May 3, 2025, Feast of Sts. Philip and James, Apostles, (Joyful Mysteries) | Remembering Pope Francis

Friends of the Rosary,

Today, the Catholic Church celebrates the Feast of the Apostles Philip and James, both named in the Eucharistic Prayer of the Roman Canon. They suffered, were persecuted, and martyred, but they trusted in God.

As we read in the Gospel today, we, too, must have confidence in God and not be troubled by our adversities. There are many mansions in our Father's house, and if we follow His instructions, Christ will come at the end of our lives and take us to Himself.

Like Sts. Peter and Andrew, St. Philip was a fisherman from Bethsaida, in Galilee. According to tradition, he was crucified at Hierapolis in Phrygia, where he had preached the Gospel. Christ declared to St. Philip, "Whoever has seen me has seen the Father... I am the Father and the Father is in me" (Jn 14:8, 11).

St. James, often called St. James the Less because St. Mark refers to him as "the younger" (Mk 15:40), was a cousin of Our Lord. He was favored by an appearance of the Risen Christ (I Cor. 15:7). As bishop of Jerusalem, St. James wrote an Epistle of the New Testament.

When he refused to deny the Divinity of Christ, the Jews threw him from the Temple terrace and then stoned him to death. He was ninety-six years old and had governed the Church for thirty years in a holy manner.

As he lay there half dead, with legs broken by the fall, he lifted his hands toward heaven and prayed to God for the salvation of his enemies, saying: Lord, forgive them for they know not what they do! 

Ave Maria!

Jesus, I Trust In You!

Come, Holy Spirit, come!
To Jesus through Mary!
Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will. Please give us the grace to respond with joy!

+ Mikel Amigot w/ María Blanca | RosaryNetwork.com, New York

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