Feast of Saint James

[public domain]
Fresco in Holy Trinity Parish Church in Schwarzenberg, by Angelica Kauffmann, 1757

Prayer to Saint James the Greater, the Apostle

O Glorious Apostle, Saint James,
who by reason of thy fervent
and generous heart
was chosen by Jesus to be the witness
of His glory on Mount Tabor,
and of His agony in Gethsemane;
thou, whose very name is a symbol
of warfare and victory:
obtain for us strength and consolation
in the unending warfare of this life,
that, having constantly
and generously followed Jesus,
we may be victors in the strife
and deserve to receive
the victor’s crown in heaven.
Amen.

James 5:13

Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms.

James 5:13

Saint Bridget of Sweden

[public domain]
Revelations of St. Bridget of Sweden, by an unknown artist, 15th Century

For a long time St. Bridget wanted to know the number of blows Our Lord received during His Passion. He one day appeared to her and said: “I received 5480 blows on My Body. If you wish to honor them in some way, say 15 Our Fathers and 15 Hail Marys with the following prayers (which He taught her) for a whole year. When the year is up, you will have honored each one of My Wounds.”