John

John  "He walked along from there and saw two other brothers, James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John. They were in a boat, with their father Zebedee, mending their nets. He called them, and immediately they left their boat and their father and followed him." (Matthew 4:21-22)

John. “The brother of James, the third of the apostles as listed by Mark, who puts Andrew fourth – was the son of Zebedee and probably Salome, who appears on the journey to Jerusalem to ask for the two chief places in Jesus’ coming Kingdom for her sons, Matt. 20:20-21. Jesus called the two young men “Sons of Thunder” (Edgar J. Goodspeed. The Twelve, The Story of Christ’s Apostles. New York: Collier Books, 1962. p. 47).

    Saint John, whose feast day is celebrated on December 27 was the younger brother of St James the Greater.  Along with Peter and James, he, too witnessed the raising of the daughter of Jairus, the Transfiguration of Jesus and His agony in the Garden.
He was the youngest of the apostles and the one to whom Jesus entrusted His mother, Mary as He was dying on the Cross.  Because of His close relationship with Jesus, he is often called, “The Beloved Disciple.”  He is credited with writing the Fourth Gospel, three Letters and the Book of Revelation.
    In this window, John is pictured holding the orb (the cross surmounting the world).  It is a symbol of the Church’s worldwide mission of evangelization.  In the bottom window can be seen a snake in a chalice indicative of the unsuccessful attempt made on his life by poisoning.  In the upper window named Love of Neighbor are two doves resting on a vine.  It is a reference to the fifteenth chapter of John’s Gospel, a discourse on the Vine and the branches in which Jesus states, “This is My commandment.  Love one another as I have loved you.”  (Compiled by Phyllis Evans)

John, son of Zebedee, General Audience, Pope Benedict XVI, 07/05/06

John, the theologian, General Audience, Pope Benedict XVI, 08/09/06

John, the Seer of Patmos, General Audience, Pope Benedict XVI, 08/23/06