From: rich <
richarra@gmail.com>
April 25th - Saint Mark, Evangelist
(d. 63)
Saint Mark was converted to the Faith by the Prince of the Apostles,
whom he later accompanied to Rome, acting there as his secretary or interpreter. When Saint Peter wrote his First Epistle to the churches
of Asia, he affectionately joined to his own salutation that of his
faithful companion, whom he calls =E2=80=9Cmy son Mark.=E2=80=9D The Roman = people
entreated Saint Mark to put in writing for them the substance of Saint
Peter's frequent discourses on Our Lord's life. This the Ev=
angelist
did under the eye and with the express sanction of the Apostle, and
every page of his brief but graphic Gospel so bore the impress of
Saint Peter's character, that the Fathers used to name it =E2=80=9C=
Peter's
Gospel.=E2=80=9D
Saint Mark was then sent to Egypt to found the Church of Alexandria.
There his disciples became the wonder of the world for their piety and asceticism; Saint Jerome speaks of Saint Mark as the father of the
anchorites who at a later time thronged the Egyptian deserts. There,
too, he set up the first Christian school, the fruitful mother of many illustrious doctors and bishops.
After governing his see for many years, Saint Mark was seized one day
by the heathen, dragged by ropes over stones, and thrown into prison.
On the morrow the torture was repeated, and after receiving the
consolation of the sight of Angels and the voice of Jesus, Saint Mark
went to his reward.
It is to Saint Mark that we owe the many pictorial touches which often
give such vivid color to the Gospel scenes, and help us to visualize
the very gestures and appearance of our Blessed Lord. It is he alone
who notes that in the temptation Jesus was =E2=80=9Cwith the beasts;=E2=80=
=9D that He
slept in the boat =E2=80=9Con a pillow=E2=80=9D; that He =E2=80=9Cembraced = the little
children=E2=80=9D. He alone preserves for us the command, =E2=80=9CPeace, b=
e still!=E2=80=9D
by which the storm was quelled, and even the very Aramaic words He
spoke, the =E2=80=9CEphpheta=E2=80=9D and the =E2=80=9CTalitha, cumi!=E2=80= =9D by which the dumb were
made to speak and the dead to rise.
Reflection. Learn from Saint Mark's Gospel to keep the image of the
Son of man ever before your mind, and to ponder every syllable which
fell from His lips.
Source: Little Pictorial Lives of the Saints, a compilation based on
Butler's Lives of the Saints and other sources
Saint Quote:
In suffering love and in loving, suffer!
--Blessed Maria Lopez of Jesus
Bible Quote:
This kind of demon can be cast out only by prayer and fasting. (Matt.17:20)
<><><><>
Domine Iesu, Noverim Me
Lord Jesus, let me know myself and know Thee,
And desire nothing save only Thee.
Let me hate myself and love Thee.
Let me do everything for the sake of Thee.
Let me humble myself and exalt Thee.
Let me think nothing except Thee.
Let me die to myself and live in Thee.
Let me accept whatever happens as from Thee.
Let me banish self and follow Thee,
and ever desire to follow Thee.
Let me fly from myself and take refuge in Thee,
that I may deserve to be defended by Thee.
Let me fear for myself, let me fear Thee,
and let me be among those who are chosen by Thee.
Let me distrust myself and put my trust in Thee.
Let me be willing to obey for the sake of Thee.
Let me cling to nothing save only to Thee,
and let me be poor because of Thee.
Look upon me, that I may love Thee.
Call me that I may see Thee,
And forever enjoy Thee. - Amen.
--Saint Augustine
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