New life, true wisdom, detachment from the evil of this world, suffering, trials, the second coming, charitable works - are all essential themes in the First Letter of Peter and the Letter of James. These two letters, which according to the oldest ecclesiastical tradition are attributed to the first of the apostles and to the head of the Church of Jerusalem, are two engaging catechisms on the Christian life. The simple and well paced selections in this work succeed in bringing to light the profound religious and morale significance of the two letters, the originality of their message, and the continued need for steadfastness demanded by Christian faith. Special emphasis is placed on the ready application of the ancient apostolic teaching even to life in today's world. __