The Hebrew language communities and Saint James

 The Hebrew language Catholic communities were placed under the patronage of Saint James since their beginnings. But who is Saint James?

The New Testament names him as "the brother of the Lord" and presents him as one of the most influential personalities in the first Christian community. Tradition makes him the first bishop of Jerusalem. Even if he is known as "apostle", it is uncertain whether one should identify him with James son of Alphaeus. In any case, the title apostle is not always used in the New Testament uniquely for the Twelve.

According to the historians of the early Church, James, nicknamed "the just", the first bishop of Jerusalem, was known for his wisdom and his piety. He spent long hours in prayer in the Temple, so much so that his knees became calloused like those of a camel according to one of these sources. It is told that the scribes and Pharisees, uneasy because of the success of the Gospel, came to James, whom they greatly respected, to ask him to persuade the crowds not to follow Jesus. They suggested that he mount one of the pinnacles of the Temple in order to address the people who were assembled there for the feast of Passover. Instead James testified to his faith in Jesus which lead to him being pushed over the edge by those who had asked him to speak out. After his fall, he was stoned and then beaten to death and buried on the spot. The historians who tell us this episode, then add: "the sensible Jews saw his martyrdom as a cause for the siege of Jerusalem that followed it immediately". It is interesting to reveal this very ancient tradition that makes Titus's taking of Jerusalem a consequence of the death of Saint James.

According to these same sources, the throne of Saint James was still preserved and venerated at the beginning of the fourth century.

The name "Œuvre Saint Jacques" sought to manifest the link of continuity which unites the Hebrew language community with the first Christian Church, strongly marked by its Jewish origins. According to the testimony of Eusebius of Caesarea, our principle source on this subject, the first fifteen bishops of Jerusalem were "all of the circumcision" and "the entire Church of Jerusalem was composed of Jewish faithful."