St. James, The Pilgrim

In today's homily at mass, the priest explained that St. James was so devoted to preaching the life of Christ that he wanted to go to the ends of the earth! At that time the farthest West point on earth was the western coast of Spain. Today, the city of Santiago de Compostela resides on the north-west corner of Spain.

St. James spent his time evangelizing that part of Spain until 44AD, when King Herod Agrippa had his executed to please the opponents of the new Christian movement. St. James was the first apostle to be martyred.

Today, St. James remains lie in a tomb under the Cathedral in Santiago. Like my previous story, pilgrims from 44AD to the present day spent days, weeks and months walking from France to this sacred site to venerate the tomb.

St. James was one of Jesus' three best friends, along with St. Peter and St. John.

On this feast day of St. James, remembering his evangelistic zeal, pilgrims who are on the pilgrimage, have gone or will go can share in two simple words, "Buen Camino!"