The patronage of the "Good Shepherd" goes back to the words of Jesus handed down in the Gospel of John: "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives his life for the sheep. But the paid servant who is not a shepherd and to whom... He doesn't belong to the sheep, abandons the sheep and runs away when he sees the wolf coming; and the wolf tears them apart and scatters them. He runs away because he is only a paid servant and he doesn't care about the sheep. I am he good shepherd; I know my own, and my own know me, as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that are not of this fold; they too I must lead, and they will listen to my voice; then there will be one flock and one shepherd." (John 10).
The Archbishop of Vienna has the following thoughts on this:
"Jesus calls himself the good shepherd. This word radiates trust. It means security and protection, security and care. One of the best-known and most popular psalms in the Bible is the "Shepherd's Psalm", which is often prayed at baptisms, weddings and funerals and it is sung: "The Lord is my shepherd, I will not lack anything. He lets me lie down on green meadows and leads me to the resting place by the water. He satisfies my desire; he leads me on the right path, true to his name. I have to too wandering in the dark ravine, I will fear no evil; for you are with me, your rod and your staff give me confidence."
What makes the good shepherd? And how can we ourselves be good shepherds to others?"
(Cardinal Christoph Schönborn)