Brief biographical Notes: St. James the Greater was one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus Christ and is often distinguished by his close relationship with Jesus. He was the son of Zebedee and Salome and the brother of John the Apostle. James and John, known as the “Sons of Thunder,” were among the first disciples called by Jesus. They left their fishing nets and family to follow Him, demonstrating their profound commitment and faith. James was part of Jesus’ inner circle, along with Peter and John, witnessing significant events such as the Transfiguration and the agony in the Garden of Gethsemane. This close association highlights his prominent role among the Apostles. James is not to be confused with James the Less, who is also one of the Twelve Apostles but is believed to be the son of Alphaeus. James the Less is sometimes identified with James, the brother of Jesus, who played a leading role in the Jerusalem Church and is often associated with the Epistle of James in the New Testament. James the Greater’s zeal and fervor for Christ led to his martyrdom. According to Acts 12:1-2, he was beheaded by King Herod Agrippa I, making him the first Apostle to be martyred. His remains are traditionally believed to be enshrined in Santiago de Compostela in Spain, a major pilgrimage site that has inspired the famous Camino de Santiago. St. James the Greater is the patron saint of Spain, pilgrims, and labourers. Pilgrims have revered his shrine at Santiago de Compostela for centuries, embarking on the Camino de Santiago as a spiritual journey in his honour. His feast day is celebrated on July 25, and he is often depicted with symbols of pilgrimage such as a scallop shell, a pilgrim’s hat, and a staff.
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Opening Prayer for Day 9
O Glorious St. James, Apostle of Christ, as we round up our novena prayers today, we seek your intercession for a deeper relationship with Christ. You walked closely with Jesus and experienced His love and power firsthand. Help us to grow in our love for the Lord and to follow Him more closely each day. May we seek to know Him more deeply and to abide in His love, drawing strength and nourishment from our relationship with Him. Amen. (Add your personal intention).
Scriptural Reading, Life, Examples & Legacies (Part 9)
John 15:4-5 – “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.”
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Meditative Prayer: St. James, you walked closely with Jesus and experienced His love and power firsthand. Your intimate relationship with Him was the source of your strength and the foundation of your ministry. Reflecting on your example, we ask for your intercession to help us cultivate a deeper and more intimate relationship with Christ. May we seek to know Him more deeply and to abide in His love, drawing strength and nourishment from our relationship with Him. Help us to remain connected to the vine, recognizing that apart from Christ, we can do nothing. May our lives bear fruit as we grow in our love for Him and seek to follow His teachings faithfully.
Litany to St. James the Greater:
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.
God the Father of Heaven, have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy on us.
God the Holy Spirit, have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, One God, have mercy on us.
St. James, close companion of Jesus, pray for us.
St. James, who witnessed the Transfiguration, pray for us.
St. James, who desired to drink the cup of Jesus, pray for us.
St. James, patron of pilgrims, pray for us.
St. James, preacher of the Gospel, pray for us.
St. James, faithful to the end, pray for us.
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.
Pray for us, O glorious St. James, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Concluding Prayer
Heavenly Father, through the intercession of St. James, draw us closer to Your Son, Jesus Christ. May we always seek to grow in our love for Him and to follow His teachings faithfully. Help us to abide in His love, drawing strength and nourishment from our relationship with Him. May our lives bear fruit as we remain connected to the vine, recognizing that, apart from Christ, we can do nothing. Through Christ, our Lord. Amen.
Through the intercession of St. James the Greater, may Almighty God bless us + in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
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Great job praying Day 9! May God hear our humble prayers. Amen![👏🏼](https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/14.0.0/svg/1f44f-1f3fc.svg)
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Shalom!
Fr. Chinaka Justin Mbaeri, OSJ
Seminário Padre Pedro Magnone, São Paulo, Brazil
nozickcjoe@gmail.com / fadacjay@gmail.com
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PS: Have you prayed your Rosary today?
St James the greater pray for us Amen
St. James, close companion of Jesus, pray for us.
Amen
St. James the Greater, pray for us.
St James, faithful to the end. Pray for us. AMEEEEEEEEEEEN
St James the greater, intercede for us, amen
Through the intercession of St. James the Greater, may Almighty God bless us and answer our humble prayers through Jesus Christ Our Lord. Amen.
St James the greater pray for us
Thank You Lord for a successful 9 days novena. Hear & answer our petitions Lord & strengthen our faith in You, Amen!
Bless our Spiritually Director Lord & grant him more grace & wisdom to lead us aright. Replenish him spiritually & physically that he may never be distracted by any lack, Amen!
St. James, close companion of Jesus Christ, pray for us Amen
St James, pray for us
Thank you Saint James the Greater for this Novena and intercede for us in our needs.
St. James the greater, pray for us! Amen
Thank you you for the successful novena, St. James faithful to the end pray for us and for our intentions amen
St James the Greater Intercede for my secret prayers amen .
Thank you Saint James the greater apostle for interceding for me. Amen
St James the Greater, help me to remain faithful to God to the end Amen.
St James the preacher pray for us
St. James, faithful to the end, pray for me, my husband, my children and my siblings through Christ our Lord Amen
Thank you St James for answered prayers.
St James the Greater, pray for us. Amen.
St.James the Geeater, prat for us.
May all our petitions in this novena, and good heart desires be granted through the merits of St. James the greater, through Christ our Lord. Amen
St. James, faithful to the end, pray for us.
St. James, close companion of Jesus, pray for us. Amen
May we experience the unchanging mercy of God through your powerful intercession. St James the Greater, pray for us, Amen!
St. James the Greater pray for us.
St James, just as you walked closely with Jesus, experiencing his love and power, pls pray for us to enter a deeper relationship with God. To know, love and serve Him better each day so we can experience His love and power too.
Through the intercession of St. James the Greater, may Almighty God draw us closer to Your Son, Jesus Christ
St James faithful to the end pray for us Amen.
Heavenly Father, through the intercession of St. James, draw us closer to Your Son, Jesus Christ. May we always seek to grow in our love for Him and to follow His teachings faithfully. This is our prayer through Christ our Lord Amen
Lord have mercy on me.
St James the greater,
Pray for us.
St James the Greater, intercede for us to have deeper relationship with Jesus Christ and for Him to grant us all our hearts desires. Amen
Amen
Thank you Saint James for interceding for us
Thanks be to God.
We are blessed.
Amen and Amen
St James the Greater, faithful to the end , pray for us . Amen..
Lord, we seek your intercession for a deeper relationship with Christ. Help us Lord. Amen
Amen Amen AMEN
St James the great apostle pray for us
St James the greater, pray for us