St. Mark the Evangelist - Patron of Notaries - April 25th
Mark lived in Palestine at the time of Our Lord. He was a relative of St. Barnabas. While still a young man, he went with the great Apostles Paul and Barnabas on a missionary journey to bring the teachings of Christ to new lands. Before it was over, though, he grew discouraged and went back home to Jerusalem. Later, he was much braver, and he became a beloved disciple of St. Peter, the first Pope. With St. Peter, he went to Rome. Here St. Peter preached about Jesus to the Romans. The people asked St. Mark to write down everything St. Peter said, and he did. This book is called the Gospel of St. Mark.
It is a life of Christ told by St. Peter himself and it gives us many little details that are not in the other Gospels.
Mark was consecrated a bishop and sent to Egypt. There he converted many people. After a life of sufferings serenely endured for the glory of God, he went through a long and very painful martyrdom.
His wicked enemies tied his feet with rope and dragged him through the streets for a whole day. The ground was stained with St. Mark’s blood, but he was happy for the chance to suffer for Jesus. That night in prison, Jesus Himself came to comfort and strengthen St. Mark. The next day his enemies dragged him on the ground again until he died of his many wounds.
St. Mark’s relics were later brought to Venice and today they are venerated in the beautiful Basilica of St. Mark.
There is no book in the world more important than the Holy Gospels. The wisest and holiest of men have always loved to read them over and over again. Let us, too, make sure we have a copy of the Holy Gospels and that we read them.