St. John before the Latin Gate, A.D. 95.
by VP
Posted on Monday May 06, 2024 at 01:00AM in Saints
"This feast is in memory of that day when St. John the Apostle was cast into a cauldron of boiling oil, by order of the cruel Emperor Domitian. St. John, who was the only one of the apostles then living, was apprehended at Ephesus, and sent prisoner to Rome, in the year 95. He was ordered by the tyrant to be cast into a cauldron of boiling oil. The holy apostle, no doubt, rejoiced at this barbarous sentence, and exulted at the thought of soon rejoining his beloved Lord and Master. But God accepted his good will, and conferred on him the merit of martyrdom, but suspended the operation of the fire, so that the apostle was miraculously preserved, and came forth not only unhurt, but even more lively and vigorous. The emperor attributed his wonderful escape to magic; and contented himself with banishing the holy apostle into the small island of Patmos. The year following, Domitian was assassinated; and St. John returned to Ephesus. This glorious triumph of St. John happened outside of the gate of Rome which led to Latium, and was on that account called the Latin Gate.
Adore the goodness of God, in the wonderful preservation of his servants under these trials. Beg for the assistance of the same hand in all your troubles. Consider how great is your daily want; and let the fervour of your petitions be proportioned to your necessity. You are not to expect miracles for your deliverance: the ordinary
help which God offers to all who duly seek it, is sufficient, if you
neglect it not. Learn therefore from this great apostle how to suffer.
Labour to keep up your spirits under all oppression; for impatience and
immoderate grief are unbecoming a Christian. Sink down no farther under
any weight than true humility carries you. Endeavour to suppress all
other grief, but for your sins. If you can follow this method, sickness
may waste your body, malice may injure your reputation, and misfortunes
your estate; but your soul will be purified in this, and arise more
lively and vigorous from its oppressions." The Catholic Year by Fr. John Gother
