Saint James the Great (3 AD-44 AD) Feast Day 25th July

Saint James the Great is the brother of John. They were the sons of Zebedee. Together Jesus named them the sons of thunder.
James and John were fishermen who Jesus called to become * fishers of men.*
They were two of the original twelve chosen by Jesus. They, with the other 10 disciples, were with Jesus throughout his ministry.

Jesus had an inner circle of four disciples - two sets of brothers James and John, and Simon Peter and Andrew. These four were with Jesus for two important events in his life - the Transfiguration and the betrayal in the garden of Gethsemane.

James would have witnessed the crucifixion of Jesus and seen him after his glorious resurrection. James would have also been present at both the Ascension and Pentecost.

King Herod Agrippa in AD 44 had James executed by the sword (Acts 12 v20).

Saint James the great is the patron saint of Spain

Two disciples of Jesus were named James, the other one is James the son of Alphaeus. A third James mentioned was the brother of Jesus.

Sources used wkipedia, catholic on line and The Church’s Year by Charles Alexander.