The Church honors the Apostles Philip and James today. Philip was born in Bethsaida in Galilee and was one of the Twelve Apostles that Jesus called. Immediately, Philip began to convert others, finding his friend Nathaniel and telling him that Jesus was the one whom Moses and the other prophets had foretold. James the Lesser is called “Lesser” because he was younger than the other Apostle by the same name, James the Great. James the Lesser was related in some way to Jesus, and after Jesus’ Ascension into heaven, he became the head of the Church in Jerusalem. He was martyred in the year 62.
As in the case of the other Apostles, we see in James and Philip people who became foundation stones of the Church. We are reminded again that holiness and its consequent apostolate are entirely the gift of God, not a matter of human achieving. All power is God’s power, even the power of human freedom to accept His gifts.
Let us pray. “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, may glorify in life and death the name of our Lord Jesus Christ who lives and reigns with you forever and ever. Amen.”
For much more: https://www.marian.org/news/Feast-of-Sts-Philip-and-James-7717
