St. John the Apostle — Beloved Disciple and the Sacred Heart
On December 27, 1673, the Feast of St. John the Apostle, Jesus appeared for the first time to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, revealing His Sacred Heart and inviting her to rest upon Him just as St. John once did at the Last Supper. In choosing this feast day for His first apparition, Jesus linked the mission of the Sacred Heart with the beloved disciple whose closeness to Him was marked by tenderness, fidelity, and love.
St. John, the son of Zebedee and Salome and brother of St. James the Greater, was called from his nets by the Sea of Galilee to follow Christ. He witnessed the Transfiguration, reclined on the Heart of Jesus at the Last Supper, and stood faithfully at the foot of the Cross when all others had fled. His whole life reveals a heart formed by intimacy with Christ.
It is no coincidence that Jesus chose this apostle of love—the one who rested on His Heart—to be honored on the day He revealed His Sacred Heart to St. Margaret Mary. Just as John leaned upon Christ, Margaret Mary was invited to rest spiritually upon His Heart, receiving the mission to make His love known to the world.
And at the center of both John’s Gospel and the message of the Sacred Heart is this truth:
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only Begotten Son,
that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.” – John 3:16
May St. John and St. Margaret Mary help us draw near to the Heart of Jesus, rest upon His love, and share that love generously with others.