Dom Prosper Guéranger:
Nearest to Jesus’ crib, after Stephen, stands John, the Apostle and Evangelist. It was only right that the first place should be assigned to him who so loved his God that he shed his blood in his service, for, as this God Himself declares, greater love than this has no man, that he lay down his life for his friends (John xv. 13), and Martyrdom has ever been counted by the Church as the greatest act of love, and as having, consequently, the power of remitting sins like a second Baptism. But next to the sacrifice of Blood, the noblest, the bravest and which most wins the heart of Him who is the Spouse of souls, is the sacrifice of virginity. Now just as Saint Stephen is looked upon as the type of Martyrs, Saint John is honoured as the Prince of Virgins. Martyrdom won for Stephen the crown and palm. Virginity merited for John most singular prerogatives which, while they show how dear to God is holy chastity, put this Disciple among those who by their dignity and influence are above the rest of men.
Saint John was of the family of David, as was our Blessed Lady. He was consequently a relation of Jesus. This same honour belonged to Saint James the Greater, his brother. As also to Saint James the Less, and Saint Jude, both Sons of Alpheus. When our Saint was in the prime of his youth, he left not only his boat and nets, not only his Father Zebedee, but even his betrothed, when everything was prepared for the marriage. He followed Jesus and never once looked back. Hence, the special love which our Lord bore him. Others were Disciples or Apostles, John was the Friend of Jesus. The cause of this our Lord’s partiality was, as the Church tells us in the Liturgy, that John had offered his virginity to the Man-God. Let us, on this his Feast, enumerate the graces and. privileges that came to Saint John from his being The Disciple whom Jesus loved.
This very expression of the Gospel, which the Evangelist repeats several times — “the Disciple whom Jesus loved” (John iii. 23; xi. 26; xxi. 7; xxi. 20) — says more than any commentary could do. Saint Peter, it is true, was chosen by our Divine Lord to be the Head of the Apostolic College and the Rock on which the Church was to be built: he, then, was honoured most. But Saint John was loved most. Peter was bid to love more than the rest loved, and he was able to say, in answer to Jesus’ thrice repeated question that he did love him in this highest way: and yet, notwithstanding, John was more loved by Jesus than was Peter himself, because his virginity deserved this special mark of honour.
Chastity of soul and body brings him who possesses it into a sacred nearness and intimacy with God. Hence it was that at the Last Supper — that Supper which was to be renewed on our Altars to the end of the world in order to cure our spiritual infirmities and give life to our souls — John was placed near to Jesus, nay, was permitted, as the tenderly loved Disciple, to lean his head upon the breast of the Man-God. Then it was that he was filled, and from their very Fountain, with Light and Love: it was both a recompense and a favour, and became the source of two signal graces which make Saint John an object of special reverence to the whole Church.
Divine wisdom wishing to make known to the world the Mystery of the Word and commit to Scripture those profound secrets which, so far, no pen of mortal had been permitted to write — the task was put upon John. Peter had been crucified, Paul had been beheaded and the rest of the Apostles had laid down their lives in testimony of the Truths they had been sent to preach to the world. John was the only one left in the Church. Heresy had already begun its blasphemies against the Apostolic Teachings. It refused to admit the Incarnate Word as the Son of God, Consubstantial to the Father. John was asked by the Churches to speak, and he did so in language heavenly above measure. His Divine Master had reserved to this his Virgin-Disciple the honour of writing those sublime Mysteries which the other Apostles had been commissioned only to teach —THE WORD WAS GOD, and this WORD WAS MADE FLESH for the salvation of mankind. Thus did our Evangelist soar like the Eagle up to the Divine Sun, and gaze upon Him with undazzled eye, because his heart and senses were pure, and therefore fitted for such vision of the uncreated Light.
If Moses, after having conversed with God in the cloud, came from the divine interview with rays of miraculous light encircling his head, how radiant must have been the face of Saint John which had rested on the very Heart of Jesus, “in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge!” (colossians ii. 3). How sublime his writings! How divine his teaching! Hence the symbol of the Eagle shown to the Prophet Ezechiel (Ezechiel i. 10, x. 14) and to Saint John himself in his Revelations (Apocalypse iv. 7) has been assigned to him by the Church: and to this title of The Eagle has been added, by universal tradition, the other beautiful name of Theologian.
This Was the first recompense given by Jesus to His Beloved John — a profound penetration into divine Mysteries. The second was the imparting to him a most ardent charity, which was equally a grace consequent upon his angelic purity, for purity unburdens the soul from grovelling egotistic affections, and raises it to a chaste and generous love. John had treasured up in his heart the discourses of his Master: he made them known to the Church, and especially that divine one of the Last Supper in which Jesus had poured forth His whole soul to His own whom He had always tenderly loved, but most so at the end (John xiii. 1). He wrote his Epistles, and charity is his subject: God is charity — he that loves not, knows not God — perfect charity casts out fear —and so on throughout, always on love. During the rest of his life, even when so enfeebled by old age as not to be able to walk, he was for ever insisting upon all men loving each other, after the example of God, who had loved them and so loved them! Thus, he that had announced more clearly than the rest of the Apostles the divinity of the Incarnate Word, was by excellence the Apostle of that divine charity which Jesus came to kindle upon the Earth.
But, our Lord had a further gift to bestow, and it was sweetly appropriate to the Virgin-Disciple. When dying on His Cross, Jesus left Mary upon this Earth. Joseph had been dead now some years. Who, then, will watch over His Mother? Who is there worthy of the charge? Will Jesus send His Angels to protect and console her? For surely what man could ever merit to be to her as a second Joseph? Looking down, he sees the Virgin-Disciple standing at the foot of the Cross: we know the rest, John is to be Mary’s son — Mary is to be John’s mother. Oh wonderful chastity that wins from Jesus such an inheritance as this! Peter, says Saint Peter Damian, will have left to him the Church, the Mother of men, but John will receive Mary, the Mother of God, whom he will love as his own dearest treasure, and to whom he will stand in Jesus’ stead: whilst Mary will tenderly love John, her Jesus friend, as her son.
Can we be surprised after this that Saint John is looked upon by the Church as one of her greatest glories? He is a relative of Jesus in the flesh. He is an Apostle, a Virgin, the Friend of the Divine Spouse, the Eagle, the Theologian, the Son of Mary. He is an Evangelist by the history he has given of the Life of his Divine Master and Friend. He is a Sacred Writer by the three Epistles he wrote under the inspiration of the Holy Ghost. He is a Prophet by his mysterious Apocalypse in which are treasured the secrets of time and eternity. But is he a Martyr? Yes, for if he did not complete his sacrifice, he drank the chalice of Jesus (Matthew xx. 22) when, after being cruelly scourged, he was thrown into a cauldron of boiling oil before the Latin Gate at Rome. He was therefore a Martyr in desire and intention, though not in fact. If our Lord, wishing to prolong a life so dear to the Church, as well as to show how he loves and honours Virginity, miraculously stayed the effects of the frightful punishment, Saint John had on his part unreservedly accepted martyrdom.
Such is the companion of Stephen at the crib in which lies our infant Jesus. If the Proto-Martyr dazzles us with the robes he wears of the bright scarlet of his own blood, is not the virginal whiteness of John’s vestment fairer than the untrod snow? The spotless beauty of the lilies of Mary’s adopted Son and the bright vermilion of Stephen’s roses — what is there more lovely than their union? Glory, then, be to our new-born King whose court is tapestried with such heaven-made colours as these! Yes, Bethlehem’s stable is a very Heaven on Earth, and we have seen its transformation. First, we saw Mary and Joseph alone there — they were adoring Jesus in His crib. Then, immediately, there descended a heavenly host of Angels singing the wonderful hymn. The shepherds soon followed, the humble, simple-hearted shepherds. After these entered Stephen the Crowned and and John the Beloved Disciple. And even before there enters the pageant of the devout Magi, we will have others coming in, and there will be, each day, grander glory in the cave, and gladder joy in our hearts. Oh this birth of our Jesus! Humble as it seems, yet, how divine! What King or Emperor ever received, in his gilded cradle, honours like these shown to the babe of Bethlehem? Let us unite our homage with that given Him by these the favoured inmates of his court. Yesterday, the sight of the palm in Stephen’s hand animated us, and we offered to our Jesus the promise of a stronger faith. Today the wreath that decks the brow of the Beloved Disciple breathes upon the Church the heavenly fragrance of virginity — an intenser love of purity must be our resolution, and our tribute to the Lamb.Lesson – Ecclesiasticus xv.
He that fears God will do good. And he that possesses justice will lay hold on her, and she will meet him as an honourable mother. With the bread of life and understanding she will feed him and give him the water of wholesome wisdom to drink, and she will be made strong in him, and he will not be moved. And she will exalt him among his neighbours. And in the midst of the Church she will open his mouth, and will fill him with the spirit of wisdom and understanding, and will clothe him with the robe of glory. And will heap upon him a treasure of joy and gladness, and our Lord God will cause him to inherit an everlasting name.Thanks be to God.
Dom Prosper Guéranger:
The Wisdom here spoken of is Jesus the Eternal Word who came to Saint John and called him to the Apostolate. The Bread of life with which she fed him is the divine Bread of the Last Supper, the Body and Blood of Jesus. The wholesome water is that promised by our Saviour to the Samaritan woman, and of which Saint John drank so abundantly from its very source when he rested his head on the Heart of Jesus. The immovable strength is the Saint’s close and resolute custody of the treasure of his virginity, and the courageous profession of the religion of Christ before the Proconsuls of Domitian. The Treasure which Wisdom heaped upon him is the magnificence of the prerogatives granted to him. Lastly, the everlasting name is that glorious title given him of John the Beloved Disciple.Gospel – John xxi.
At that time Jesus said to Peter: “Follow me.” Peter turning about He saw that Disciple whom Jesus loved, following, who also leaned on his breast at supper and said: “Lord, who is he that will betray you? Him, therefore, when Peter had seen, he said to Jesus: “Lord, and what will this man do?” Jesus said to him: “So I will have him to remain till I come, what is it to thee? Follow thou me.” This saying, therefore, went abroad among the brethren, that that Disciple should not die. And Jesus did not say to him: “He should not die” but: “So I will have him to remain till I come, what is it to you?” This is that Disciple who gives testimony of these things, and has written these things; and we know that his testimony is true.Praise be to you, O Christ.
Dom Prosper Guéranger:
This passage of the holy Gospel has been much commented on. Some of the Fathers and Commentators interpret it as signifying that Saint John was to be exempt from death, and that he is still living in the flesh, awaiting the coming of the Judge of the living and the dead. It is certain that this opinion regarding our Apostle has been entertained, and one of the arguments in its favour was this very passage. But, the general opinion of the Holy Fathers is that nothing further is implied by it than the difference between the two vocations of Saint Peter and Saint John. The former will follow his divine Master, by dying, like Him, on a cross. The latter will remain. He will live to a venerable old age and at length, Jesus will come and take him out of this world by sending him a sweet and peaceful death.
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Beloved Disciple of the Babe of Bethlehem! How great is your happiness!Hhow wonderful is the reward given to your love and your purity! In you was fulfilled that word of your Master: Blessed are the clean of heart; for they will see God. Not only didst you see this God-Man: you were His friend and on His bosom rested your head. John the Baptist trembles at having to bend the head of Jesus under the water of Jordan. Magdalene, though assured by His own lips that her pardon was perfect as her love, yet dares not raise her head, but keeps clinging to His feet. Thomas scarce presumes to obey Him when He bids him put his finger into His wounded Side. And you, in the presence of all the Apostles, sit close to Him, leaning your head on His breast! Nor is it only Jesus in His Humanity that you see and possess, but because your heart is pure you soar like an eagle up to the Sun of Justice, and fix your eye on Him in the light inaccessible in which He dwells eternally with the Father and the Holy Ghost.
Thus was rewarded the fidelity with which you kept intact for Jesus the precious treasure of your purity. And now, O worthy favourite of the great King, forget not us poor sinners. We believe and confess the Divinity of the Incarnate Word whom you have evangelised to us, but we desire to draw near to Him during this holy season, now that He shows Himself so desirous of our company, so humble, so full of love, so dear a child, and so poor! Alas! Our sins keep us back. Our heart is not pure like yours. We have need of a Patron to introduce us to our Master’s crib (Isaias i. 3). You, O Beloved Disciple of the Emmanuel, you must procure us this happiness. You have shown us the Divinity of the Word in the bosom of the Eternal Father. Lead us now to this same Word made flesh. Under your patronage Jesus will permit us to enter into the stable, to stand near His crib, to see with our eyes, and touch with our hands (1 John i. 1) this sweet Fruit of eternal Life. May it be granted us to contemplate the sweet face of Him that is our Saviour and your friend, to feel the throbs of that Heart which loves both you and us, and which you saw wounded by the spear on Calvary. It is good for us to fix ourselves here near the crib of our Jesus and share in the graces He there lavishes, and learn, as you did, the grand lesson of this child’s simplicity. Your prayers must get us all this.
Then too, as son and guardian of Mary, you have to present us to your own and our Mother. Ask her to give us somewhat of the tender love with which she watches over the crib of her Divine Son, to see in us the brothers of that child she bore, and to admit us to a share of the maternal affection she had for you, the favoured confidant of the secrets of her Jesus.
We also pray to you, O holy Apostle, for the Church of God. She was planted and watered by your labours, embalmed with the celestial fragrance of your virtues, and illumined by your sublime teachings. Pray now that these graces may bring forth their fruit, and that at the end of her pilgrimage faith may be firm, the love of Jesus fervent and Christian morals pure and holy. You tell us in your Gospel of a saying of your Divine Master: “I will not now call you my servants, but my friends” (John xv. 15). Pray, dear Saint, that there may come to this, from our hearts and lips, a response of love and courage telling our Emmanuel that, like yourself, we will follow Him wherever He leads us.
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Let us, on this second day after our Divine Infant’s birth, meditate upon the sleep He deigns to take. Let us consider how this God of all goodness, who has come down from Heaven to invite His creature man to come to Him and seek rest for his soul seeks rest Himself in our earthly home, and sanctifies by His own divine sleep, that rest which to us is a necessity. We have just been dwelling, with delighted devotion, on the thought of His offering His breast as a resting-place for the Beloved Disciple, and for all souls that imitate John in his love and devotedness. Now, let us look at this our God, sweetly sleeping in His humble crib, or on His Mother’s lap.Also on this day according to the ROMAN MARTYROLOGY:
At Alexandria, St. Maximus, bishop, who became a renowned and distinguished confessor of the faith.
At Constantinople, the holy confessors Theodore and Theophanes, brothers, who were brought up from their childhood in the monastery of St. Sabbas. Afterwards, combating bravely for the worship of holy images against Leo the Armenian, they were scourged by his command and banished. After his death, they again firmly opposed the emperor Theophilus, who was imbued with the same impiety, and were scourged a second time and driven into exile, where Theodore expired in prison. Theophanes, after peace had at length been restored to the Church, was made bishop of Nicaea and rested in the Lord.
In the same city, St. Niceras, virgin, who was renowned for sanctity in the time of the emperor Arcadius.
And in other places, many other holy martyrs, confessors and virgins.
Thanks be to God.
