Lives Of The Saints

December 27

St. John the Evangelist

John is not just the eagle of theology. He is the disciple who stayed close to Jesus, cared for Mary, taught the Church, fought error, and kept coming back to love.

Saint John the Evangelist by Artus Wolffort

Saint John the Evangelist, Artus Wolffort

Feast day

December 27

Return here on this date if you want this saint as part of your yearly prayer rhythm.

How to use this

Read, then pray

Let the life steady the mind first, then move into a related novena or your own daily prayer.

Brief life

John's life is gathered first from the New Testament: the son of Zebedee called with his brother from the nets, the beloved disciple at the Last Supper, the apostle who stayed by the Cross and received Our Lady into his care, the runner to the empty tomb, and the companion of Peter in the first days of the Church. The later and more universal tradition then places John at Ephesus and Patmos, linking him with the Apocalypse, the Fourth Gospel, and the epistles that return so often to truth and charity.

Several old stories also show John's character in age: fleeing the baths when Cerinthus was within, riding out to reclaim the young robber who had gone bad, and in the end repeating to the faithful, "My little children, love one another."

Historical note

This life uses St. John the Evangelist as the great universal life of the date.

Next step

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Nearby saint lives

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