Saint of the Day: St. John the Apostle

(First Century)

His life

+ John, the son of Zebedee, was the brother of Saint James and is traditionally honored as the “Beloved Disciple.”

+ Born in Galilee, he and his brothers left their fishing nets to follow Jesus, who later called the brothers “Sons of Thunder” because of their ardent faith and impulsivity.

+ John rested his head on Jesus’ breast during the Last Supper, remained with Jesus throughout the Passion and it was to him that Mary was entrusted as Jesus hung upon the Cross.

+ On Easter morning, John was the first apostle to reach the empty tomb and he was present when the Risen Christ appeared to the disciples in the upper room and on the shores of the Sea of Tiberius.

+ According to tradition, John lived a long life and was the only apostle who did not die as a martyr.

+ Saint Jerome recounts that when John was too old to preach, he would have himself carried into the assembly of the faithful and simply say, “My little children, love one another.”

For prayer and reflection

Peter and John, said to them in reply, "Whether it is right in the sight of God for us to obey you rather than God, you be the judges. It is impossible for us not to speak about what we have seen and heard."—Acts 4:19-20

Spiritual bonus

On this day, the Church also honors the memory of Blessed Sarah Salkahazi. Born in Hungary, she became a member of the Sisters of Social Service and dedicated her life to supporting workers’ rights. She wrote against the Nazis and continued her work for the poor and marginalized, providing safe housing for working single women and hiding places for Jews and other being sought by the Nazis. She was martyred for her defiant stance and care for the oppressed on December 27, 1944, and was beatified in 2006.

Prayer

O God, who through the blessed Apostle John
have unlocked for us the secrets of your Word,
grant, we pray,
that we may grasp with proper understanding
what he has so marvelously brought to our ears.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever. Amen.

(from The Roman Missal)
Saint profiles prepared by Brother Silas Henderson, S.D.S.