Pages

24 July 2010

Feast of Saint James the Greater, Apostle

St. James the Greater, Apostle
25 July

Santiago Matamoros
(St. James the Moor Slayer)

"The General Chronicle of King Alfonso X the Wise reports a miraculous event during the battle of Clavijo, which gave the cult of St. James a dramatic configuration. According to witnesses, Santiago was seen descending from the sky mounted on a white horse, having in one hand a snow-white banner on which was displayed a blood red cross, and in the other a sword... The imagery will present him thereafter as a knight on a white horse, carrying a banner with the Cross of Santiago and wielding a flashing sword. Protector of Christendom, he became Santiago Matamoros, the Moor slayer. ... The restoration of Christendom requires, today as ever, a militant approach to every facet of life, and Santiago is perhaps our best model. Una manu sua faciebat opus et altera tenebat gladium. Work and combat, under Mary’s protection; we should make ours these two lessons of Santiago: constant work and militant attitude in order to defend the principles of Catholic civilization." (The Way of Compostela by Fr. Ramón Anglés)

No comments:

Post a Comment

Comment moderation has been enabled. All comments must be approved by the blog administrator. No telling how long this may take.