Category:Saint James the Lesser

Born: Unknown Died: Unknown date in Egypt or Jerusalem Honored in: Roman Catholic Church, Anglican Communion, Eastern Orthodox Church Feast: 1 May (Anglican Communion), May 3 (Roman Catholic Church), 9 October (Eastern Orthodox Church) Attributes: carpenter's saw; fuller's club; book Patronage: apothecaries; druggists; dying people; Frascati, Italy; fullers; milliners; Monterotondo, Italy; pharmacists; Uruguay

Feast on May 3

See also: Letter of James

---excerpt from the Illustrated Bible Dictionary

James - Saint James the Lesser - The son of Alphaeus, or Cleopas, "the brother" or near kinsman or cousin of our Lord (Galatians 1:18, Galatians 1:19), called James "the Less," or "the Little," probably because he was of low stature. He is mentioned along with the other apostles (Matthew 10:3; Mark 3:18; Luke 6:15). He had a separate interview with our Lord after His Resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:7), and is mentioned as one of the apostles of the circumcision (Acts 1:13). He appears to have occupied the position of head of the Church at Jerusalem, where he presided at the council held to consider the case of the Gentiles (Acts 12:17; 15:13-29: Acts 21:18). This James was the author of the epistle which bears his name.