Son Of Thunder The Story of St James

Rebroadcast of the long running radio program, "The Ave Maria Hour", a presentation of the Franciscan Friars of the Atonement. www.AtonementFriars.org

A husband and wife on vacation in Spain debate the merits of visiting the sacred pilgrimage site Santiago de Compostela, the traditional burial site of St. James the Greater.  They retell the story of St. James, who is believed to be the first apostle to suffer martyrdom. In 44 A.D. Herod Agrippa beheaded him. (Acts 12:1-2)

Saint James and his brother, John the Apostle, were called Sons of Thunder by Jesus, because of their fiery style of preaching.  Jesus chose to reveal the mystery of the Transfiguration to St. Peter and these two sons of Zebedee, James and John, for the great love they demonstrated. They were meant to bear witness of Jesus’ radiant glory to the others.

St. James is the patron saint of Spain and, according to legend, his remains are held in Santiago de Compostela in Galicia. The traditional pilgrimage to the grave of the saint, known as the "Way of St. James", has been the most popular pilgrimage for Western European Catholics from the Early Middle Ages to this day.