St. John, Apostle and Evangelist

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXV, Issue 51, 19 December 1907, Page 3

St. John, Apostle and Evangelist

St. John was the brother of St. ' j'ames the urcatqr, and is mentioned in the Gospels as ' the disci de whom Jesus loved.' He was one of those failhtul f.w who stood by the Cross, and.it was to mm our dying Saviour recommended the care of His mother. After the Ascension, St. John remained chiefly in Jerusalem, though, he sometimes undertook long and arduous journeys for the purpose of sprc.aamr the knowledge of the doctrines and sufferings of Uxrist Hie closing years of his life were spent at Kphesus where he died about, the year 100. He wrote his Gospel to refute the heresies of the time, and is also the author of three i_.j.istles, which form part of me wow 'iestament.

St. Stephen, First Martyr.

St. Stephen was one of the seven who were chosen to assist the Apostles in the daily distribution of alms, and who, by the imposition of the apostles' hands, were raised to. the Order of Deacons, and (fualiiied to discharge some of the inferior duties of the sacerdotal oihee. By - his zealous efforts for the propagation of the Gosdcl, he stirred no the hatred of some of the Jews, who stoned him to death. He thus had the honor of being the first among Lhrist's disciples to seal his faitn with his blood.