The Beloved Disciple John whom we saw standing near the Crib of the Babe of Bethlehem comes before us again today. And this time he is paying his delighted homage to the glorious Conqueror of death and Hell. Like Philip and James, he too is clad in the scarlet robe of martyrdom. The Month of May, so rich in Saints, was to be graced with the palm of Saint John.
Salome one day presented her two sons to Jesus and, with a mother’s ambition, had asked Him to grant them the highest places in His kingdom. The Saviour, in His reply, spoke of the Chalice which He Himself had to drink, and foretold that these two disciples would also drink of it. The elder, James the Greater, was the first to give his Master this proof of his love. We will celebrate his victory when the sun is in Leo. It was today that John, the younger brother, offered his life in testimony of Jesus’ divinity.
But the martyrdom of such an Apostle called for a scene worthy the event. Asia Minor, which his zeal had evangelised, was not a sufficiently glorious land for such a combat. Rome, to which Peter had transferred his Chair and where he died on his cross and where Paul had bowed down his venerable head beneath the sword, Rome alone deserved the honour of seeing the Beloved Disciple march on to martyrdom with that dignity and sweetness which are the characteristics of this veteran of the Apostolic College.
Domitian was then Emperor — the tyrant over Rome and the world. Whether it were that John undertook this journey of his own free choice and from a wish to visit the Mother-Church, or that he was led there bound with chains in obedience to an imperial edict — John, the august founder of the Seven Churches of Asia Minor, appeared before the tribunal of pagan Rome. He was convicted of having propagated, in a vast province of the Empire, the worship of a Jew that had been crucified under Pontius Pilate. He was a superstitious and rebellious old man, and it was time to rid Asia of his presence. He was therefore sentenced to an ignominious and cruel death. He had somehow escaped Nero’s power, but he should not elude the vengeance of Caesar Domitian!
A huge cauldron of boiling oil is prepared in front of the Latin Gate. The sentence orders that the preacher of Christ be plunged into this bath. The hour is come for the second son of Salome to partake of his Master’s Chalice. John’s heart leaps with joy at the thought that he, the most dear to Jesus and yet the only Apostle that has not suffered death for Him, is at last permitted to give Him this earnest of his love. After cruelly scourging him, the executioners seize the old man and throw him into the cauldron. But, lo! the boiling liquid has lost all its heat. The Apostle feels no scalding. On the contrary, when they take him out again, he feels all the vigour of his youthful years restored to him. The praetor’s cruelty is foiled, and John, the Martyr in desire, is to be left to the Church for some few years longer. An imperial decree banishes him to the rugged Island of Patmos where God reveals to him the future of the Church, even to the end of time.
The Church of Rome, which counts the abode and martyrdom of Saint John as one of her most glorious memories, has marked, with a Basilica, the spot where the Apostle bore his noble testimony to the Christian Faith. This Basilica stands near the Latin Gate, and gives a Title to one of the Cardinals.
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We are delighted to meet you again, dear Disciple of our Risen Jesus! The first time we saw you was at Bethlehem, where you were standing near the Expected of Nations, the promised Saviour, who was sweetly sleeping in His crib. We then thought on all your glorious titles: Apostle, Evangelist, Prophet, high-soaring Eagle, Virgin, Doctor of Charity and, above all, Jesus’ Beloved Disciple. Today we greet you as Martyr, for if the ardour of your love quenched the fire prepared for your torture, your devotedness to Christ had honestly and willingly accepted the Chalice of which He spoke to you in your younger years. During these days of Paschal Time, which are so rapidly fleeting by, we behold you ever close to this divine Master who treats you with every mark of affection. Who could be surprised at His partiality towards you? Were you not the only one of all the Disciples who stood at the foot of the Cross? Was it not to you that He gave the care of His Mother and made her yours? Were you not present when His Heart was opened on the Cross by a spear? When, on the morning of the great Sunday, you repaired with Peter to the tomb, were you not, by your faith, the first of all the Disciples to honour Jesus’ Resurrection? Oh, yes, you have a right to all the special love with which Jesus treats you. But pray to Him, for us, O blessed Apostle.
We ought to love Him for all the favours He has bestowed on us. And yet we are tepid in His love — we humbly confess it. You have taught us to know the infant Jesus, you have described to us the Crucified Jesus. Show us now the Risen Jesus, that we may keep close to Him during these last few days of His sojourn on Earth. And when He has ascended into Heaven, get us brave hearts that, like you, we may be prepared to drink the Chalice of trials which He has destined for us.
Rome was the scene of your glorious confession, O holy Apostle! She is most dear to you. Unite, then, with Peter and Paul in protecting her. If the palm of martyrdom be in your hand as well as the pen of the Evangelist, remember it was at the Latin Gate that you obtained it. It was in the East you passed the greater part of your life, but the West claims the honour of counting you as one of her grandest martyrs. Bless our Churches, re-animate our Faith, re-kindle our Love, and deliver us from the Antichrists against whom you warned the Faithful of your own times, and who are causing such ravages among us. Adopted son of Mary! You are now enjoying the sight of your Mother’s glory. Present to her the prayers we are offering to her during this Month which is consecrated to her, and obtain for us the petitions which we presume to make to her.Also on this day according to the ROMAN MARTYROLOGY:
At Antioch, St. Evodius, who, as the blessed Ignatius wrote to the people of Antioch, was consecrated first bishop of that city by the blessed Apostle St. Peter and ended his life by a glorious martyrdom.
At Cyrene, St. Lucius, bishop, who is mentioned by St. Luke in the Acts of the Apostles.
In Africa, the holy martyrs Heliodorus and Venustus, with seventy-five others.
In Cyprus, St. Theodotus, bishop of Cyrinia, who having undergone grievous afflictions under the emperor Licinius, at length yielded his soul to God when peace was restored to the Church.
At Damascus, the birthday of the blessed John Damescene, renowned for sanctity and learning, who, by both the written and the spoken word, courageously resisted Leo the Isaurian in defending the worship paid to sacred images. By order of this emperor his right hand was cut off, but commending himself to an image of the Blessed Virgin Mary which he had defended, his hand was immediately restored to him entire and sound.
At Carrhae in Mesopotamia, St. Protogenes, bishop.
In England, St. Eadbert, bishop of Lindisfarne, eminent for doctrine and piety.
At Rome, St. Benedicta, virgin.
At Salerno, the Translation of St. Matthew, apostle. His sacred body previously transferred from Ethiopia to various countries, was finally taken to Salerno and there with great pomp placed in a church dedicated under his invocation.
And in other places, many other holy martyrs, confessors and virgins.
Thanks be to God.
