St. John the Evangelist (Circa 6-100 AD)

Feast Day: December 27
Canonized: Pre-Congregration
Patron of love, loyalty, friendships, and authors

St. John the Evangelist was one of the 12 Apostles. A fisherman – along with his brother James, also an Apostle – Our Lord named John and James the “Sons of Thunder.” Perhaps their fiery temperament is what prompted them, after Samaritan villagers slighted Our Lord, to ask Him, “Lord, do you want us to call down fire from heaven to consume them?” (Luke 9:54).

John was the youngest Apostle, a teenager when called by the Lord, and the only one of the Eleven not to die by martyrdom. He is the “beloved” Apostle due to his purity and closeness to Christ, demonstrated by his leaning back against Jesus’ chest at the Last Supper (John 13:25). He was among three favorite Apostles (which include James and Peter) to be privileged with particular interaction with Christ during His Transfiguration and Agony. He was the only Apostle present at the foot of the Cross, and was chosen by Christ to care for His Mother upon His death (John 19:26-27).

He went to Ephesus and was banished to the island of Patmos after Roman authorities unsuccessfully attempted to martyr him in boiling oil. He wrote five books of the Bible, including the Gospel of John, three Epistles, and Revelation.