~by Susi Pittman

O glorious Apostle, Saint James, who by reason of thy fervent and generous heart wast chosen by Jesus to be a witness of His glory on Mount Tabor, and of His agony in Gethsemane; thou, whose very name is a strength and consolation in the unending warfare of this life, that, having constantly and generously followed Jesus, we may be victors in the strife and deserve to receive the victor’s crown in heaven.

AMEN (1)

Ultimately, this is the deep longing of every Christian heart. To run the good race, fight the good fight and at the end of or our lives, be united with Jesus our Savior who loved us so much as to embrace as brothers and sisters, allowing us to call God Father.

“Big Jim,” Saint James the Great is the “James” I refer to, son of Zebedee and brother of John. Saint James was known for his strength of character and zeal in religious character and being among those within the inner circle of Our Lord. It was his name that the Spaniards invoked as they waged war against the Moslems, successfully driving them from their country.

He is a Saint for our time. He is the Patron Saint of Laborers. The earth and its people are facing what amounts to be a “war to save the planet from ourselves.” We need the strength that Saint James can bring to us. As the prayer above states, his “very name is a strength and consolation in the unending warfare of this life.” I believe that! I have experienced it! Many moments up until now have been challenging for myself and my family. But, seeking the intercession of Saint James to strengthen us in the moment has never failed.

I believe that Saint James stands at the ready to assist us in dealing with the environmental and ecological threats of our day. He can help all of us persevere as we labor to achieve a unified and successful renewal of responsible Christian stewardship at the highest level, for ourselves and all of our extended family of creation.

So, I am here to start a movement in prayer, to a Warrior Saint who can help all good men and pure hearts to achieve the impossible. Each day, I would ask that you pray the following prayer:

Heavenly Saint James, we believe what you have taught. The wisdom that is

from above is first of all chaste, then peaceable, moderate, docile,

in harmony with good things, full of mercy and good fruits, without judging,

without dissimulation. The fruit of justice is sown in peace by those

who make peace. (2) For the unceasing prayer of a just man is of great avail.

(3) Please hear my prayer (insert your intention)

In the peace and love of Jesus I pray. AMEN

Peace be with you all!

1. The Raccolta: 1952, by Benziger Brothers Inc, New York

2. St. James Chapter 3: 17-18

3. St. James Chapter 5: 16

Susi Pittman is founder of CatholicStewardsofCreation.com and Owner-President of Twin Oaks Publishing; she is author of Animals in Heaven? Catholics Want to Know!; an advocate for the Florida Catholic Conference; a member of the St. Joseph’s Catholic Council of Women in Jacksonville, Florida; an Associate of the Sisters of St. Joseph, St. Augustine;a member of the Florida Publishers Association, Independent Book Publishers Association, the National Association of Professional Women, the ASPCA, the Humane Society of the United States and the National Audubon society.