St. John the Apostles Biography
St. John the Apostle, also known as John the Evangelist, was one of the twelve apostles of Jesus Christ, and is believed by many to be the author of the Gospel of John, the three Epistles of John and the Book of Revelation in the New Testament of the Bible. He is considered one of the most important figures in Christianity, and his feast day is celebrated on December 27th by the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Church.
John was the son of Zebedee, a fisherman, and Salome, and he was one of the twelve apostles called by Jesus. He, along with his brother James, became known as “the Sons of Thunder” and they were among Jesus’s closest followers.
John is known for his strong faith in Jesus and his prominent role in the early Christian community. He was present at many of the significant events in Jesus’s life, such as the Transfiguration and the Agony in the Garden, and he was also one of the three apostles who were present at the foot of the cross during the crucifixion.
After the ascension of Jesus, John played an important role in the early Christian community. He was one of the leaders of the Jerusalem Church, and it is believed that he was responsible for leading the development of the Christian communities in Asia Minor.
He is also known for writing the gospel of John, which is widely considered one of the most important texts in the New Testament. This gospel focuses on the teachings of Jesus, the concept of the word made flesh, and the revelation of the divine nature of Jesus, the Logos.
John was also the author of three letters, the first letter of John, 2nd letter of John, and 3rd letter of John, which are also included in the New Testament, these letters deal with themes like living in the light of Christ, love and fellowship, and warnings against false teachings. He also wrote the book of Revelation, also known as the Apocalypse, which is a book of prophecies and visions about the end of times and the second coming of Jesus.
Throughout his life, John was known for his strong faith and his devotion to Jesus and the Christian community. He also was exiled to the island of Patmos, due to the Roman Emperor Domitian persecution of Christians, where he wrote the book of Revelation.
The Life of St. John the Apostle
St. John, the Evangelist, who is described in the Gospels as “his beloved disciple”, was a Galilean, 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.
The Beloved Disciple
St. John had the honor of being present with St. Peter and James at the Transfiguration of Christ, and was permitted to witness His agony in the Garden. He was allowed to rest on Our Savior’s bosom at the Last Supper, and to him Jesus confided the care of His holy Mother as He hung dying on the Cross. St. John was the only one of the Apostles who did not forsake the Savior in the hour of His Passion and Death. It seems that St. John remained for a long time in Jerusalem, but that his later years were spent at Ephesus, whence he founded many churches in Asia Minor.
St. John was the last of the Evangelists to write his Gospel, about sixty three years after the Ascension of Christ; also three Epistles, and the wonderful and mysterious Book of the Apocalypse or Revelation. He was brought to Rome and, according to tradition, was cast into a cauldron of boiling oil by order of Emperor Domitian.
Like the Three Children in the fiery furnace of Babylon, he was miraculously preserved unhurt. He was later exiled to the Island of Patmos, where he wrote the Apocalypse, but afterwards returned to Ephesus. In his extreme old age he continued to visit the churches of Asia, and St. Jerome relates that when age and weakness grew upon him so that he was no longer able to preach to the people, he would be carried to the assembly of the faithful by his disciples, with great difficulty; and every time said to his flock only these words: “My dear children, love one another”.
St. John died in peace at Ephesus in the third year of Trajan (as seems to be gathered from Eusebius’ history of the Saint) that is, the hundredth of the Christian era, or the sixty-sixth from the crucifixion of Christ, St. John then being about ninety-four years old, according to St. Epiphanus.
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Prayers to St. John the Apostle
Prayer to St. John the Apostle
My most loving Saint, St. John the Apostle, behold me kneeling at thy feet, beseeching thee with all the affection of my heart to grant me thy special protection, particularly when in danger of offending God. Change ), You are commenting using your Google account. Prayer to St. John the Apostle. Prayer to St. John the Evangelist Enjoy the comforting words of this traditional Catholic Saints Prayer to this Apostle. We ask this through Jesus Christ, Your Son, Our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.
Prayer to St. John the Apostle
Merciful Lord, we beseech Thee to cast They bright beams of light upon Thy Church, that it being enlightened by the doctrine of Thy blessed Apostle and Evangelist Saint John may so walk in the light of Thy truth, that it may at length attain to the light of everlasting life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Prayer to Saint John the Apostle
Saint John, whom I have chosen as my special patron, pray for me that I, too, may one day glorify the Blessed Trinity in heaven. Obtain for me your lively faith, that I may consider all persons, things, and events in the light of almighty God. Pray, that I may be generous in making sacrifices of temporal things to promote my eternal interests, as you so wisely did.
Set me on fire with a love for Jesus, that I may thirst for His sacraments and burn with zeal for the spread of His kingdom. By your powerful intercession, help me in the performance of my duties to God, myself and all the world.
Win for me the virtue of purity and a great confidence in the Blessed Virgin. Protect me this day, and every day of my life. Keep me from mortal sin. Obtain for me the grace of a happy death. Amen
Prayer to St. John the Apostle
O Glorious St. John, beloved disciple of our Lord Jesus Christ, I turn to you in my time of need. You who were so close to Jesus and witnessed His great works and heard His divine teachings, I ask you to intercede for me and present my petitions to our Lord. Help me to imitate your example of love and devotion to Jesus, and to always keep Him at the center of my life.
St. John, I ask for your special guidance and protection in all that I do, and for the grace to live a life worthy of the love and friendship of Jesus. May your witness of love for Jesus inspire me to always seek to do His will, and to love and serve others as He did. Amen.
Prayer to St. John the Apostle
Dear St. John, beloved apostle of Jesus, I ask for your intercession in my life. You who wrote the Gospel of love, help me to always keep love at the center of all that I do. May your witness of love and devotion to Jesus inspire me to seek to live a life that reflects His love in all that I do.
St. John, I ask for your guidance and protection as I journey through life, and for the grace to always keep Jesus at the center of my heart. May your love for Jesus and your faithfulness to Him inspire me to live a life worthy of His love and friendship. Amen.
Prayer to St. John the Apostle
Glorious St. John, I turn to you in prayer, asking for your intercession and guidance in my life. You who were a beloved disciple of Jesus and were privileged to be near Him and to witness His divine works, help me to always keep Jesus at the center of my heart and life.
St. John, I ask for your protection and guidance as I navigate the challenges and difficulties of life, and for the grace to live a life that reflects the love and devotion that you had for Jesus. May your witness of love inspire me to always seek to do His will and to love and serve others as He did. Amen.
St. John the Apostle: Patron Saint of Love and Friendship
St. John the Apostle, one of the twelve apostles of Jesus, is widely recognized as the patron saint of love and friendship. This designation stems from his close relationship with Jesus and his central role in the early Christian Church.
St. John was one of the three apostles who were closest to Jesus, along with Peter and James. He was known as “”the beloved disciple”” because of the close relationship he had with Jesus and the special favor he received from Him. St. John was also present at key events in Jesus’ life, including the Last Supper, the Crucifixion, and the Resurrection.
Because of his close relationship with Jesus, St. John is often seen as a symbol of love and friendship. He is invoked by those seeking to deepen their relationships with others, especially in matters of love and friendship. He is also remembered as a model of devotion and selflessness, offering a powerful example of what it means to love others as Jesus loved us.
In addition to his role as the patron saint of love and friendship, St. John is also considered the patron saint of writers, printers, and scholars. This is due to his role as the author of the fourth Gospel and the Book of Revelation in the New Testament, as well as his reputation as a learned and articulate man.
In conclusion, St. John the Apostle is widely recognized as the patron saint of love and friendship. Through his close relationship with Jesus and his role as a model of devotion and selflessness, he serves as an inspiration to all who seek to deepen their relationships with others.
Reflection on the feast day of St. John the Apostle
The feast day of St. John the Apostle, also known as St. John the Evangelist, is December 27th.
St. John the Apostle was one of the twelve apostles of Jesus and the author of the fourth Gospel, the three letters of John and the book of Revelation. He is known as “”the beloved disciple”” and is considered by many to be the most beloved of all the apostles. He was a close companion of Jesus and was present at many of the important events in Jesus’ life, including the Last Supper, the Crucifixion, and the Resurrection.
On his feast day, we can reflect on the importance of friendship and companionship. St. John the Apostle was a close companion of Jesus and their friendship is an example of the kind of deep and meaningful relationships we can have with others. It reminds us that true friendship is not only important but necessary for a fulfilling life. Through friendship, we can experience love, support, and understanding that can help us to grow in our faith and relationship with God.
St. John the Apostle’s role as an apostle and an evangelist also reminds us of the importance of sharing our faith. He was one of the twelve chosen by Jesus to be his closest followers, and he played an important role in spreading the message of Jesus to others. He wrote the fourth Gospel, which is considered one of the most important texts in the New Testament, and he was an important witness to the life and teachings of Jesus. His example inspires us to share our faith with others and to be a witness to the love of Jesus in our lives.
St. John the Apostle’s presence at the key events in Jesus’ life, including the Last Supper, the Crucifixion, and the Resurrection, also remind us of the importance of being present and attentive to God’s presence in our lives. He was present at the most important moments of Jesus’ life and he was able to experience the fullness of God’s love and grace. By striving to be present and attentive to God’s presence in our lives, we too can experience the fullness of God’s love and grace.
In conclusion, the feast day of St. John the Apostle is an opportunity for us to reflect on the importance of friendship and companionship, sharing our faith, and being present and attentive to God’s presence in our lives. Let us follow the example of St. John the Apostle and strive to be a close companion of Jesus, to share our faith with others, and to be present and attentive to God’s presence in our lives.
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You may also be interested in reading the Biography of St. John Chrysostom. Both saints shared the name John and were significant figures in early Christianity. St. John the Apostle was one of the Twelve Apostles, and St. John Chrysostom was a prominent Archbishop and preacher. Next up: Biography of St. John the Baptist
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