St James of the Marches was also known as Dominic Gangala, Jacob de Marchia, or Giacomo della Marca.
He was a Franciscan Friar Minor, preacher, and writer. He was born in 1391 in Monteprandone, March of Ancona, Italy.
He died on November 28 1476 in Naples, Italy.
We celebrate his feast day on November 28 every year in the Catholic Church.
| St James of the Marches Biography | |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | September 1 1391 |
| Place of Birth | Monteprandone, March of Ancona, Italy in Europe |
| Profession | Franciscan Friar Minor, preacher and writer |
| Place of Work | Italy |
| Date of Death | November 28 1476 |
| Place of Death | Naples, Italy |
| Feast Day | November 28 |
| Beatification | Beatified by Pope Urban VIII on August 12 1624 |
| Canonization | Canonized by Pope Benedict XIII on December 10 1726 |
| Patron Saint of |
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St James of the Marches Life History
St James of the Marches, also known by various names like Dominic Gangala, Jacob de Marchia, or Giacomo della Marca, was born poor in 1391 in Monteprandone, March of Ancona, Italy.
Despite his humble beginnings, he went on to earn a Doctor of Civil Law degree. At the age of 22, he embraced the life of a Franciscan monk and pursued his studies under the guidance of Saint John of Capistrano.
He was also a devoted disciple of Saint Bernardino of Siena, served as a tutor, and even held the position of a judge in cases involving sorcery. He was ordained as a priest in 1423.
Saint James dedicated his life to preaching and evangelism, covering Central and Northern Europe. For 40 years, he tirelessly preached daily.
He played a pivotal role in bringing Blessed Bernardino of Feltre and Blessed Bernardino of Fosso into the Franciscan order and collaborated closely with Saint John Capistrano.
In 1426, he was appointed as an inquisitor with the task of combatting the heretical Fraticelli. He also worked to counter the Bogomil heresy in Bosnia in 1432 and established several monasteries in Bohemia, Hungary, and Austria.
In 1437, he served as the chief almoner for the Crusade against the Turks. He contributed to the efforts at the Council of Florence in 1438, aimed at reuniting the Eastern and Latin Churches.
Later, in 1456, he was appointed as a papal legate. Saint James also delivered sermons against the Hussites in Austria and Hungary.
In 1462, he faced an inquiry by Dominican Inquisitors who deemed one of his statements regarding the Precious Blood as heretical.
However, the case was ordered to be permanently suspended by Rome, and it remained unresolved. Saint James was known for his ascetic lifestyle, fasting daily until his health began to deteriorate, prompting the Pope to intervene and instruct him to eat for the public good.
Saint James of the Marches died on November 28, 1476, in Naples, Italy, and was buried at the church of Santa Maria Nuova in Naples. He was canonized by Pope Benedict XIII on December 10, 1726.
Saint James is honored as the patron saint of Monteprandone, Italy, and Naples, Italy.
In artistic representations, he is often depicted as a priest holding a chalice from which a snake is emerging, or with a chalice and serpent, as a Franciscan holding a chalice and a veil, or as a Franciscan with a staff and castanets at his girdle, pointing to IHS.
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