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The
Jesus Chronicles: John's Story, The Last Witness, by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins. Putnam Praise, NY.
2006.
The four Gospels were used in writing this novel about the life of John the Evangelist. The story begins in the year 95, when the last of the apostles, John, was still alive. Even though he was almost 90 years old, he was still intent on spreading the Good News of Jesus. John's main focus in his writings and teachings during those last days of his life was to refute the heretical
belief that Jesus was not the Son of God.
To counteract the heresy, John offers insights into the many miracles of Jesus. He shows Jesus turning water into wine, healing the sick, curing the blind, raising Lazarus to life, and many more incidents portraying the power of Jesus.
In the midst of
terrible persecution, betrayal, and exile, John does not waver in his belief and dedication to the person of Jesus as Son of God. He shows how Jesus came to fulfill many Old Testament prophecies and to save mankind. John never lets his readers forget that he is the last living apostle to witness to the power and ministry of Jesus.
The readers will witness the actual process of John's writing the
fourth Gospel and the Book of Revelation. John delights in using the very words he heard Jesus use during his stay on earth. Hopefully these words will continue to bring followers to Jesus in this day and age.
(Thanks to Sr. Irene Hartman OP for this review.)
Hardback, Paperback, Kindle, Audio CD
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Saint of the Week
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St. Catherine of Siena (1347-80): April 29
The value Catherine makes central in her short life and which sounds clearly and consistently through her experience is complete surrender to Christ. What is most impressive about her is that she learns to view her surrender to her Lord as a
goal to be reached through time.
She was the 23rd child of Jacopo and Lapa Benincasa and grew up as an intelligent, cheerful and intensely religious person. Catherine disappointed her mother by cutting off her hair as a protest against being overly encouraged to improve her appearance in order to attract a husband. Her father ordered her to be left in peace, and she was given a room of her own for
prayer and meditation.
She entered the Dominican Third Order at 18 and spent the next three years in seclusion, prayer and austerity. Gradually a group of followers gathered around her--men and women, priests and religious. An active public apostolate grew out of her contemplative life. Her letters, mostly for spiritual instruction and encouragement of her followers, began to take more and more
note of public affairs. Opposition and slander resulted from her mixing fearlessly with the world and speaking with the candor and authority of one completely committed to Christ. She was cleared of all charges at the Dominican General Chapter of 1374.
Her public influence reached great heights because of her evident holiness, her membership in the Dominican Third Order, and the deep impression
she made on the pope. She worked tirelessly for the crusade against the Turks and for peace between Florence and the pope
In 1378, the Great Schism began, splitting the allegiance of Christendom between two, then three, popes and putting even saints on opposing sides. Catherine spent the last two years of her life in Rome, in prayer and pleading on behalf of the cause of Urban VI and the unity of
the Church. She offered herself as a victim for the Church in its agony. She died surrounded by her "children" and was canonized in 1461.
Catherine ranks high among the mystics and spiritual writers of the Church. In 1939, she and Francis of Assisi were declared co-patrons of Italy. Paul VI named her and Teresa of Avila doctors of the Church in 1970. Her spiritual testament is found in The
Dialogue. americancatholic.org site
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