Coptic Icon of Saint Mark the Evangelist
In the Liturgical Calendar of the Extraordinary Form of the Mass, April 25 is indicated as the feast of St. Mark the Evangelist. He is referred to as the Apostle of Africa. He is also believed to be the author of the Gospel According to St. Mark. St. Mark is considered by the Coptic Church as the first Pope of the See of Alexandria, one of the centers of Christianity in the eary centuries of the Church. St. Mark was mentioned in the Acts of the Apostle 12:24-25, "But the word of the Lord increased and multiplied. And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem, having fulfilled their ministry, taking with them John, who was surnamed Mark." [Douay Rheims Version]. The name of Saint Mark appeared first in the Book of the Acts at a time when the Word of God was increasing. He was associated with great missionaries of the time like Saint Paul who was considered the Apostle to the Gentiles and Barnabas a great and untiring evangelist. Later St. Mark was credited as having written one of the synoptic Gospels. The saint was also closely identified with Barnabas, thats why in the disagreement between Paul and Barnabas, the latter took with him Mark while the former took with him Silas. But this seeming, human failure was a blessing in disguise, because their parting with St. Paul resulted in the spread of the Word of God (Read Acts 15: 38-41). The symbol of St. Mark is the Lion.
Prayer: Lord Almighty Father, you have given to us St. Mark the Evangelist to be an example and leader. You made him the instrument of the proclamation of the Gospel of your Son Jesus Christ. Just as you made him courageous in the proclamation of the Gospel make us also courageous in the face of challenges that we face in modern times. Make us beacons of your Word and Light. We ask this in Jesus name and through the intercession of Saint Mark. Amen. St. Mark, Ora Pro nobis.
No comments:
Post a Comment