There are many things that Saints Philip and James the Less, son of Alphaeus, have in common. They were called by Jesus. And they are remembered on the same day because their relics were brought at the same time to Rome in the 6th century, and are venerated in the basilica called "Of the Holy Apostles", initially dedicated to them.
"Follow me" (Jn 1:43). This was Jesus' usual term for calling his disciples. This is what Jesus said to Philip, and it changed his life. Originally from Bethsaida, he was already a disciple of John the Baptist. St. John narrates his vocation thus. "The next day Jesus determined to set out for Galilee; he finds Philip and says to him, 'Follow me.'"
"Come and see"
"Philip was from Bethsaida, the town of Andrew and Peter," John continues. "Philip finds Nathanael and says to him, 'He of whom Moses wrote in the law and the prophets, we have found him: Jesus, son of Joseph, from Nazareth.' Nathanael said to him, 'Can anything good come out of Nazareth? Philip replied, 'Come and see. You can read here the full text. Evangelized Asia Minoraccording to tradition.
The apostle James, surnamed James the Less, son of Alphaeus, was bishop of the first Judeo-Christian community of Jerusalem. Wrote the Letter The Apostle with whom the converted Paul came into contact, and to whom the Council of Jerusalem granted an important role in the evangelization. St. Paul called him 'the brother of the Lord' (Galatians 1:19), a way of designating the closest relatives of the family. He died a martyr, probably by stoning, between 62 and 66.
