St. John the Evangelist was one of the 12 apostles of Jesus Christ. He is the brother of the apostle James the Greater. The two brothers were called “the sons of thunder”. They were both fishermen and were probably disciples of John the Baptist before following Jesus.
The apostles Peter, James, and John seemed to be very trusted by Jesus. All three were present at the Transfiguration. They also were with Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane before his arrest.
John was extremely loyal and was present at the crucifixion of Jesus. Jesus entrusted him with the care of Mary from the cross.
John and Peter were also the first to receive the news of the Resurrection from Mary Magdalen. They sprinted to the tomb, with John arriving first, but Peter entering before him. Then John entered, and they “saw and believed”.
Tradition says that John was the only apostle who was not martyred, but little is really known of his death. It is thought that he died on the island of Patmos after being banished there by the Roman emperor.
John is the author of the Gospel of John, the Epistles of John, and the Book of Revelation.
In his gospel, John refers to himself as “the disciple whom Jesus loved” and depicts a very close relationship with Jesus. Through the eyes of John, we can also see ourselves as beloved disciples of Jesus.
His symbol is the eagle. The eagle represents what comes from above, and John’s gospel focuses on Jesus as the incarnation of the divine Word.
Patron Saint of …
He is the patron saint of authors, love, and loyalty.
Mass Readings for the Feast of St. John, Apostle and Evangelist
- First Reading – 1 John 1:1-4: “What we have seen and heard we proclaim now to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; for our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. We are writing this so that our joy may be complete.”
- Responsorial Psalm – Psalm 97: “Rejoice in the Lord, you just!”
- Gospel – John 20:1a and 2-8: “On the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene ran and went to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and told them, ‘They have taken the Lord from the tomb, and we do not know where they put him.’”
Quotes
For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life.
John 3:16
Understanding the Book of Revelation
Understanding the Book of Revelation can be difficult. Every time we participate in the Eucharistic celebration we are actually taking part in a liturgy where heaven intersects with earth.
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