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Friends of the Rosary:
Today, on the third day of Christmas, the universal Church honors the apostle and evangelist St. John (d. 101), the beloved disciple of Jesus and author of the fourth Gospel, three Epistles, and the Apocalypse. He is the evangelist of the divinity of Christ and His fraternal love.
On Christmas Day, we read his passages on the pre-existence of the Word, who by His Incarnation became the light of the world and the life of our souls.
Born in Bethsaida, son of Zebedee and Salome, and brother to St. James the Greater, both of whom were fishermen. The two were called by Jesus to be disciples as they were mending their nets by the Sea of Galilee.
With James and Peter, he witnessed the Transfiguration. At the Last Supper, he leans on the Master’s breast. At the foot of the cross, Jesus entrusts His Mother to his care. John’s pure life kept him very close to Jesus and Mary for years to come.
He was the only one of the Apostles who did not forsake the Savior in the hour of His Passion and Death.
He was brought to Rome and, according to tradition, was cast into a caldron of boiling oil by order of Emperor Domitian, but he was miraculously preserved unhurt.
John was then exiled to the island of Patmos, where he wrote the Apocalypse or Revelation. Afterward returned to Ephesus where he founded many churches in Asia Minor and passed away in peace at about ninety-four years old. “My dear children, love one another,” was his message.
Ave Maria!
Jesus, I Trust In You!
St. John, Pray for Us!
To Jesus through Mary!
+ Mikel A. | RosaryNetwork.com, New York
