Most Reverend Jerome E. Listecki
Archbishop of Milwaukee
 

Today is the feast day of St. John the Evangelist. Almost every day has the celebration of a saint. However today is special because St. John the Evangelist is the patron of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee. The youngest of all the Apostles, he is reputed to be the only Apostle who did not die a martyr’s death. Some attribute this to the fact that St. John was the only disciple to be at the foot of the cross when Jesus was crucified.

I had the privilege of visiting Ephesus when I conducted a pilgrimage to Greece and Turkey. We visited the home of St. John where the Blessed Mother lived with him. Remember at the foot of the cross, Jesus told St. John, “Behold, your mother,” and to Mary, “Woman, behold, your son.” At their home in Ephesus, it was obvious that John was fulfilling his responsibility of caring for Christ’s Mother, and that Mary was overseeing her care for the Apostle and the Apostolic Church.

In the Gospel of John, unlike the other Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke, St. John gives us a deeper theological understanding of the Church, especially in the command to Love One Another, “I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, so you also should love one another. This is how all will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:34) He also emphasizes the Eucharistic Presence and why it is so central to our worship. “Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you. Whoever eats of my flesh and drinks of my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day. For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him.” (John 6:53-56)

An amazing presentation of St. John is the depiction of Jesus washing the feet of His disciples. For me, it highlights that all the great actions begin with the virtue of humility. The incarnation itself, God humbles himself to become one with us. So, the action of the washing of the feet symbolizes that we can hold nothing back in service of our Lord. “If I, therefore, the master and teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash one another’s feet. I have given you a model to follow, so that as I have done for you, you should also do.” (John 13:14-15) It is in service to one another that we fulfill the command to love.

We have, from time to time, recognized individuals who have contributed great leadership in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee. We award them the Johnny Award, a work created by the priest-artist Fr. Anthony Brankin, which represents the life of St. John the Evangelist.

The tie between St. John the Evangelist and the Blessed Mother is highlighted in the bronze statute of Mary Mother of the Church that is placed outside the Pastoral Center. In one arm, Mary is holding the Child Jesus, and in the other arm, an exact copy of the tower of the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist. Mary, still guiding the Church and the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, presents the teachings of Jesus under the patronage of St. John.

My friends, this very LOA is founded through the words of our Lord captured by our patron, St. John. When I first came to Milwaukee, I was asked whether I wanted to send a weekly message to members of the archdiocese. My predecessor Cardinal Dolan had a weekly message entitled “Some Seeds.” I knew that I wanted something that would reflect our togetherness. For me, it was obvious that it should embrace our patron St. John. I can think of nothing more expressive of St. John’s writings, especially on his feast day, than LOVE ONE ANOTHER.          
 

Note: This blog originally appeared as the December 27, 2022 "Love One Another" email sent to Catholics throughout the Archdiocese of Milwaukee by Archbishop Jerome E. Listecki. If you are interested in signing up for these email messages, please click here.