July 25
NOM and VOM in briefThe Novus Ordo Missae (NOM) is the form of the mass that came out of the Second Vatican Council, celebrated in most parishes. The Vetus Ordo Missae (VOM) is the earlier form, in Latin, following the 1960 rubrics. The two calendars differ: on some days they celebrate different feasts.Learn more →
Liturgical colour : Red
2nd classSt. James the Apostle
Saturday after the 8th Sunday after Pentecost
Commemoration of Saint Christopher, Martyr
Today, the traditional (1962) Roman calendar celebrates the Feast of Saint James the Apostle, also known as St. James the Greater, who holds a place of great honor among the Twelve Apostles of Jesus Christ. The son of Zebedee and brother of St. John the Evangelist, James was among the first called by Christ at the Sea of Galilee and became part of the Lord's inner circle, present at key moments such as the Transfiguration and the Agony in Gethsemane. Scripture recounts that James was the first of the Apostles to suffer martyrdom, ordered by Herod Agrippa I, making his witness especially significant in the earliest days of the Church. According to longstanding tradition, after Pentecost, James preached the Gospel in Spain before returning to Jerusalem, though these missionary journeys are rooted in pious legend and remain uncertain in precise detail. His relics have been venerated at Compostela since the Middle Ages, giving rise to the famous pilgrimage site of Santiago de Compostela, one of the most renowned centers of Christian devotion in Europe. Spiritually, St. James is invoked as a patron for pilgrims and is honored for his fervent zeal, readiness to suffer for Christ, and his role in spreading the Gospel. The Church assigns this feast on July 25th in the traditional liturgical calendar, giving it the rank of second class, to highlight his preeminence among the Apostles and to allow the faithful to seek his intercession and imitate his courageous witness to the faith.
Permanent link
Ask a question about today’s feast
Questions about St. James the Apostle (Vetus Ordo Missae)
The liturgical day
NOM and VOM in briefThe Novus Ordo Missae (NOM) is the form of the mass that came out of the Second Vatican Council, celebrated in most parishes. The Vetus Ordo Missae (VOM) is the earlier form, in Latin, following the 1960 rubrics. The two calendars differ: on some days they celebrate different feasts.Learn more →
IntroitPs 138:17
Latin
Ps 138:17
Mihi autem nimis honoráti sunt amíci tui, Deus: nimis confortátus est principátus eórum.
Ps 138:1-2.
Dómine, probásti me et cognovísti me: tu cognovísti sessiónem meam et resurrectiónem meam.
℣. Glória Patri, et Fílio, et Spirítui Sancto.
℟. Sicut erat in princípio, et nunc, et semper, et in sǽcula sæculórum. Amen.
Mihi autem nimis honoráti sunt amíci tui, Deus: nimis confortátus est principátus eórum.
English
Ps 138:17
To me, Your friends, O God, are made exceedingly honorable; their principality is exceedingly strengthened.
Ps 138:1-2
O Lord, You have probed me and You know me; You know when I sit and when I stand.
℣. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
℟. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
To me, Your friends, O God, are made exceedingly honorable; their principality is exceedingly strengthened.
Collect
Latin
Orémus.
Esto, Dómine, plebi tuæ sanctificátor et custos: ut, Apóstoli tui Iacóbi muníta præsídiis, et conversatióne tibi pláceat, et secúra mente desérviat.
Per Dóminum nostrum Iesum Christum, Fílium tuum: qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitáte Spíritus Sancti Deus, per ómnia sǽcula sæculórum.
℟. Amen.
Orémus.
Commemoratio S. Christophori Martyris
Præsta, quǽsumus, omnípotens Deus: ut, qui beáti Christóphori Mártyris tui natalítia cólimus, intercessióne eius in tui nóminis amóre roborémur.
Per Dóminum nostrum Iesum Christum, Fílium tuum: qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitáte Spíritus Sancti Deus, per ómnia sǽcula sæculórum.
℟. Amen.
Esto, Dómine, plebi tuæ sanctificátor et custos: ut, Apóstoli tui Iacóbi muníta præsídiis, et conversatióne tibi pláceat, et secúra mente desérviat.
Per Dóminum nostrum Iesum Christum, Fílium tuum: qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitáte Spíritus Sancti Deus, per ómnia sǽcula sæculórum.
℟. Amen.
Orémus.
Commemoratio S. Christophori Martyris
Præsta, quǽsumus, omnípotens Deus: ut, qui beáti Christóphori Mártyris tui natalítia cólimus, intercessióne eius in tui nóminis amóre roborémur.
Per Dóminum nostrum Iesum Christum, Fílium tuum: qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitáte Spíritus Sancti Deus, per ómnia sǽcula sæculórum.
℟. Amen.
English
Let us pray.
Protect Your people and make them holy, O Lord, so that, guarded by the help of Your Apostle James, they may please You by their conduct and serve You with peace of mind.
Through Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end.
℟. Amen.
Let us pray.
Commemoration St. Christopher, Martyr
Grant, we beseech thee, almighty God, that we who celebrate the martyrdom of blessed Christopher, through his intercession be strengthened in your love.
Through Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end.
℟. Amen.
Protect Your people and make them holy, O Lord, so that, guarded by the help of Your Apostle James, they may please You by their conduct and serve You with peace of mind.
Through Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end.
℟. Amen.
Let us pray.
Commemoration St. Christopher, Martyr
Grant, we beseech thee, almighty God, that we who celebrate the martyrdom of blessed Christopher, through his intercession be strengthened in your love.
Through Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end.
℟. Amen.
Lesson1 Cor 4:9-15
Latin
Léctio Epístolæ beáti Pauli Apóstoli ad Corínthios
1 Cor 4:9-15
Fratres: Puto, quod Deus nos Apóstolos novíssimos osténdit, tamquam morti destinátos: quia spectáculum facti sumus mundo et Angelis et homínibus. Nos stulti propter Christum, vos autem prudéntes in Christo: nos infírmi, vos autem fortes: vos nóbiles, nos autem ignóbiles. Usque in hanc horam et esurímus, et sitímus, et nudi sumus, et cólaphis cædimur, et instábiles sumus, et laborámus operántes mánibus nostris: maledícimur, et benedícimus: persecutiónem pátimur, et sustinémus: blasphemámur, et obsecrámus: tamquam purgaménta huius mundi facti sumus, ómnium peripséma usque adhuc. Non ut confúndam vos, hæc scribo, sed ut fílios meos caríssimos móneo. Nam si decem mília pædagogórum habeátis in Christo: sed non multos patres. Nam in Christo Iesu per Evangélium ego vos génui.
℟. Deo grátias.
English
Lesson from the first letter of St. Paul the Apostle to the Corinthians
1 Cor. 4:9-15
Brethren: I think God has set forth us the Apostles last of all, as men doomed to death, seeing that we have been made a spectacle to the world, and to angels, and to men. We are fools for Christ, but you are wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are honored, but we are without honor! To this very hour we hunger and thirst, and we are naked and buffeted, and have no fixed abode. And we toil, working with our own hands. We are reviled and we bless, we are persecuted and we bear with it, we are maligned and we entreat, we have become as the refuse of this world, the offscouring of all, even until now! I write these things not to put you to shame, but to admonish you as my dearest children. For although you have ten thousand tutors in Christ, yet you have not many fathers. For in Christ Jesus, through the gospel, did I beget you.
℟. Thanks be to God.
GradualPs 44:17
Latin
Ps 44:17; 44:18
Constítues eos príncipes super omnem terram: mémores erunt nóminis tui, Dómine.
℣. Pro pátribus tuis nati sunt tibi fílii: proptérea pópuli confitebúntur tibi.
Allelúia, allelúia.
Ioannes 15:16
Ego vos elegi de mundo, ut eátis, et fructum afferátis, et fructus vester máneat. Allelúia.
English
Ps 44:17-18
You shall make them princes through all the land; they shall remember Your name, O Lord.
℣. The place of your fathers your sons shall have; therefore shall nations praise You. Alleluia, alleluia.
John 15:16
℣. I have chosen you out of the world, that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain. Alleluia.
GospelMatt 20:20-23
Latin
Sequéntia + sancti Evangélii secúndum Matthǽum
℟. Glória tibi, Dómine.
Matt 20:20-23
In illo témpore: Accessit ad Iesum mater filiórum Zebedæi cum fíliis suis, adórans et petens áliquid ab eo. Qui dixit ei: Quid vis? Ait illi: Dic, ut sédeant hi duo fílii mei, unus ad déxteram tuam et unus ad sinístram in regno tuo. Respóndens autem Iesus, dixit: Néscitis, quid petátis. Potéstis bíbere cálicem, quem ego bibitúrus sum? Dicunt ei: Póssumus. Ait illis: Cálicem quidem meum bibétis: sedére autem ad déxteram meam vel sinístram, non est meum dare vobis, sed quibus parátum est a Patre meo.
℟. Glória tibi, Dómine.
Matt 20:20-23
In illo témpore: Accessit ad Iesum mater filiórum Zebedæi cum fíliis suis, adórans et petens áliquid ab eo. Qui dixit ei: Quid vis? Ait illi: Dic, ut sédeant hi duo fílii mei, unus ad déxteram tuam et unus ad sinístram in regno tuo. Respóndens autem Iesus, dixit: Néscitis, quid petátis. Potéstis bíbere cálicem, quem ego bibitúrus sum? Dicunt ei: Póssumus. Ait illis: Cálicem quidem meum bibétis: sedére autem ad déxteram meam vel sinístram, non est meum dare vobis, sed quibus parátum est a Patre meo.
English
Continuation ✠ of the Holy Gospel according to Matthew
℟. Glory be to Thee, O Lord.
Matt 20:20-23
In that time: came to him the mother of the sons of Zebedee with her sons, adoring and asking something of him. Who said to her: What wilt thou? She saith to him: Say that these my two sons may sit, the one on thy right hand, and the other on thy left, in thy kingdom. And Jesus answering, said: You know not what you ask. Can you drink the chalice that I shall drink? They say to him: We can. He saith to them: My chalice indeed you shall drink; but to sit on my right or left hand, is not mine to give to you, but to them for whom it is prepared by my Father.
℟. Glory be to Thee, O Lord.
Matt 20:20-23
In that time: came to him the mother of the sons of Zebedee with her sons, adoring and asking something of him. Who said to her: What wilt thou? She saith to him: Say that these my two sons may sit, the one on thy right hand, and the other on thy left, in thy kingdom. And Jesus answering, said: You know not what you ask. Can you drink the chalice that I shall drink? They say to him: We can. He saith to them: My chalice indeed you shall drink; but to sit on my right or left hand, is not mine to give to you, but to them for whom it is prepared by my Father.
OffertoryPs 18:5
Latin
Orémus.
Ps 18:5
In omnem terram exívit sonus eórum: et in fines orbis terræ verba eórum.
Ps 18:5
In omnem terram exívit sonus eórum: et in fines orbis terræ verba eórum.
English
Let us pray.
Ps 18:5
Through all the earth their voice resounds, and to the ends of the world, their message.
Ps 18:5
Through all the earth their voice resounds, and to the ends of the world, their message.
Secret
Latin
Oblatiónes pópuli tui, quǽsumus, Dómine, beáti Iacóbi Apóstoli pássio beáta concíliet: et, quæ nostris non aptæ sunt méritis, fiant tibi plácitæ eius deprecatióne.
Per Dóminum nostrum Iesum Christum, Fílium tuum: qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitáte Spíritus Sancti Deus, per ómnia sǽcula sæculórum.
℟. Amen.
Commemoratio S. Christophori Martyris
Munéribus nostris, quǽsumus, Dómine, precibúsque suscéptis: et cœléstibus nos munda mystériis, et cleménter exáudi.
Per Dóminum nostrum Iesum Christum, Fílium tuum: qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitáte Spíritus Sancti Deus, per ómnia sǽcula sæculórum.
℟. Amen.
Per Dóminum nostrum Iesum Christum, Fílium tuum: qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitáte Spíritus Sancti Deus, per ómnia sǽcula sæculórum.
℟. Amen.
Commemoratio S. Christophori Martyris
Munéribus nostris, quǽsumus, Dómine, precibúsque suscéptis: et cœléstibus nos munda mystériis, et cleménter exáudi.
Per Dóminum nostrum Iesum Christum, Fílium tuum: qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitáte Spíritus Sancti Deus, per ómnia sǽcula sæculórum.
℟. Amen.
English
May the holy martyrdom of blessed James, the Apostle, make acceptable the offerings of Your people; and because our own merits are insufficient, may his prayer make them pleasing to You.
Through Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end.
℟. Amen.
Commemoration St. Christopher, Martyr
As thou hast received our gifts and prayers, O Lord, cleanse us, we ask by thy heavenly mysteries, and graciously hear us.
Through Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end.
℟. Amen.
Through Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end.
℟. Amen.
Commemoration St. Christopher, Martyr
As thou hast received our gifts and prayers, O Lord, cleanse us, we ask by thy heavenly mysteries, and graciously hear us.
Through Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end.
℟. Amen.
CommunionMatt 19:28
Latin
Matt 19:28
Vos, qui secúti estis me, sedébitis super sedes, iudicántes duódecim tribus Israël.
English
Matt 19:28
You who have followed Me shall sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
Post Communion
Latin
Orémus.
Beáti Apóstoli tui Iacóbi, quǽsumus, Dómine, intercessióne nos ádiuva: pro cuius festivitáte percépimus tua sancta lætántes.
Per Dóminum nostrum Iesum Christum, Fílium tuum: qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitáte Spíritus Sancti Deus, per ómnia sǽcula sæculórum.
℟. Amen.
Orémus.
Commemoratio S. Christophori Martyris
Da, quǽsumus, Dómine, Deus noster: ut, sicut tuórum commemoratióne Sanctórum temporáli gratulámur offício; ita perpétuo lætémur aspéctu.
Per Dóminum nostrum Iesum Christum, Fílium tuum: qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitáte Spíritus Sancti Deus, per ómnia sǽcula sæculórum.
℟. Amen.
Beáti Apóstoli tui Iacóbi, quǽsumus, Dómine, intercessióne nos ádiuva: pro cuius festivitáte percépimus tua sancta lætántes.
Per Dóminum nostrum Iesum Christum, Fílium tuum: qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitáte Spíritus Sancti Deus, per ómnia sǽcula sæculórum.
℟. Amen.
Orémus.
Commemoratio S. Christophori Martyris
Da, quǽsumus, Dómine, Deus noster: ut, sicut tuórum commemoratióne Sanctórum temporáli gratulámur offício; ita perpétuo lætémur aspéctu.
Per Dóminum nostrum Iesum Christum, Fílium tuum: qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitáte Spíritus Sancti Deus, per ómnia sǽcula sæculórum.
℟. Amen.
English
Let us pray.
Help us, O Lord, we beseech You, by the intercession of blessed James, Your Apostle, for whose festival we have joyfully received Your holy sacrament.
Through Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end.
℟. Amen.
Let us pray.
Commemoration St. Christopher, Martyr
Grant, we beseech thee, O our God, that we who in time render joyful service in memory of thy saints, may be gladdened by their company in eternity.
Through Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end.
℟. Amen.
Help us, O Lord, we beseech You, by the intercession of blessed James, Your Apostle, for whose festival we have joyfully received Your holy sacrament.
Through Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end.
℟. Amen.
Let us pray.
Commemoration St. Christopher, Martyr
Grant, we beseech thee, O our God, that we who in time render joyful service in memory of thy saints, may be gladdened by their company in eternity.
Through Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end.
℟. Amen.
Vetus Ordo texts: Divinum Officium
See on FacebookSee on Instagram