St James TL / St Philip

St James TL / St Philip History

This Observance celebrates the lives of Saint Philip and James the Lesser, two of the 12 disciples of Jesus Christ.

The apostle Philip is the patron saint of hat makers and pastry chefs. He's also the patron saint of Luxembourg and Uruguay. He is famous for being one of Jesus' first disciples. James, sometimes called James the Lesser, is known as the writer of the epistle of James in the Bible.  He was bishop of Jerusalem in the early church. He is the patron saint of pharmacists, hat makers, and the dying.

St James TL / St Philip Facts & Quotes

• The mother of St James, Mary was either a sister or a close relative of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and for that reason, according to Jewish custom, he was sometimes called the brother of Jesus.
  
  
• In the Orthodox Church, St. James is commemorated on October 22.  St. Philip is revered on November 14.
• The Roman Catholic feast day of St. Philip and St. James, Apostles, is held May 3.  It honors James, traditionally considered to be the brother of Jesus, and Philip, considered by scripture to be one of Jesus' earliest disciples (John: 1:43).
• St James the Lesser is the patron saint of hat makers, the dying and also one of the patron saints of Uruguay.
  
• Philip teaches us ... to let ourselves be won over by Jesus, to be with him and also to invite others to share in this indispensable company; and in seeing, finding God, to find true life. - St. Benedict XVI

St James TL / St Philip Top Events and Things to Do

• Read the Epistle of James.  This is a letter that addresses several problems occurring in the early church involving the rich, lack of humility, and other issues.
• Read the first chapter of the Gospel of John.  Philip invites others to come and see what Jesus was teaching, a common theme in the Gospel of John.
• Bake a pastry in honor of St. Philip since he is the patron saint of bakers.
• Say a prayer for the dying in honor of St. James, who is the patron saint of those living their last days of mortal life.

St James TL / St Philip References and Related Sites