Our Patron

Feast of Saint Mark

April 25th

Our patron, St. Mark was an evangelist, or Gospel writer. In fact, he was the pioneer in Gospel writing. His is the shortest and the oldest of the Gospels. Little is known of Mark except from the New Testament. He was not one of the twelve apostles, but was a member of the first Christian community. Mark had firsthand experience of the early Church and apostolic life. He was a traveling companion and assistant of Paul and Barnabas on the first missionary journey.

Mark’s Gospel was a great contribution to the Church. It included oral and written tradition concerning the words and deeds of Jesus. He shows Jesus as the suffering Son of God. Mark knew that to accept the Risen Jesus meant to come to terms with the cross. Jesus was glorified because He willingly allowed himself to suffer death for our salvation. Mark writes that anyone who wishes to follow Jesus must accept the cross.

Over the years artists have given a symbol to each of the evangelists. Mark’s symbol is a winged lion because his Gospel begins with the story of John the Baptist who, like a roaring lion, called people to repent. © Loyola Press

Prayer to St. Mark

O Glorious St. Mark, through the Grace of God our Father, you became a great evangelist, preaching the Good News of Christ.  May you help us to know him well, so that we may faithfully live our lives as followers of Christ. Amen.