December 27 | Saint John the Apostle

Born: c. 6 

Died: c. 100

Nationality: Israeli 

Vocation: Apostle 

Attributes: Eagle, holding gospel

Patronage: Love, loyalty, friendships, authors, booksellers, burn-victims, poison-victims, art-dealers, editors, publishers, scribes, examinations, scholars, theologians, Asia Minor, Turkey

Canonization: pre-Congregation 

“Children, let us love not in word or speech but in deed and truth.” - 1 John 3:18

Known as the “Beloved Disciple” and the “Apostle of Charity,” St. John wrote the last of the four gospels, three New Testament epistles, and the Book of Revelation. He refers to himself as “the disciple whom Jesus loved,” because of the radical impact Christ’s love for him had on his life. 

John was the son of Zebedee and younger brother of St. James the Great. A fisherman by trade, he was one of the first apostles to be called by Jesus along with his brother James and Sts. Peter and Andrew. 

John was the only apostle to stand at the foot of the Cross with the Blessed Virgin Mary and received her as his own mother from Christ himself.    

He is also the only apostle who did not die a martyr’s death; he died of old age in the city of Ephesus, the last-surviving of all the apostles. 

St. John, pray for us.