DAILY HOMILIES #spain

At the heart of our readings is a deep call to an examination of conscience. Am I guilty of the evils which I point out in others? Do I laugh at people in public for committing the sins which I do in secret? Am I more concerned about maintaining a good public image than maintaining a strong relationship with God?

James zealously spread the Gospel throughout Israel and the Roman Empire, dedicating nearly forty years to preaching in Spain. According to tradition, the Virgin Mary appeared to him, instructing him to build a church in her honour. Upon returning to Jerusalem, James was martyred by King Herod, making him the first apostle to die for his faith. His followers carried his remains to Compostela, Spain, where they were discovered in the ninth century and placed in a tomb at the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, a primary pilgrimage site.