Calendar of feasts: March's Martyrs & Mystics
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How many martyrdoms did poor St John have? Here are some miracles and legends that question how martyrdom is decided. Perhaps, ONLY God decides when we die.
• Emperor Dometian had John brought to Rome, where he was beaten, poisoned, and thrown into a cauldron of boiling oil. John stepped out unharmed and was banished to Patmos instead. This is commemorated by the May 6th feast of: St John before the Latin Gate.
• When St John was en route to preach in Asia, his ship was wrecked in a storm. All but John were cast ashore. John was assumed dead, but 2 weeks later waves cast him ashore alive at the feet of his disciple Prochoros.
• When St John denounced idol worship as demonic, followers of Artemis stoned him. The rocks boomeranged and hit the throwers.
• When he denounced the temple of Artemis, fire from heaven killed 200 idol worshippers. When the remaining group begged for mercy, he raised the 200 from the dead. They all converted and were baptized.
• Aboard ship, he purified vessels of sea water for drinking. They would have died, otherwise.
• Ceonops, a magician, pretended to bring 3 dead people come to life. The "people" were actually demons who mimicked people so the magician could turn people away from Christ. Through prayer, St John caused the magician to drown and the demons to vanish.
• When it was God's will, he died of old age. Allegedly, once a year his grave gave off a fragrant dust that cured the sick.
St. John’s life can be summed up with one word--love. John was the "Beloved" disciple of Christ, in life and forever so in Heaven. At the end of his life, St John continuously repeated, “Beloved, love one another. We must love God, and we must love one another. Love is everything. God is love." Ponder the love of St John for his Lord. Let us pray for his intercession to be graced with this same love for God and others.
St John the Apostle,
At a young age, you heard Jesus’ call, and you willingly followed.
During His ministry, your love of the Lord grew in a profound and mystical way, which forever-increases.
Please pray for us to share this pure and holy love that increases so we can share it with others.
St John, pray for us.
Jesus, we trust in You.
Sources:
Catholic Saints | December 27 Sts
My Catholic Life | Feast of St John
Science cannot explain suffering. As Lay Passionist and nurse, she challenges modern health care assumptions; contraception, abortion, euthanasia, herd immunity and more. Behind every health dilemma, God asks us to abide in Him. Author of 7 books & >20 peer-reviewed nursing journal articles; she also writes as "The Catholic Nurse" on Substack, see "Archives." She is a veteran of the Army Nurse Corps. Her primary charism is mercy through which she explores redemptive suffering, spiritual healing and the joy of bringing of souls to God.
