Saints Philip and James, Apostles (Feast)

The Apostle Philip was one of Christ's first disciples, called after Jesus baptism by John the Baptist as in John 1:43, The next day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee. Finding Philip, he said to him, “Follow me.” At the Last Supper, Philip asked Jesus, show us the Father and Jesus was shocked by Philip’s request and replied, whoever has seen me has seen the Father as in John 14:8-9, Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.”Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? .Philip’s question and Jesus’ answer help us to understand that we are called to continue growing in our faith daily.

Saint Philip is the patron for hatters, Luxembourg, pastry chefs and Uruguay.

Saint James the Less of Cana, Galilee is the brother of the Apostle Jude.. Author of one of the Catholic Epistles in the New Testament. Saint James was favoured by an appearance of the Risen Christ as in 1 Corinthians 15:7, Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. 

Saint James is the patron for apothecaries, druggists, dying people, fullers, hatmakers, hatters, milliners, pharmacists, Uruguay.

Both Saint Philip and Saint James were with Jesus throughout His ministry, that they were there at His death and resurrection, and that they were in the upper room at the first Christian Pentecost when the Holy Spirit came down upon them.

Saint James relics now rest next to those of St. Philip in the church of the Holy Apostles in Rome, and their names are mentioned in the first list in the Canon of the Mass and this is the reason their feast day is on the same day.

Pray for your own bishop, 

and for our universal bishop, 

His Holiness Pope Francis, 

called to preside over the Church in charity.

Prayer

Almighty God, who gave to your apostles Philip and James grace and strength to bear witness to the truth: Grant that we, being mindful of their victory of faith, may glorify in life and death the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.

Friday, May 03, 2013
Saints Philip and James, Apostles (Feast)

Reading

1 Corinthians 15: 1 - 8
1	Now I would remind you, brethren, in what terms I preached to you the gospel, which you received, in which you stand,
2	by which you are saved, if you hold it fast -- unless you believed in vain.
3	For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures,
4	that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the scriptures,
5	and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.
6	Then he appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep.
7	Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles.
8	Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me.

Psalm

Psalms 19: 2 - 5
2	Day to day pours forth speech, and night to night declares knowledge.
3	There is no speech, nor are there words; their voice is not heard;
4	yet their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them he has set a tent for the sun,
5	which comes forth like a bridegroom leaving his chamber, and like a strong man runs its course with joy.

Gospel

John 14: 6 - 14
6	Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but by me.
7	If you had known me, you would have known my Father also; henceforth you know him and have seen him."
8	Philip said to him, "Lord, show us the Father, and we shall be satisfied."
9	Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you so long, and yet you do not know me, Philip? He who has seen me has seen the Father; how can you say, `Show us the Father'?
10	Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority; but the Father who dwells in me does his works.
11	Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father in me; or else believe me for the sake of the works themselves.
12	"Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I go to the Father.
13	Whatever you ask in my name, I will do it, that the Father may be glorified in the Son;
14	if you ask anything in my name, I will do it.