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May 3: Saint Philip and Saint James, Apostles—Feast
Saint Philip: c. 4–c. 80
Patron Saint of people wey dey make hats and pastry chefs
Saint James: First century BC–c. 62
Patron Saint of pharmacists and people wey dey die
Dem canonize dem before dem set up Congregation
Liturgical Colour: Red
Version: Full – Short
Podcast channels:
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Words wey dem quote:
The next day, E decide to go Galilee, and E find Philip. Jesus tell am, “Follow Me.” Philip come from Bethsaida, the town of Andrew and Peter. Philip find Nathanael and tell am, “We don find the Person wey Moses write about for the law, and wey the prophets too write about: Jesus, Joseph pikin, from Nazareth.” But Nathanael ask am, “Anything good fit come from Nazareth?” Philip tell am, “Come see.” ~John 1:43–46
Reflection: For the sixth century, Pope Pelagius I travel go Constantinople and carry the relics of Apostles Philip and James come back to Rome. E put dem for the church wey dem dey call Church of the Holy Apostles today. Na because of this we dey honour these two Apostles together with one feast.
Saint Philip na one of the Twelve Apostles. E most likely be follower of Saint John the Baptist, and e know say John don point to Jesus as the Messiah. Philip fit be brother to Simon Peter and Andrew, wey mean say e dey catch fish as im work. The day after dem invite Simon and Andrew to follow Jesus, Jesus meet Philip and talk say, “Follow Me” (John 1:43). Philip obey. E come from the town of Bethsaida, just north of the Sea of Galilee. The first thing Philip do to spread the Good News na to tell im friend, Nathanael, say dem don find the Messiah. At first, Nathanael no too gree, and e ask Philip, “Anything good fit come from Nazareth?” Philip give the best kind of answer. E tell im friend, “Come see” (John 1: 46). When Nathanael come and see, e declare im faith at once say Jesus na the Messiah, the Son of God. Theologians for the early Church believe say Philip follow our Lord from that time go, and e witness Jesus first miracle for Cana.
When Jesus choose the Twelve, Philip dey among dem. Gospel of John mention am for the time wey Jesus feed the 5,000, when Jesus see the large crowd, turn face Philip and talk say, “Where we fit buy food wey go reach all of dem chop?” (John 6:6). Dem also mention Philip in connection with some Gentile dem wey dey speak Greek and want see Jesus (see John 12:21). This fit mean say Philip sabi speak Greek and the Greek community know am. For the Last Supper, as Jesus dey talk about the Father, Philip tell Am say, “Master, show us the Father, and that one go reach us.” Jesus gently answer am say, “I don dey with una for all this long time, and you still no know Me, Philip? Anybody wey don see Me don see the Father” (John 14:8–14).
After Pentecost, people no too know much about Philip missionary work. Ancient tradition dem talk say e preach for Greece, Phrygia and Syria, and say dem kill am because of im faith when e don old, for Hierapolis, Phrygia. This place dey southwest of present-day Turkey, no far from Ephesus, where Saint Paul establish one church community. People believe say Philip die either because dem crucify am upside down or because dem cut off im head.
Saint James sef na one of the Twelve. The traditional view, wey don dey since as early as the second century, na say only two disciples of Christ for the New Testament bear James. Some scholars for this our time identify three or more. If we follow the traditional view, wey Saint Jerome sef hold for the fourth century, then the two James dem na James the Son of Zebedee and James the Less (wey dem also dey call James the brother of the Lord, and James the Son of Alphaeus). Writers wey come later call am James the Just. If James the Less na still the James wey be the Lord brother, then James papa na Alphaeus and im mama na Mary of Clopas, the sister of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This one go mean say James na son of the Blessed Virgin sister and first cousin of Jesus. Dem call am Jesus “brother” because for that time, people dey normally call cousins and other relatives brothers and sisters. For Gospel of Mark, dem also call Levi (wey people know better as Matthew) the son of Alphaeus (Mark 2:14), and this fit mean say James and Matthew na brothers.
For im letter to the Corinthians, Saint Paul talk say the Lord appear to James after His Resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:7). After Pentecost, James become the first bishop of the Church for Jerusalem. Acts of the Apostles talk say na James, as head of the Jerusalem Church, oversee the First Council of Jerusalem and announce the final judgment on behalf of Peter (see Acts 15). Eusebius, one bishop for the fourth century, write say James dey spend plenty hours for the Temple of Jerusalem: “…e get the habit to enter the temple alone, and people often dey find am on im knees dey beg for forgiveness for the people, so tey im knees come hard like camel knees.” Eusebius also write about how James die as martyr: “…dem throw am down from the highest point of the temple, and dem use heavy stick beat am till e die.” According to tradition, people believe say na James the Less write the New Testament letter of James, although scholars for this our time dey question whether na so. That letter na general letter, wey most likely go to all the Jewish Christian communities. E start say, “James, a slave of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes wey scatter for different places, greetings” (James 1:1). The letter then continue to give encouragement for times of trials and persecution, strong advice and warnings, and e end by talking about the power of prayer.
Wetin we know for sure about these two disciples na say dem dey among the Twelve Apostles. The Savior choose dem in one special way to continue His divine mission to preach the Gospel to the world. Dem carry out their ministry with great courage, dey establish communities of believers, preach the Gospel, administer the sacraments, perform miracles and lead the early Church. Make the strong zeal of these apostles for their mission, and the courage wey dem take face death as martyrs, inspire you today with that same zeal and courage, so that God fit send you too go for mission.
Prayer: Saints Philip and James, una two receive great blessing to be companions of the Lord Jesus, dey listen as E dey preach, witness His miracles, and receive from Am the mission to continue His work. Abeg, pray for me, make I too come know our Lord and Savior through prayer and the Holy Scriptures, so that I go ready for the mission wey God get for me. Saints Philip and James, pray for me. Jesus, na You I trust.
Dem take dis reflection from:
Saint Dem and Feast Dem for di Liturgical Year
Volume One–Four
Read More:
Catholic Saint Dem & Feast Dem
All di Saint Dem for di Liturgical Year
(Short Version)
May 3: Saint Philip and Saint James, Apostles—Feast
Saint Philip: c. 4–c. 80
Patron Saint of people wey dey make hats and pastry chefs
Saint James: First century B.C.–c. 62
Patron Saint of pharmacists and people wey dey near death
Canonization dem wey happen before Congregation start
Since di sixth century, di relics of Apostles Philip and James don dey for di Church of the Holy Apostles for Rome. Dem dey honour di two Apostles with one Feast.
Philip na one of di Twelve Apostles. E most likely be follower of John the Baptist, and e know say John point to Jesus as di Messiah. E fit be say e be brother to Simon Peter and Andrew, wey go mean say na fisherman work e dey do. Di day after Jesus invite di brothers to follow Am, Jesus tell Philip, “Follow Me” (John 1:43). Philip obey, and e tell e friend Nathanael say dem don find di Messiah. Nathanael no too gree, and e ask, “Anything good fit come from Nazareth?” Philip answer, “Come see” (John 1:46). When Nathanael come see, e declare e faith in Jesus as di Messiah, and from that time, e follow our Lord. E witness di first miracle wey Jesus do for Cana.
For di Gospel of John, Philip tell Jesus say even two hundred days’ pay no go buy enough food to feed di crowd of 5,000 people (John 6:6). Philip name still come up when some Gentiles wey dey speak Greek want see Jesus (see John 12:21). This one show say e fit speak Greek and di Greek community know am. For di Last Supper, as Jesus dey talk about di Father, Philip talk say, “Master, show us di Father, and that one go do for us.” Jesus gently answer am, “I don dey with una for all this time, and you still no know Me, Philip? Anybody wey don see Me don see di Father” (John 14:8–14).
Traditions talk say after Pentecost, Philip preach for Greece, Phrygia, and Syria. When e don old, dem crucify am with e head down or cut off e head for Hierapolis, Phrygia, wey dey di southwest of Turkey today.
James too na one of di Twelve Apostles, and e bear di same name as James, di son of Zebedee. Di saint wey we dey honour today na James the Less, or James, di son of Alphaeus. E fit be say e mama na Mary of Clopas, di sister of di Blessed Virgin, wey go make James first cousin to Jesus. For Scripture, dem call am Jesus’ “brother” because for that time, people dey normally call their cousins and other relatives brothers and sisters. For di Gospel of Mark, dem still call Levi (wey people know better as Matthew) di son of Alphaeus (Mark 2:14). This one fit mean say James and Matthew na brothers.
For e letter to di Corinthians, Saint Paul talk say di Lord appear to James after E rise from di dead (1 Corinthians 15:7). After Pentecost, James become di first bishop of di Church for Jerusalem. Di Acts of the Apostles tell us say James lead di First Council of Jerusalem and announce di final decision on behalf of Peter (see Acts 15). Eusebius, one bishop for di fourth century, write about how James die as martyr: “…dem throw am down from di highest point of di temple, and dem beat am to death with kondo.” According to tradition, na James the Less write di letter of James for di New Testament. Di letter dey encourage people for times of trial and persecution, dey urge and warn dem, and e end by talking about di power of prayer.
Saint Philip and Saint James, una receive di blessing to be Jesus’ companions, to listen as E dey preach, to witness E miracles, and to receive from Am di mission to continue E work. Abeg, pray make I come know our Lord and Saviour through prayer and di Holy Scriptures, so that I go ready for di mission wey God get for me. Saint Philip and Saint James, pray for me. Jesus, na You I trust.