April 30 — Saint Philip and St James the Less, Apostles. ♦

Two of the favoured witnesses of our beloved Jesus' Resurrection come before us on this first day of May. Philip and James are here, bearing testimony to us, that their Master is truly risen from the desid, that they have seen him, that they have touched him, that they have conversed with him, during these forty days. And, that we may have no doubt as to the truth of their testimony, they hold in their hands the instruments of the martyrdom they underwent for asserting that Jesus, after having suffered death, came to life again and rose from the grave. Philip is leaning upon the cross to which he was fastened, as Jesus had been ; James is holding the club wherewith he was struck dead.

Philip preached the Gospel in the two Phrygias, and his martyrdom took place at Hierapolis. He was married when he was called by our Saviour ; and we learn from writers of the second century, that he had three daughters, remarkable for their great piety, — one of whom lived at Ephesus, where she was justly revered as one of the glories of that early Church.

James is better known than Philip. He is called, in the sacred Scripture, Brother of the Lord? on account of the close relationship that existed between

1 1. St. John, i 1. 2 Gal. i. 19, and elsewhere.

MAY 1. SS. PHILIP AND JAMES. his own mother and the Blessed Mother of Jesus. He claims our veneration, during Paschal Time, inasmuch as he was favoured with a special visit from our risen Lord, as we learn from St. Paul. There can be no doubt, but what he had done something to deserve this mark of Jesus' predilection. St. Jerome and St. Epiphanius tell us, that our Saviour, when ascending into heaven, recommended to St. James* care the Church of Jerusalem, and that he was accordingly appointed the first Bishop of that City, The Christians of Jerusalem, in the 4th Century, had possession of the Chair on which St. James used to sit, when he assisted at the assemblies of the Faithful. St. Epiphanius also tells us, that the holy Apostle used to wear a lamina of gold upon his forehead, as the badge of his dignity. His garment was a tunic made of linen.

He was held in such high repute for virtue, that the people of Jerusalem called him " The Just and when the time of the Siege came, instead of attributing the frightful punishment, they then endured, to. the deicide they or their fathers had committed, they would have it to be a consequence of the murder of James, who, when dying, prayed for bis people. The admirable Epistle he has left us bears testimony to the gentleness and uprightness of his character. He there teaches us, with an eloquence of an inspired writer, that works must go along with our Faith, if we would be Just with that Justice, which makes us like our Risen Lord.

The bodies of Saints Philip and James repose in the Basilica of the Holy Apostles, at Rome. These Relics are counted as one of the richest treasures of the Holy City, and there is reason to believe that this first of May is the real anniversary of their Translation. For a long period, the Church of Rome

1 1. Cor. xv. 7.

PASCHAL TIME. kept special Feasts in honour of four only of the Apostles : SS. Peter and Paul, St. John the Evangelist, and St. Andrew (Peters Brother) : the rest were united in the solemnity of the 29th of June, and a vestige of this is still to be found in the Office of that Day, as we shall see later on. The reception of the Bodies of SS. Philip and James, which were brought from the East, somewhere about the 6th Century, gave rise to the institution of to-day's Feast : and this led gradually to the insertion into the Calendar of the special Feasts for the other Apostles and Evangelists.

Let us now read the brief account given of St. Philip in the Liturgy.

PhilippusBethsaidaenatus, unus ex duodecim Apostolis, saida, qui primum a Christo mino vocati sunt : a quo cum accepisset Nathanael, Navenisse Messiam in Lege pro- thanael missum, ad Dominum de- sias productus est. Quam vero Chri- mised in stus eum, familiariter adhiberet, illud facile declarat, quod Gentiles Salvatorem videre cupientes, ad Philippum accesserunt : et minus cum in solitudine hominum multitudinem ta pascere vellet, sic pum affatus est : Unde ememus panes ut mandu-

Philip was born in Bethand was one of the Do- twelve Apostles that were first called by Christ our Lord, It was from Philip that learned that the Meshad come who was the Law ; and by him also he was led to our Lord. We have a clear proof of the familiarity wherewith Philip was treated by Christ, Do- in the fact of the Gentiles addressing themselves to this Apostle, when they wished Philip- see the Saviour. Again when our Lord was about to feed the multitude in the desert,

Sancto, cum ei Scythia ad said : *' Whence shall we buy prsedicandum Evangelium bread, that these may eatV obtigisset, omnem fere il- Having received the Holy

Jam gentem ad Christianam Ghost, he went into Scythia, fidem convertit. Postremo which was the country allot* cum Hierapolim Phrygiae ted to him, wherein to preach venisset, pro Christi nomine the Gospel ; and he converted cruci affixus, lapidibusque almost its entire people ta he spoke to Philip, and

MAT 1. SS. PHILIP AND JAMES. obrutus est Kalendis Maii. Ejus corpus ibidem a Christianis sepultum, postea Komam delatum, in Basilica duodecim Apostolorum una cum corpore beati Jacobi Apostoli conditum est. the Christian Faith. Having, finally, reached Hierapolis, in Phrygia, he was crucified there for the name of Christ, and then stoned to death on the Kalends of May (May 1st). The Christians buried his body in the same place; but it was afterwards taken to Rome, and, together with the body of the Apostle St. James, was placed in the Basilica of the Twelve Apostles.

The Breviary then gives the two following Lessons upon St. James.

James, the brother of our Lord, was call "the Just." From his childhood, he never drank wine or strong drink ; he abstained from flesh meat : he never cut his hair, or used oil to anoint his limbs, or took a bath. He was the only one permitted to enter the Holy of Holies. His garments were of linen. So assiduous was he in prayer, that the skin of his knees was as hard as that of a camel. After Christ's Ascension, the Apostles made him Bishop of Jerusalem ; and it was to him that the Prince of the Apostles sent the news of his being delivered out of prison by an Angel. A dispute having arisen in the Council of Jerusalem concerning the Mosaic Law and Circumcision, James sided with Peter, and, in a speech which he made to the brethren, proved the Vocation of the Gentiles, and said that the absent Brethren were to pasch : TIME. II.

Jacobus f rater Domini, cognomento Justus, ab ineunte »tate vinum et siceram non bibit, came abstinuit, numquam tonsus est, nee unguento, nec balneo usus. Huic uni licebat ingredi in Sancta Sanctorum. Idem lineis vestibus utebatur, cui etiam assiduitas orandi ita callum genibus obduxerat, ut duritie, cameli pellem imitaretur. Earn post Christi Ascensionem Apostoli Hierosolymorum Episcopum creaverunt : ad quern etiam Princeps Apostolorum misit qui nuntiaret se e carcere ab Angelo eductum fuisse. Cum autem in Concilio Jerosolymis controversia esset orta de lege et circumcisione, Jacobus Petri sen ten - tiam secutus, ad Fratres habuit coEcionera, in qua vocationem Gentium probavit : Fratribusque absentibus scribendum esse dixit

2f

PASCHAL TIME. ne Gentibus jugum Mosaicae legis imponerent. De quo et loquitur Apostolus ad Galatas : Alium autem Apostolorum vidi neminem, nisi Jacobum fratrem Domini

Tanta autem erat Jacobi vitje sanctitas, ut fimbriam vestimenti ejus certatiin homines cuperent attingere, Namls nonaginta sex annos natus, cum triginta annis illi Ecclesiae sanctissime praefuisset, Christum Dei Filium constantissime praedicans, lapidibus primum appetitur ; mox in altissimum Templi locum adductus, inde prsecipitatus est. Qui confractis cruribus,jacens semivivus, manus tendebat ad ccelum, Deumque pro illorum salute deprecabatur his verbis : Ignosce eis, Domine, quia nesciunt quid faciunt. Qua in oratione, graviter ejus capite fullonis fuste percusso, animam Deo reddidit, septimo Neronis anno, et juxta Templum, ubi prsecipitatus f uerat, sepultus est. Unam scripsit Epistolam, quae de septem Catholicis est* be written to, and told not to impose the yoke of the Mosaic Law upon the Gentiles. It is of him that the Apostle speaks in his Epistle to the Galatians, when he says: But other of the Apostles I saw none, saving James, the brother of the Lord.

Such was James* holy life, that people used to strive with each other to touch the hem of his garment. At the age of ninety-six years, — of which he had spent thirty governing the Church of Jerusalem in the most saintly manner, — as he was one day preaching, with great courage, Christ the Son of God, ho was attacked by stones being thrown at him ; after which, he was taken to the highest part of the Temple, and cast headlong down. His legs were broken by the fall ; and, as he was lying half dead upon the ground, he raised up his hands towards heaven, and thus prayed for his executioners : " Forgive them, O Lord ! for they know not what they do.w Whilst thus praying, he received a blow on the head with a fuller's club, and gave up his soul to his God, in the seventh year of Nero's reign. He was buried near the Temple, from which he had been thrown down. He wrote a Letter, which is one of the seven Catholic Epistles.

The Greek Church celebrates the memory of these two Apostles on distinct days, which are the anniversaries of their martyrdom. The following stanzas are from the Hymn in honour -of St. Philip.

MAY 1. SS. PHILIP AND JAMES.

HYMN.

(Die XIV. Novembris-)

Illumined with the rays of the great Light, 0 Philip! thou shinedst as a magnificent star. Thou sough test the Father of Lights in his own Son, and didst find him ; for the light is found in the Light, for he is the figure of his Father's substance, reflecting in himself the Father as his archetype. Beseech him, O Apostle, that he would save them that have been signed with his divine Blood !

O wondrous prodigy ! The Apostle Philip was as a lamb in the midst of wolves, but he feared them not ; he turned them from wild beasts into Jambs, by giving them faith : he, by God's power, changed the world. 0 admirable workings of Faith ! O admirable power ! Do thou, O Christ, our only Saviour, hear his prayers for us, and save our souls.

O wondrous prodigy ! The Apostle Philip was in the world as a well of living water, whence all might draw wisdom. We have received of the teachings that flowed in streams from this well ; we have drunk of its miraculous flowings. O thou doer of heavenly things, whose memory we now devoutly celebrate, what great and astounding miracles didst thou not work !

Leaving all earthly things, thou followedst Christ, and wast filled with the inspiration

MagnsB lucis fulgoribus illuminatus, Philippe, ut sidus magnificum resplenduisti, Patrem luminum in Filio quaerens invenisti : in lumine enim lumen invenitur ; nam ipse est signaculum ejusdem formse ostendens archetypnm. Ilium exora, Apostole, ut salventur qui divino sanguine signati f uerunt.

O admirabile prodigium ! Philippus apostolus in medio luporum agnus impavide nunc ambulat ; feras fide agnos reddidit ; niundum divinitus commutavit 0 fidei opera ! o admirand® virtutes ! Ejus precibus, salva animas nostras, ut sdlus misericors.

O admirabile prodigium !

Euteus aquae vivae ex quo auritur sapientia, omnibus in mundo apparuit apostolus Philippus ; ex quo dogmatum rivuli profluunt, ex quo prodigiorum bibimus flumina. O qualia ct quam admiranda operatus es miracula, divinoruin factor, cujus memoriain cum fide veneramur !

Omnia quae in terra sunt relinquens, Christum sequutus es, et Spiritus Sancti

436 PASCB inspiratione repletus, ab eo ad perditas gentes missus fuisti, ut homines ad lucem cognitionis divinae converters, Philippe ; et divini desiderii tui agonem per diversa supplicia perficiens, animam tuam Deo reddidisti. Ulum exora, beatissime, ut nobis concedat magnam misericordiam.

Fugator dsemonum f actus, et velut aster in tenebris degentium apparens Solem ex Virgine tucidum procedentem ostendisti ; et idolorum templa subvertens, Ecclesias ad gloriam Dei nostri collegisti. Ideo te veneramur, et divinam tuam memoriam magnifice celebramus, et unanimi voce tibi clamamus : Apostole Philippe, exora Christum Deum, ut peccatorum remissionem concedat ardenter nobis tuam sanctam memoriam celebrantibus.

Spiritualis nubes abundanti repleta imbre realiter hominibus in terra apparuisti, mystice irrigans velut arva animas nostras; percurrens enkn sermon e tuo illuminas terminos terras, et imbres velut pretiosa aromata profundis. Ideo cordibus mfidelium Spiritus Sancti odorem inspirans, in eis coelestes sparsisti thesauros. Apostole Philippe, exora Christum Deum, ut peccatorum remissionem concedat nobis

LL TIME. of the Holy Ghost. He sent thee to the nations that were lost, that thou, O Philip, mightest convert men to the light of the knowledge of God Through divers tortures, thou completedst the battle thou hadst so holily desired, and thou gavest back thy soul to God. Beseech him, O most blessed one ! that he grant to us his great mercy.

Thou wast the disperser of demons. Thou wast the star of them that were dwelling in darkness, and thou showedst them the bright Sun, that came forth from the Virgin. Thou overturnedst the temples of idols, and gatheredst Churches together for the glory of our God. Therefore do we venerate thee, and solemnly celebrate thy holy memory, and cry out to thee with one voice : O Apostle Philip ! beseech Christ our God, that he grant forgiveness of sins to us who fervently celebrate thy saintly memory.

Thou wast verily given to men upon earth as a spiritual cloud, laden with abundant rain, and watering the mystic land of our souls ; for thy word has gone through the world, filling it with light, and pouring out upon it as it were showers of precious fragrance. Breathing, therefore, the fragrance of the Holy Spirit into the hearts of unbelievers, thou enrichedst them with the treasures of heaven. O Apostle Philip ! beseech Christ our God that he grant forgiveness

MAY 1. SS. PHILIP AND JAMES. of sin to us, who fervently celebrate thy holy memory. tuam sanctam ardenti anima bus. memonam celebranti-

Let us now make a selection from the Menaea in honour of St. James, whose memory is so affectionately cherished by the Eastern Churches.

HYMN.

{Die XXIII. Octobris.)

Come, let us venerate the memory of the Brotlier of the Lord, the divinely inspired James I Fervently did he take up the yoke of the Gospel of Christ, whose goodness and kingdom he announced to the world. The ineffable Mystery was intrusted to him. O Almighty God ! through his intercession have mercy upon us.

Through all the ends of the earth was heard the sound of his words, whereby we are enlightened to contemplate the wonderful things of God, and are safely brought to the sacred knowledge of the Trinity. Therefore we beseech thee, O Apostle, intercede for us, as a Priest, with Jesus, the lover of mankind, — that he would save our souls.

Thou addedst beauty to thy priestly dignity by the blood of martyrdom, O holy Apostle and Martyr ! for when, on the pinnacle of the temple, thou preachedst that God, the Word, was the Creator of ail things, — the Jews cast thee down, and thou enteredst the courts Of heaven. O James ! Brother of the Lord, pray for us to

Venite, memoriam Fratris Domini veneremur, sancte Deo inspirati ; jugum enim accipiens ardenter Christi Evangelii, bonitatis ejus, et regni praeco effectus est, et ineffabilis ceconomia ejus illi commissa fuit. Omnipotens Deus, per ejus orationem concede nobis misericordiam.

Per universos orbis terminos intonuit verborum ejus sonitus, quibus illuminamur ad omnem virtutis divinae contemplationem, et confidenter ad divinam Trinitatis cognitionem perducimur. Ideo te deprecamur, velut pontifex ad Jesum hominis amatorem intercede, ut salventur animae nostra.

Martyrii sanguine tuam sacerdotalem dignitatem decorasti, sancte martyr Apostole ; stans enim super pinnacula templi, Deum Verbum pwedicasti velut omnium creatorem ; unde a Judieis praecipitatus coelorum palatia mtrare meruisti: f rater Domini .Jacobe, Deum Christum eiora

PASCHAL TIME. ut animae nostras salventur. Christ our God, that he save our souls.

Domine, quamvis Apo- The head of thine Apostle, stoli caput olim in ligno O Lord, was broken by a club ; contritum fuerit, nunc in but now, in heaven, he is ex- paradiso super lignum vitaa alted on the tree of thy Life, tuae elevatur ; rebus enim for he is freed from all earthly terrenis liberatus, in aster- things, and rejoices in eternal num gaudens exsultat ; ejus gladness. Through his prayers, orationibus ecclesiis tuam grant thy peace to the pacem concede. Churches.

Omne datum optimum, Thou, O James, wisely et omne donum perfectum a teachest us, that every best

Patre luminum mortalibus gift, and every perfect gift descendere, sapienter doces, comes down upon mankind

Jacobe ; ut illorum partici- from the Father of lights. Beg pationem donorum acci- of him, we beseech thee, that piant qui te hymnis ce- they who celebrate thy me- iebrant, deprecare Deum, mory, may partake of those

Frater Jesu Christi secun- Thou wast Jesus' Brother dum carnem f actus, Apo- according to the flesh, and wast stole, sanctam apud ipsum favoured with his holy friend- gratiam accepisti ; et omni- ship. Thou communicatedst bus diyini luminis gratias et to all men the grace of the cognitionis communicasti, divine light and knowledge,

Jacobe, et idolorum errorem and didst root up the error of radicitus extirpasti ; unde idols. Therefore did the false mendaces tenebrarum prin- princes of darkness unjustly cipes te injuste interficiunt slay thee, whilst thou wast praedicantem Salvatoris di- preaching the divinity of the vinitatem. Saviour.

Unigenitus Patris Filius, The Only Begotten Son of

Deus, Verbum, qui apud the Father, God, the Word, nos in extremis diebus pere- who dwelt among us during grinatus est, sancte Jacobe, this last age, appointed thee, te primum ostendit Hiero- O holy James, as the first solymae pastorem, et magis- Pastor of Jerusalem ; he willed tram, et fidelem spiritua- thee to be her master, and

Hum mysteriorum dispen sa- faithful dispenser of the divine torem. Ideo te omnes vene- mysteries. Therefore do we ramur, Apostole. venerate thee, O Apostle 1

Apostolorum chorus ele- The choir of the Apostles git te, ut primus in Sion chose thee to be the first, who, sancta, velut Pontifex on holy Sion, should minister

Christo benefactori servi- as Priest to their great Bene- gifts.