SSF249 – Contemplative Prayer and the Beloved Disciple

St. John the Evangelist’s insights into our Lord’s Heart offer the Church a model of apostolic life and Christian contemplation. Only in imitation of the Beloved disciple are we able to stand with Mary at the Cross and fully share in Christ’s saving Passion. When others flee, John stays. In this, our Lord is greatly consoled in His hour by the love of His friend. Similarly, in these, the last days, Christians must adopt the charism of the Beloved Disciple in order that union with Christ might be achieved through a share in His suffering. This charism is particularly Marian and particularly Eucharistic. Most of all, it is contemplative: St. John is uniquely suited to receive the secret of our Lord’s heart – the secret of Love.

The class will look at some important theological questions through the contemplative lens of St. John. Besides being a study of the Beloved’s work in the New Testament, we will consider its prophetic implications in our modern world as well as the practical applications of the Johannine charism in our prayer life and apostolic efforts.

This six-week class will dive into the work of St. John at various junctures in his life with Christ and expound on 1) Contemplative prayer, 2) Eucharistic Adoration, 3) Marian Devotion, 4) Right response to apostolic betrayal (John and Judas), 5) God Who Is Love, 6) Eschatology, Mark of the Beast, and Beatitude.