From: richarra@gmail.com   
      
   Of the Imitation of Christ   
    and Contempt of all the Vanities of the World [1]   
      
   He that followeth Me, walketh not in darkness (John 8:12), saith the   
   Lord. These are the words of Christ, by which we are admonished, how   
   we ought to imitate His life and manners, if we would truly be   
   enlightened, and delivered from all blindness of heart. Let therefore   
   our chiefest endeavour be, to meditate upon the life of Jesus Christ.   
   --Thomas à Kempis--Imitation of Christ Bk 1, Ch 1   
      
      
   ============   
   May 3rd – Saint James the Lesser   
   (died 62 AD)   
      
   Saint James the Less , the ninth of the twelve disciples of Jesus, and   
   author of the Biblical epistle to the twelve “tribes scattered among   
   the nations.” While some confusion remains regarding the identity of   
   Saint James, Biblical scholars agree that his place among the twelve   
   disciples--the first pillars of the Church--was due to his holiness.   
   For this reason, he is sometimes referred to as “James the Just.” The   
   official designation of James the Less (or Lesser) likely stems from   
   his being called to ministry later in life than the other disciples,   
   being of short stature, or from youth. It is a useful distinguishing   
   title from James the Greater, son of Zebedee, another of the twelve.   
   James is remembered for his deep faith--upon the death of Jesus, James   
   stated that he would fast until the Lord returned. Following the   
   resurrection, Jesus appeared personally to James, preparing a meal for   
   him to eat.   
      
   Saint James the Lesser was called to discipleship in the second year   
   of the ministry of Jesus. Upon the Ascension of the Lord, James was   
   appointed Bishop of Jerusalem. During this time of great danger to the   
   Church, Saint James’ virtues kept the persecution and anger of the   
   citizens of Jerusalem at bay. Despite his faith, he came to be   
   respected by them. Saint Jerome gave the following account concerning   
   his sanctity: "He was always a virgin, and was a Nazarite, or one   
   consecrated to God. In consequence of which he was never shaved, never   
   cut his hair, never drank any wine or other strong liquor; moreover,   
   he never used any bath, or oil to anoint his limbs, and never ate of   
   any living creature except when of precept, as the paschal lamb: he   
   never wore sandals, never used any other clothes than one single linen   
   garment. He prostrated so much in prayer, that the skin of his knees   
   and forehead was hardened like to camels' hoofs." Working under the   
   direction of Saint Peter, the first pope, Saint James the Lesser   
   toiled tirelessly within the community of Jerusalem, addressing the   
   laws of Moses, and converting thousands of Jews to Christianity.   
      
   Saint James the Lesser penned the epistle to the universal Church--to   
   those converted Jews throughout scattered throughout the known world   
   at that time. In his epistle, James provides guidance and instruction   
   in the holy life, restates the importance of the sacraments, and the   
   necessity of both faith and good works.   
      
   2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many   
   kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith develops   
   perseverance. 4 Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be   
   mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5 If any of you lacks   
   wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding   
   fault, and it will be given to him. 6 But when he asks, he must   
   believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the   
   sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7 That man should not think he will   
   receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable   
   in all he does.   
   9 The brother in humble circumstances ought to take pride in his high   
   position. 10 But the one who is rich should take pride in his low   
   position, because he will pass away like a wild flower. 11 For the sun   
   rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and   
   its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich man will fade away   
   even while he goes about his business.   
   12 Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has   
   stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has   
   promised to those who love him.   
   13 When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me." For God   
   cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; 14 but each one   
   is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and   
   enticed. 15 Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin;   
   and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.   
   16 Don't be deceived, my dear brothers. 17 Every good and perfect gift   
   is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who   
   does not change like shifting shadows. 18 He chose to give us birth   
   through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of first fruits of   
   all he created. (James 1: 2-18)   
      
   Out of fear and political retribution, Saint James was summoned before   
   the Sanhedrim at some point following his writing of the epistle.   
   During this hearing, he was accused of violating the law, and   
   sentenced to death by stoning. Biblical scholars suggest that this   
   sentencing had less to do with law violation (as Saint James had   
   committed no crime) and more to do with the frustration of the Jews at   
   the time in not being able to punish Saint Paul, who had escaped   
   persecution by appealing directly to Caesar. Saint James was carried   
   to the top of the battlements of Jerusalem, where he was ordered to   
   renounce his faith. Rather, he preached to the great crowd assembled,   
   declaring that Jesus, the Son of man, was seated at the right hand of   
   the Sovereign Majesty, and would come in the clouds of heaven to judge   
   the world. Enraged, the scribes through him from the battlements to   
   the ground below. There he managed to pull himself into a kneeling   
   position, praying to the Lord, and forgiving his attackers before the   
   crowd stoned and clubbed him to death for his faith. The Breviary   
   contains a description of his death: "When he was 96 years old and had   
   governed the Church for 30 years in a most holy manner, the Jews   
   sought to stone him, then took him to the pinnacle of the temple and   
   cast him off headlong. 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! While the apostle was still praying, a fuller struck his   
   head a mortal blow."   
      
   The relics of Saint James now rest next to those of St. Philip in the   
      
   [continued in next message]   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)