The Beloved Disciple

The privileges of Saint John seem to exhaust our powers of admiration. Our Lord chose this one man to unite the roles of Apostle, Evangelist, Virgin, Martyr, Prophet and Thaumaturge; to be the Guardian of the divine Mother, His “beloved disciple” and the repository of the secrets of the Sacred Heart upon which he rested his head at the Last Supper. John was the only witness of Calvary to leave us a written record, he was the doctor of the Divine Nature of his Master and of the Eucharist, he was the indefatigable preacher of charity. When Peter himself feared to make his request to Christ directly it was to John’s unfailing intercession that he turned. John is the foe of the Antichrist and the author convinces us that the latter days reserve a secret role for his zeal. Father Rawes writes with a power and piety that recall Father Faber. While revealing to us the disciple Jesus loved, he insensibly increases our hatred of sin and error, our love of Christ and His Cross.