the Holy Ghost had inflamed your spirit, nothing could daunt your courage. As a reward of your labours, Jesus gave you to share with Him the honours of the Cross. O holy Apostle, intercede for us that we may imitate your devotedness to Jesus and that, when He deigns to send us the Cross, we may reverence and love it.
We also honour your love of Jesus, O you that are called the Brother of the Lord, and on whose venerable features was stamped the likeness of this our Redeemer. If, like the rest of the Apostles, you abandoned Him in His Passion, your repentance was speedy and earnest, for you were the first after Peter to whom He appeared after His Resurrection. We affectionately congratulate you, James, for the honour thus conferred on you. In return, obtain for us that we may taste and see how sweet is our Risen Lord (Psalms xxxiii. 9). Your ambition was to give Him every possible proof of your gratitude, and the last testimony you bore in the faithless City to the Divinity of your dear Master (when the Jews took you to the top of the Temple), opened to you, by martyrdom, the way that was to unite you to Him for eternity. Pray for us, O you generous Apostle, that we also may confess His holy Name with the firmness becoming His disciples, and that we may ever be brave and loyal in proclaiming His rights as King over all creatures.Also on this day according to the ROMAN MARTYROLOGY:
At Rome, on the Via Salaria, the birthday of blessed Anthimus, priest, who, after having distinguished himself by his virtues and preaching, was precipitated into the river Tiber in the persecution of Diocletian. He was rescued by an angel and restored to his oratory. Being afterwards decapitated, he went victoriously to heaven.
The same day, St. Evelius, martyr, who belonged to the household of Nero. On seeing the martyrdom of St. Torpes, he believed in Christ and for Him was beheaded.
Also at Rome, the holy martyrs Maximus, Bassus and Fabius who were put to death on the Via Salaria in the time of Diocletian.
At Camerino, the holy martyrs Anastasius and his companions who were killed in the persecution of Decius under the governor Antiochus.
At Osimo, in the Marches of Ancona, the holy martyrs Sisinus, a deacon, Diocletius and Florentius, disciples of the priest St. Anthimus, who consummated their martyrdom under Diocletian by being overwhelmed with stones.
At Varennes, St. Gangulpus, martyr.
At Vienne, St. Mamertus, bishop, who, to avert an impending calamity, instituted in that city the three days’ Litanies immediately before the Ascension of Our Lord. This rite was afterwards received and approved by the Universal Church.
At Souvigny, the decease of St. Maieul, abbot of Cluny, whose life was distinguished for merits and holiness.
At San Severino, in the Marches of Ancona, St. Illuminatus, confessor.
At Grottaglia in the diocese of Taranto, St. Francis Girolamo, confessor, of the Society of Jesus, renowned for his zeal for the salvation of souls, and for his patience. He was canonised by Pope Gregory XVI. The day of his death is celebrated with great solemnity in the church of the professed house at Naples where his body rests.
And in other places, many other holy martyrs, confessors and virgins.
Thanks be to God.
