De sancto Jacobo majore
The Apostle of Thunder
An exploration of the names, character, and apostolic distinction of James the Greater.
This apostle is known as James the son of Zebedee, James the brother of John, Boanerges—which means 'son of thunder'—and James the Greater. He is called James the son of Zebedee—that is, 'son'—not only by blood, but also by the meaning of his name. Zebedee is interpreted as 'giving' or 'given,' and blessed James gave himself to Christ through the martyrdom of his death, and he was given by God to us as a spiritual patron. He is called James the brother of John because they were brothers not only by blood, but also in their similarity of character. For both were of the same zeal, the same study, and the same vow. They shared the same zeal for defending the Lord: for when the Samaritans would not receive Christ, James and John said, 'Do you want us to tell fire to come down from heaven and consume them?' They shared the same study for learning: for they were the ones who especially questioned Christ about the day of judgment and other things to come. They shared the same vow for obtaining, because both wanted to have a seat at the right and left hand of Christ. He is called a son of thunder because of his resonant preaching, for he terrified the wicked, stirred the lazy, and filled everyone with wonder by his lofty message. Bede says of John that he thundered so loudly that, had he thundered just a little more, the whole world could not have contained him. He is called James the Greater, just as the other is called the Lesser. First, because of his calling, since he was the first to be called by Christ. Second, because of his intimacy, since Christ seems to have been more familiar with him than with the other; this is clear from the fact that He admitted him to His secrets, such as the raising of the girl and the glorious Transfiguration. Third, because of his passion, for he was the first among the other apostles. He suffered. Just as he is called 'greater' than another because he was called to the grace of the apostolate, he can also be called 'greater' because he was the first to be called to the glory of eternity.
The Conversion of the Magician
James encounters the magician Hermogenes and his disciple Philetus, leading to their conversion and his own eventual martyrdom.
After the Lord's ascension, the apostle James, son of Zebedee, preached through Judea and Samaria before eventually traveling to Spain to sow the word of God there; but seeing that he was making no progress and had gained only nine disciples in that place, he left two of them behind to preach and took the other seven with him as he returned to Judea. Master John Beleth, however, claims that he converted only one person there. When he was preaching the word of God in Judea, a certain magician named Hermogenes sent his disciple, Philetus, along with the Pharisees to James, so that Philetus might convince him before the Jews that his preaching was false. But when the apostle reasonably refuted him before everyone and performed many miracles in his presence, Philetus returned to Hermogenes, approving of James's teaching, recounting the miracles, and declaring that he wanted to become his disciple, while also persuading Hermogenes to become a disciple as well. Then Hermogenes, in his anger, used his magic arts to make him so immobile that he could not move at all, saying, "We'll see if your James can set you free." When Philetus had sent word of this to James through his servant, James sent his own handkerchief to him, saying, "Take this handkerchief and say: 'The Lord lifts up those who are bowed down; He sets the prisoners free.'" Immediately, as soon as he was touched by the handkerchief, he was freed from the magic chains of Hermogenes' arts, mocked him, and hurried to James. The angry Hermogenes summoned demons, ordering them to bring James to him in chains along with Philetus, so that he could take vengeance on them and ensure his other disciples wouldn't dare to mock him like that again. But when the demons arrived at James, they began to howl in the air, saying, "James, apostle, have mercy on us, for we are already burning before our time has come." James asked them, "Why have you come to me?" They replied, "Hermogenes sent us to bring you and Philetus to him, but as soon as we arrived, an angel of God bound us with fiery chains and tormented us severely." James said to them, "May the angel of the Lord release you; go back to him and bring him to me in chains, but keep him unharmed." When they had gone, they seized Hermogenes, tied his hands behind his back, and brought him to James in that state, saying, "You sent us where we were burned and cruelly tormented." The demons said to James, "Give us power over him, so that we may avenge your injuries and our own burning." James asked them, "Look, Philetus is right here before you; why don't you take him?" They replied, "We cannot even touch a single ant in your room with our hands." James said to Philetus, "So that we may return good for evil, as Christ has taught us: Hermogenes bound you, so you must set him free." Hermogenes stood there, released and confused, and James said to him, "Go, you're free to go wherever you like; for it isn't our discipline to force anyone to convert." But Hermogenes said to him, "I know the rage of the demons; if you don't give me something to keep with me, they'll kill me." James gave him his staff, and he went off and brought all his books of magic to the apostle to be burned. James, however, so that the smell of the fire wouldn't bother the unsuspecting, ordered them to be thrown into the sea. Once the books were thrown away, he returned to the apostle, and holding his feet, said, "Deliverer of souls, accept this penitent whom you have endured until now, even though he was envious and spoke against you." He began, therefore, to live in the fear of God, to such an extent that many miracles were performed through him. But the Jews, seeing Hermogenes converted, were moved by zeal and approached James, rebuking him because he was preaching Jesus crucified. He, however, after clearly proving to them through the Scriptures the coming and passion of Christ, caused many to believe. Abiathar was the high priest that year. He stirred up sedition among the people and, having put a rope around the apostle's neck, had him brought to Herod Agrippa; and as he was being led to be beheaded by his order, a certain paralytic lying in the road cried out to him to grant him healing, to whom James said, "In the name of Jesus Christ, for whose faith I am being led to be beheaded, rise up whole and bless your Creator."
The Martyrdom of James and Josias
James heals a paralytic and baptizes his executioner, Josias, before both are beheaded.
He was healed immediately, stood up, and praised the Lord. The scribe named Josias, who had put the rope around his own neck and was pulling him, saw this, threw himself at his feet, begged for forgiveness, and asked to become a Christian. When Abiathar saw this, he had him arrested and said, "Unless you curse the name of Christ, you’ll be beheaded along with James." Josias replied, "You are cursed, and all your days are cursed; but may the name of the Lord Jesus Christ be blessed forever." Then Abiathar ordered his mouth to be struck with fists, and having sent a delegation to Herod, he obtained permission for him to be beheaded with James; but when both were about to be beheaded, James asked the executioner for a flask of water and baptized Josias there on the spot, and immediately both finished their martyrdom by being beheaded. Blessed James was beheaded on the eighth day before the Kalends of May. April. On the Feast of the Annunciation and the eighth day before the Kalends of May.
The Translation to Spain
The miraculous journey of the saint's body to Compostela and the conversion of Queen Lupa.
He was moved to Compostela in August, on the third day before the Kalends. He was buried in January, because the construction of his tomb had lasted from August until January; she sent others to the King of Spain to get his consent for this, but he seized them and locked them in prison. But while he was reclining, an angel of the Lord opened the prison and let them go free; when he found out, he quickly sent soldiers to capture them. However, as those soldiers were crossing the bridge, it collapsed, and they all drowned in the river. When she heard this, she was moved by repentance and, fearing for herself and her people, she sent after them, asking them to return and take whatever they wanted. They returned and converted the people of the city to the faith of the Lord; when Lupa heard this, she was deeply moved. She was pained, and when the disciples returned to her and explained the king's consent, she replied: 'Take the oxen I have in that place or on the mountain, yoke them to the cart, carry away the body of your Lord, and build the place as you wish.' She said this with a wolfish intent, for she knew the oxen were wild, untamed bulls, and she hoped they couldn't be yoked or harnessed, or that if they were, they would run everywhere, smash the cart, drop the body, and kill the men themselves. But there is no wisdom against God. Suspecting no trickery, they climbed the mountain, and when a fire-breathing dragon charged at them, they held up a cross and cut it in two. Once they made the sign of the cross over the bulls, the animals suddenly became as tame as lambs; the disciples then yoked them and placed the body of Saint James, along with the stone it had been resting on, into the cart. The bulls, without anyone guiding them, brought the body into the middle of the palace. When Lupa saw this, she was stunned, believed, and became a Christian; she granted everything they asked for, dedicated the palace as a church to Saint James, endowed it magnificently, and spent the rest of her life doing good works.
Miracles of the Pilgrim's Patron
A collection of miraculous interventions by Saint James on behalf of pilgrims and the faithful.
According to Pope Calixtus, a man named Bernard from the diocese of Matinense was imprisoned and chained in the depths of a tower. As he constantly called upon Saint James, the saint appeared to him and said, "Come, follow me to Galicia." After the chains were broken and the saint vanished, Bernard climbed to the top of the tower with the shackles still hanging around his neck. From there, he made a single leap to the ground without any injury, even though the tower was sixty cubits high. As Bede tells it, a man who had committed a very serious sin was refused absolution by his bishop; the bishop sent him to Saint James with a note detailing the sin. When the man arrived on the saint's feast day, he placed the note on the altar and begged Saint James to intercede through his merits and have the sin wiped away. Afterward, he opened the note and, finding it completely blank, gave thanks to God and Saint James, and told everyone what had happened. According to Ubertus of Besançon, thirty men from Lorraine traveling to Saint James all promised to support one another, with the exception of one man. When one of them fell ill, his companions waited for him for fifteen days, but eventually they all left him behind. He was cared for at the foot of the mountain of Saint Michael by the one man who hadn't made the promise, but he died as evening fell. The survivor was terrified by the isolation of the place, the presence of the dead man, the gathering darkness, and the ferocity of the local barbarians. But Saint James suddenly appeared to him dressed as a knight, comforted him, and said, 'Give this dead man to me, and climb up behind me on the horse.' Traveling fifteen stages that night before sunrise, they reached the Mount of Joy, which is half a league from Saint James. Upon arriving, Saint James set them both down and instructed the man to call the canons of Saint James to bury the dead pilgrim, and to tell his companions that their pilgrimage was worthless because they had broken their promise. He followed these orders and, to the astonishment of his companions, told them about his journey and what Saint James had said. As Pope Calixtus relates, a German man was traveling to Saint James with his son around the year 1020. While they were staying in Toulouse, their host got the man drunk and hid a silver cup in his bag. The next morning, as they were leaving, the host chased after them like they were thieves and accused them of stealing his silver cup. They told him he could punish them if he found the cup in their possession; when the bag was opened and the cup was found, they were immediately dragged before a judge. The sentence was passed, all their belongings were handed over to the host, and one of them was sentenced to be hanged. But since the father wanted to die for the son and the son for the father, the son was eventually the one hanged, and the father continued on to Saint James in deep grief. Thirty-six days later, on his way back, the father stopped by his son’s body and began to wail in lamentation. But the son, still hanging there, began to comfort him: 'Dearest father, don't weep, for I have never been better; Saint James has sustained me all this time and refreshes me with heavenly sweetness.' When the father heard this, he ran to the city, and the people who came took the pilgrim's son down unharmed and hanged the host instead. Hugo of Saint Victor relates that the devil appeared to a certain pilgrim on his way to Saint James, disguised as the saint himself; he spoke at length about the misery of this present life and asserted that the man would be happy if he killed himself in his honor. The man immediately grabbed a sword and killed himself on the spot. And when the man who had hosted him became a suspect in the house where he had stayed, and feared death greatly, the one who had died suddenly came back to life; he declared that while the demon who had urged him to kill himself had led him to the place of punishment, blessed James had immediately appeared, snatched him away, brought him before the judge's throne, and successfully argued against the accusing demons that he should be restored to life. A young man from the region of Lyon—as Abbot Hugo of Cluny tells it—who used to travel to Saint James with great devotion, fell into fornication one night while on his way there. Then, as he was traveling one night, the devil appeared to him in the form of Saint James and said, "Do you know who I am?" When he asked, the devil told him, "I am James the Apostle, whom you have been in the habit of visiting every year." "Know that I used to rejoice in your devotion, but you recently left your home, fell into fornication, and presumed to approach me without having confessed—as if your pilgrimage could please God and me." "That is not the right way; whoever desires to come to me on pilgrimage must first reveal his sins through confession and then, by making the pilgrimage, do penance for those same sins." With these words, the devil vanished, and the young man, deeply troubled, returned home. He prepared to confess his sins and then to begin his journey again. But then the devil appeared again in the form of the Apostle and completely dissuaded him from this, claiming that he could never be forgiven for that sin unless he cut off his own genitals; he added that it would be more blessed if he were to kill himself and become a martyr for his name. The young man, therefore, took a sword while his companions were sleeping, cut off his genitals, and then stabbed himself in the stomach with the same blade. His companions woke up, saw what had happened, and in great fear, they immediately fled so they wouldn't be suspected of murder. However, while they were preparing a grave for him, the man who had died came back to life. As everyone else fled in shock, he told them what had happened, saying, 'When I killed myself at the devil's suggestion, the demons seized me and were dragging me toward Rome, but then, look, the blessed James came running after us.' He rebuked the demons severely for their deceit, and while they were arguing back and forth for some time, the blessed James compelled them to come to a certain meadow where the blessed Virgin was sitting and talking with many saints. When the blessed James complained to her about me, she rebuked the demons severely and ordered that I be restored to life. The blessed James then took me and restored me to life, as you can see. Three days later, with only the scars remaining, he set out on his journey and told his companions everything that had happened in order. As Pope Calixtus relates, a certain Frenchman was traveling to Saint James around the year 1100 with his wife and children, wanting both to escape the plague that was in France and to visit Saint James. When he arrived in Pamplona, his wife died, and the innkeeper stole all his money, along with the donkey they had been using to carry the children. The man, left in despair, continued on his way, carrying some of the children on his shoulders and leading others by the hand. A man who met him, moved by compassion for his situation, lent him a donkey so the children could ride. When he reached Saint James, the saint appeared to him while he was keeping watch and praying, and asked if he recognized him. When he said he didn't, the saint replied, "I am James the Apostle, who lent you my donkey, and I lend it to you again for your return. But know this: your innkeeper will fall from a balcony and die, and you will get back everything he stole from you." After all these things came to pass, the man returned home rejoicing, and once the children were taken off the donkey, it immediately vanished. A merchant, having been unjustly stripped of his possessions by a tyrant, was being held in custody, and he devoutly called upon Saint James for help. Saint James appeared to him while the guards were watching and led him to the top of the tower. The tower immediately bent down until its top reached the ground; from there, he stepped off without jumping and walked away free. Although the guards followed him and walked right beside him, they couldn't see him. As Ubertus of Besançon relates, while three soldiers from the diocese of Lyon were traveling to Saint James, one of them was asked by a poor woman to carry her bag on his horse for the love of Saint James. Later, finding a sick man failing on the road, he placed him on his horse and, taking the sick man's walking stick along with the woman's bag, he followed the horse on foot. However, he was exhausted by the heat of the sun and the labor of the journey as he approached Galicia. He suffered from a very grave illness, and when his companions asked him about the salvation of his soul, he remained silent for three days. But on the fourth day, as his companions were expecting him to die, he sighed heavily and said, 'Thanks be to God and to Saint James, because I have been delivered by his merits.' For when I wanted to do what you were urging me to do, demons came to me and bound me so tightly that I couldn't speak a word that pertained to the salvation of my soul. I could hear you, of course, but I was completely unable to respond. But now Saint James has entered here, carrying the woman's bag in his left hand and the poor man's stick in his right—the very things I had helped with on the road. He used the walking stick as a spear and the bag as a shield, and as if angry, he attacked the demons, terrified them with his raised stick, and put them to flight. Now, therefore, behold: the grace of blessed James has delivered me and restored my speech; call a priest to me, for I cannot remain in this life much longer. And turning to one of them, he said, 'Friend, do not serve your master anymore, for he is truly damned and will soon die a wretched death.' After his companion was buried, when he told his master this, the master dismissed it as nothing, scorning to amend his life; shortly after, he was pierced by a spear in battle and perished. As Pope Calixtus relates, when a man from Vilizilaco traveling to Saint James ran out of money and was too ashamed to beg, he rested under a tree and dreamed that Saint James was feeding him. When he woke up, he found a loaf of ash-baked bread by his head, which lasted him for fifteen days until he returned home. For every day he ate his fill from it twice, and the next day he would find it whole again in his bag. Pope Calixtus relates that a certain citizen of Barcelona, while traveling to Saint James around the year 1100, is said to have asked for only one thing: that he might never again be captured by any enemies. On his way back through Sicily, he was captured at sea by Saracens and sold at markets many times over, yet the chains he was bound with always fell away. When he had been sold for the thirteenth time and was bound in double chains, he called upon blessed James. Saint James appeared to him and said, 'Because you stood in my church and asked for the liberation of your body while neglecting the salvation of your soul, you fell into these dangers; but because the Lord is merciful, He has sent me to redeem you.' Immediately, his chains were broken, and he returned to his own land carrying a piece of the chain as a witness to this miracle, while everyone watched in amazement. Whenever anyone tried to capture him, they were terrified at the sight of the chain and immediately fled, but when lions and other wild beasts... ...tried to attack him as he walked through the wilderness, they were soon shaken by extreme terror at the sight of the chain and immediately fled. A3. In 1238, on the eve of Saint James's day, a young man at a castle called Prato—located between Florence and Pistoia—was misled by a certain rustic simplicity and set fire to his guardian's crops because he wanted to seize his inheritance. He was arrested, confessed, and sentenced to be dragged by the tail of a horse and then burned; yet, as he confessed his sin and devoted himself to Saint James, he was dragged over rocky ground wearing only his shirt, and he felt no injury to his body or his clothing. Finally, he was tied to a stake, and wood was gathered from everywhere. When the fire was lit, the wood and the ropes were consumed, but because he kept calling upon Saint James, no injury was found on his shirt or his body. When they tried to throw him into the fire a second time, he was rescued by the people, and God was magnificently praised in his apostle.
Read the original Latin
Jacobus iste apostolus dictus est Jacobus Zebedaei, Jacobus frater Johannis,Boanerges, id est, filius tonitrui, et Jacobus major. Dicitur enim Jacobus Zebedaei, scilicet filius, non tantum carne, sed etiam nominis interpretatione. Zebedaeus interpretatur donans sivc donatus, et beatus Jacobus se ipsum Christo donavit per mortis martirium et a Deo nobis donatus est in spiritualem patronum. Dicitur Jacobus frater Johannis, quia fuit ejus frater non tantum carne, sed etiam morum similitadine. Ambo enim fuerunt ejusdem zeli, ejusdem studii, ejusdem voti. Ejusdem zeli ad dominum ulciscendum: cum enim Samaritani Christum non reciperent, Jacobus et Johannes dixerunt: vis, dicimus, descendat ignis de coelo et consumat illos. Ejusdem studii ad discendum: unde isti praecipue fuerunt, qui Christum de die judicii et aliis venturis interrogaverunt. Ejusdem voti ad obtinendum, quia sessionem ad dextram et sinistram Christi ambo habere voluerunt.
Dicitur filius tonitrui ratione sonorae praedicationis, quia malos terrebat, pigros excitabat, omnes sua altitudine in admirationem convertebat. Unde dicit Beda de Johanne: qui tam alte intonuit, ut, si aliquantulum altius intonuisset, totus mundus eum capere non potuisset. Dicitur Jacobus major, sicut alter minor. Primo ratione vocationis, quoniam primo vocatus est a Christo. Secundo ratione lamiliaritatis, quoniam majorem familiaritatem videtur Christus habuisse cum illo, quam cum isto, sicut patet, quia ipsum ad secreta sua admittebat, sicut fuit ad puellae resuscitationem et ad gloriosam wansfigurationem. Tertio ratione passionis, quia primus inter caeteros apostolos. passus est. Sicnt ergo dicitur major alio ex eo, quod vocatus est ad apostolatus gratiam, ita potest dici major ex eo, quod prius vocatus est ad aeternitatis gloriam.
Jacobus apostolus filius Zebedaei post adscensionem domini dum per Judaeam et Samariam praedicaret, in Hispaniam tandem ivit, ut ibi verbum Dei seminaret Sed dum ipse se proficere nil videret et solum ibidem novem discipulos adquisivisset, duos ex illis causa praedicandi ibi reliquit et alios septem secum assumens iterum in Judaeam rediit. Magister autem Johannes Beleth dicit, quod tantum unum ibi convertit. Cum ergo in Judaea verbum Dei praedicaret, magus quidam nomine Hermogenes cum pharisaeis discipulum suum nomine Philetum ad Jacobum misit, ut ipsum Philetus coram Judaeis convinceret, quod sua praedicatio falsa esset. Sed cum apostolus coram omnibus rationabiliter eum convinceret et multa coram eo miracula fecisset, rediit Philetus ad Hermogenem doctrinam Jacobi approbans el miracula recitans ac ejus discipulum se velle fieri contestans, et, ut ipse similiter efficeretur discipulus, persuadens. Tunc Hermogenes iratus arte sua magica ita eum immobilem fecit, ut se nullatenus movere posset, dicens: videbimus, si Jacobus tuus te solvat. Quod cum Philetus Jacobo per puerum suum nunliasset, misit ad eum sudarium suum dicens: accipiat sudarium et dicat, dominus erigit elisos, ipse solvit compeditos, Statimque ut de sudario tactus est, solutus a vinculis magicis artibus Hermogenis insultavit et ad Jacobum properavit. Iratus Hermogenes daemones advocavit praecipiens, ut ipsum Jacobum vinctum cum Phileto adducant, ut de ipsis se vindicaret, ne discipuli ejus de caetero audeant taliter insultare. Venientes autem daemones ad Jacobum in aére ululare coeperunt dicentes: Jacobe, apostole, miserere nobis, quia, antequam tempus nostrum adveniat, jam ardemus.
Quibus Jacobus ait:ad quid venistis ad me? Qui dixerunt: Hermogenes misit nos, ut te et Philetum ad ipsum duceremus, sed mox, ut ad te venimus, angelus Dei nos catenis igneis religavit et plurimum cruciavit. Quibus Jacobus: exsolvat vos angelus domini, et ad ipsum redite et eum ad me vinctum adducite, sed illaesum. Qui cum abiissent, apprehendentes Hermogenem manus ei a tergo ligaverunt et ipsum sic vinctum ad Jaobum adduxerunt dicentes: misisti nos, ubi incensi sumus et graviter cruciati. Dixeruntque daemones ad Jacobum: da nobis in eum potestatem, ut possimus tuas injurias et nostra incendia vindicare. Quibus ait Jacobus: ecce Philetus ante vos est, cur eum non tenetis? Cui illi: nos non possumus nec formicam, quae in cubiculo tuo est, manu contingere. Dixitque Jacobus ad Philetum: ut bona pro malis, secundum quod Christus nos docuit, reddamus, Hermogenes te ligavit, tu eum solve.
Solutus Hermogenes confusus stetit et Jacobus ei dixit: vade, liber, quocunque volueris; nou enim disciplinae nostrae est, ut invitus aliquis convertatur, Dixitque ei Hermogenes: ego novi iras daemonum, nisi mihi aliquid dederis, quod mecum habeam, occident me. Qui Jacobus baculum suum dedit, ille autem perrexit et omnes libros artis suae magicae ad apostolum cremandos attulit. Jacobus autem, ne forte odor incendii vexaret incautos, eos in mare projici jussit, projectis ergo libris ad apostolum rediit et plantas ejus tenens dixit: animarum liberator, accipe poenitentem, quem invidentem et tibi detrahentem hactenus sustinuisti. Coepit igitur in Dei timore praefectus esse, adeo ul virtutes plurimae per eum fierent. Videntes autem Judaei Hermogenem conversum zelo commoti Jacobum adierunt et eur Jesum crucifixum praedicaret, increpaverunt. llle vero, cum iis per scripturas adventum Christi et passionem evidenter probasset, plurimi crediderunt. Abiathar vero pontifex anni illius. seditionem in populo excitavit et misso fune in collo apostoli ipsum ad Herodem Agrippam adduci fecit; cumque jussu ejus ad decollandum duceretur, quidam paraliticus in via jacens ad cum clamavit, ut sibi sanitatem conferret, Cni Jacobus ait: in nomine Jesu Christi, pro cujus fide ducor ad decollandum, exsurge sanus et benedic creatorem tuum.
Et statim sanatus surrexit et dominum benedixit. Scriba autem, qui funem in collo suo miserat et trahebat, nomine Josias, hoc videns ad pedes ejus se projecit et veniam peteus se christianum fieri postulavit. Quod videns Abiathar eum teneri fecit sibique dixit: nisi nomini Christi maledixeris, cum ipso Jacobo decollaberis. Cui Josias: maledictus tu et maledicti omnes dies tui, nomen autem domini Jesu Christi sit benedictum in saecula. Tunc Abiathar os ejus pugnis caedi jussit et missa de eo legatione ad Herodem impetravit, ut cum Jacobo decollaretur, Cum autem ambo decollari deberent, Jacobus a spiculatore lagenam aquae petiit ct ibidem Josiam primus baptizavit, et statim capitis obtruncatione uterque martirium consummavit. Decollatus est autem beatus Jacobus VIII cal. April. in annuntiatione dominica et VIII cal.
Augusti Compostellam translatus est et Ill cal. Januarii sepultus, quia sepulchri ejus fabrica fuit ab Augusto usque ad Januarium alios, ad regem Hispaniae destinavit, ut ejus super hoc consensum haberent, qui eos cepit et in carcerem reclusit. Cum autem ille discumberet, angelus domini carcerem aperuit et eos libere abire permisit, Quod dum ille cognovisset, velociter post eos milites, qui eos caperent, destinavit. Cum autem milites illi pontem transirent, fracto ponte omnes in flumine sunt submersi. Quod ille audiens poenitentia ductus sibi et suis metuens misit post illos rogans, ut ad se redirent et, quidcunque vellent, ad libitum impetrarent. llli autem redierunt et populum civitatis ad fidem domin, converterunt: quod Lupa audiens vehementer. doluit et redeuntibus ad se discipulis et assensum regis aperientibus illa respondit: accipite boves, quos habeo in tali loco vel monte, et plaustrum jungite ae corpus domini vestri deferte et locum, sicat volueritis, aedificate, Haec autem lupina cogitatione dicebat, sciebat enim boves tauros esse indomitos et silvestres, et ideo pnulavit, quod non possent jungi nec applicari, vel si jungerentur, huc illucque discurrerent, et sic currum dissiparent et corpus dejicerent et ipsos uecarent. Sed non est sapientia contra Deum.
llli enim dolum ejus non cogitantes montem adscendunt et draconem quendam ignem spirantem et in eos incurrentem cruce opposita per medium ventfem scindunt. Facto etiam signo crucis super tauros velut agni subito mansuescunt et eos jungentes corpus sancti Jacobi cum lapide, super quem positum fuerat, in curru posuerunt. Boves autem sine alicujus regimine corpus in medium palatium. Lupae detulerunt: quod illa videns et stupens credidit et christiana effecta omuia, quae petierunt, tribuit et palatium in ecclesiam sancto Jatobo dedicans magnifice ipsam dotavit et in bonis operibus vitam finivit.
Vir quidam nomine Bernardus de episcopatu Matinensi, ut ait Calixtus papa, dum captus et catenatus in profundo turris positus esset, et semper beatum Jacobum invocaret, apparuit ei sanctus Jacobus dicens: veni, sequere me in Galiciam, et confractis catenis cum disparuisset, ille vinculis ad collum suspensis ad summitatem turris conscendit et inde sine aliqua laesione unicum saltum fecit, cum tamen turris LX cubitorum altitudinem possideret.
Quidam, ut ait Beda, cum enorme plurimum peccatum commisisset et episcopus confitentem absolvere limuisset, hominem illum cum schedula, in qua illud peccatum scriptum erat, ad sanctum Jacobum misit, Cum ergo in festo ejusdem schedulam super altare posuisset el sanctum Jacobum, ut illud peccatum deleret, suis meritis exoraret, schedulam postmodum aperuit et penitus deletum inveniens Deo et sancto Jacobo gratias reddidit et factum omnibus publicavit,
Triginta viri de Lotaringia, ut ait Ubertus Bysuntinus, cirea annum domini MLXX ad sanctum Jacobum properantes omnes uno excepto fidem sibi mutui officii promiserunt. Unus igitur illorum infirmatus XV diebus a sociis exspectatur, sed tandem a cunctis relinquitur et a solo illo, qui fidem non promiserat, ad pedem montis sancti Michaelis custoditur, sed advesperascente die moritur. Vivus autem propter illius loci solitudinem et defuncti praesentiam et imminentem noctis caliginem et gentis barbarae feritatem valde timuit, sed statim beatus Jacobus in specie equitis sibi apparens et eum consolaus ait: trade mihi hunc mortuum et tu adscende post me super equum, sicque illa nocte ante solis ortum diaetas XV peragrantes ad montem gaudii, qui est dimidia leuca circa sanctum Jacobum, . pervenerunt ibique sanctus Jacobus utrumque deposuit praecipiens, ut canonicos sancti Jacobi ad sepeliendum peregrinum mortuum convocaret et suis sociis diceret, quod propter fidem fractam eoram peregrinatio nil valeret. Qui jussa complevit et stupentibus sociis de ejus itinere ea, quae sanctus Jacobus dixerat, intimavit.
Teutonicus quidam, nt ait Calixtus papa, cum filio suo circa annum domini MXX ad sanctum Jacobum pergens et in urbe Tolosa gratia hospitandi divertens ab hospite inebriatur et ab co inmalha argenteus scyphus absconditur. Mane igitur exeuntes quasi latrones insequens revocavit et, quod scyphum argenteum furati fuerint, iisdem objecit. Cui cum dicerent, quod punire eos faceret, si apud eos scyphum invenire posset, et cum aperta malha inventus fuisset, protinus ad judicem rapiuntur. Data ergo sententia omnia, quae habebant, hospiti traduntur et unus eorum ad suspendium judicatur. Sed cum pater pro filio et filius pro patre mori vellet, tandem filius suspenditur et pater ad sanctum Jacobum moerens progreditur. lgitur post XXXVI dies rediens et ad corpus filii divertens super eum lamentabiles voces promebat et ecce, filius suspensus consolari coepit ipsum dicens: dulcissime pater, ne fleveris, quia nunquam mihi sie bene fuit, quoniam hucusque sanctus Jacobus me sustentavit et coelesti dulcedine me refocillat. Quod pater audiens ad urbem cucurrit et venientes popáli filium peregrini incolumem deposuerunt et hospitem suspenderunt,
Refert Hugo de sancto Victore, quod cuidam peregrino ad sanctum Jacobum pergenti dyabolus in speeie sancti Jacobi apparuit et de miseria praesentis vitae plura commemorans felicem se esse, si ob honorem sui se necaret, asseruit. Qui mox gladium arripuit et protinus se ipsum occidit. Et cum ille, in domo cujus hospitatus fuerat, suspectus haberetur et mori plurimum formidaret , continuo, qui mortuus fuerat, revixit asserens, quod dum daemon, qui mortem suaserat, ad supplicia ipsum duxisset, beatus Jacobus mox occurrit et ereptum ad thronum judicis deduxit et accusantibus daemonibus , ut vitae restitueretur, obtinuit,
Quidam juvenis de territorio Lugdunensi, ut narrat Hugo abbas Cluniacensis, qui ad sanctum Jacobum frequenter cum devotione magna ire solebat, quadam vice, dum illuc tendere vellet, nocte illa in fornicationem lapsus est. Pergenti igitur nocte quadam dyabolus in specie sancti Jacobi apparuit dicens: nosti, qui sum? Roganti illi dixit dyabolus: ego sum Jacobus apostolus, quem singulis annis visitare consuesti. Scias, quod multum de devotione tua gaudebam, sed nuper de domo tua egrediens in fornicationem incidisti et non confessus ad me accedere praesumsisti, quasi tua peregrinatio Deo et mihi placere possit. Non sic expedit, sed quicunque ad me peregrinando venire desiderat, prius peccata sua per confessionem debel pandere et post peregrinando eadem commissa punire. Et his dictis daemon evanuit: tanc juvenis anxiatus domum suam re. dire et peccata sua confiteri, deinde iter reincipere disponebat. Et ecce dyabolus apparens iterum in specie apostoli hoc omnino dissuasit, asserens, quod peccatum illud nullo modo sibi remitteret, nisi penitus genitalia sibi membra secaret: beatior autem foret, si se vellet occidere et pro ejus nomine martir esse.
Juvenis igitur nocte sociis dormientibus gladium accipiens genitalia sibi praescidit, deinde eodem cultro se per ventrem transfixit. Expergefacti socii hoc videntes et plurimum formidantes protinus aufugerunt, ne suspecti de homicidio haberentur. Verumtamen dum fovea ei pararetur, qui fuerat defunctus , revixit et cunctis fugientibus et stupentibus, quae sibi acciderent, enarravit dicens: cum me ad suggestionem daemonis occidissem, daemones me capientes versus Romam deducebant et ecce, post nos beatus Jacobus protinus cucurrit. et daemones de fallacia plurimum increpavit, cumque ad invicem diutius disceptarent, cogente beato Jacobo ad quoddam pratum venimus, ubi virgo beata cum multis sanctis colloquens residebat. Cui cum beatas Jacobus pro me conquestus fuisset, illa plurimum daemones increpavit et me vitae restitui praecepit. Beatus igitur Jacobus me suscipiens vitae reddidit, ut videtis, Post triduum ergo solis in illo cicatricibus remanentibus iter arripuit et juvenis sociis omnia per ordinem enarravit,
Francus quidam, ut ait Calixtus papa, circa annum domini MC cum uxore et filiis ad sanctum Jacobum ibat, tum volens mortalitatem, quae erat in Francia, fugere, tum sanctum Jacobum cupiens visitare. Qui cum ad urbem Pampillonem venisset, uxor ejus ibidem obiit et hospes totam illius pecuniam sibi cum jumento, quo vehebantur pueri, usurpavit. Ille autem desolatus incedens pueros quosdam in humeris portavit, quosdam ad manum trahebat. Qui vir cum asino compassione commotus occurrens sibi asinum commodavit, ut super illum pueri veherentur. Qui cum ad sanctum Jacobum pervenisset, eidem vigilanti et oranti sanctus Jacobus apparuit et, an se cognosceret, requisivit. Cui neganti ait: ego sum Jacobus apostolus, qui tibi meum asinum accommodavi et iterum accommodó revertenti, sed scito praenoscens, quod hospes tuus de solario corruens morietnr et omnia, quae tibi abstulerat, rehabebis. Quae cum omnia contigissent, ille domum laetus rediit et pueris de asino depositis asinus statim disparuit.
Quidam mercator a quodam tyranno injuste spoliatus in custodia tenebatur, qui devote sanctum Jacobum in sui auxilium invocabat. Gui sanctus Jacobus vigilantibus custodibus apparuit et usque ad turris summitatem ipsum perduxit statimque turris adeo se inclinavit, quod ipsius summitas terrae aequalis fuit, de quo sine saltu descendens solutus recessit, quem custodes insequentes licet juxta eum pergerent, tamen ipsum videre non poterant.
Dum tres milites, ut ait Ubertus Bysuntinus, Lugdunensis dioecesis ad sanctum Jacobum pergerent, unus eorum a quadam muliercula rogatus sacculun ipsius amore sancti Jacobi super equum suum portabat, deinde quendam infirmum in via deficientem inveniens ipsum super equum posuit et infirmi burdonem cum sacculo mulieris accipiens equum pariter sequebatur, sed fervore solis et labore ilineris fractus cum Galiciam. advenisset, infirmitate gravissima laboravit, cumque a s0ciis de salute animae rogaretur, ille tribus diebus exstitit mutus, sed quarto die sociis cjus mortem exspectantibus graviter suspirans ait: gratias Deo et sancto Jacobo, quia ejus sum meritis liberatus. Cam enim, quod monebatis, facere vellem, daemones ad me venerunt me tam graviter constringentes, ut nihil, quod ad salutem animae pertineret, aliquatenus loqui possem. Vos quippe audiebam, sed prorsus respondere non poteram. Nunc autem sanctus Jacobus hue intravit ferens in sinistra manu sacculum mulieris, in dextera baculum pauperis, quos in via adjuveram, ita ut burdonem pro lancea et sacculum pro scuto haberet, et daemones quasi iratus aggrediens elevato baculo terruit et in fugam convertit. Nunc ergo ecce beati Jacobi gratia me liberavit et loquelam restituit, Vocate ergo sacerdotem ad me, quia diu in hac vita esse non possum. Et conversus uni eorum dixit: amice, noli amodo domino tno militare, quia veraciter est damnatus et mala morte in proximo moriturus: sepulto autem socio eum ille domino suo dixisset, ille pro nihilo hoc dicens et se emendare contemnens post modicum lancea in bello confossus interiit.
Cum cuidam viro de Vilizilaco, ut ait Calixtus papa, ad sanctum Jacobum properanti pecunia defecisset et ille mendicare erubesceret: sub quadam arbore requieseens somniabat, quod sanctus Jacobus eum pascebat. Evigilans igitur subcinericium panem ad caput reperit, de quo XV diebus vixit, quousque ad propria remeabat. Singulis enim diebus sufficienter bis de eo comedens sequenti die ipsum in sacculo integrum inveniebat.
Refert Calixtus papa, quod civis quidam Barcillonae urbis circa annum domini MC ad sanctum Jacobum veniens hoc solum postulasse dicitur, ne deinceps ab aliquibus hostibus caperetur. Rediens igitur per Siciliam in mari a Saracenis capitur et pluries ab iis per nundinas venditur, sed tamen semper catenae, quibus ligatus fuerat, solvebantur, Cum autem jam XIII vicibus venditus fuisset et duplicibus catenis adstrictus esset et ille beatum Jacobum invocaret, sanctus Jacobus eidem apparuit dicens: quoniam in ecclesia mea consistens postposita salute animae liberationem tamen corporis postulasti, ideo in haec pericula incidisti, sed quia dominus misericors est, misit me, ut te redimam. Statimque ruptis catenis per terras et castellà Saracenorum parlem quandam catenae in testimonium hujus miraculi ferens ad terram suam cunctis videntibus et stupentibus rediit. Cum eum aliquis capere volebat, visa catena territus protinus fugiebat, sed cum leones aliaeque ferae in eum per. deserta gradientem vellent insurgere, mox visa catena concutiebantur terrore nimio et in fugam protinus vertebantur.
A3. Anno domini GCXXXVIII in vigilia sancti Jacobi in quodam castro, quod dicitur Pratum, inter Florentiam et Pistorium sito, juvenis quidam rustica quadam simplicitate deceptus in segetes tutoris sui ignem apposuit, eo quod hereditatem suam sibi usurpare volebat. Tentus igitur et confessus ad caudam equi trahendus incendio adjudicatus est: qui peccatum confitens et sancto Jacobo se devovens cum super terram petrosam in sola camisia tractus fuisset, nec in corpore nec camisia sensit aliquam laesionem. "Tandem ad palum ligatur, ligna undecunque congeruntur, igne supposito ligna et vincula comburuntur, sed ipso semper beatum Jacobum invocante nec in camisia nec in corpore aliqua laesio reperitur. Quem dum in ignem vellent iterato mittere, a populo eripitur et Deus in apostolo magnifice collaudatur.
The Golden Legend (Legenda Aurea) companion
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