Today is the Feast of St. Mark the Evangelist

Mark the Evangelist is the person who is traditionally ascribed to be the author of the Second Gospel. Much of what we know about St. Mark comes largely from the New Testament and early Christian traditions. He was the son of Mary of Jerusalem (Acts 12:12) whose home became a meeting place for the apostles. He is also the cousin of St. Barnabas (Colossians 4:10). According to Christian tradition, Mark also held a close relationship with St. Peter, who referred to Mark has 'his son' in his letter addressed to a number of churches in Asia Minor (1 Peter 5:13). St. Mark lived for years in Alexandria, where he died as a martyr while being dragged through the streets. Mark's Gospel was probably written between 60 and 70 A.D., and was based upon the teachings of St. Peter. It is believed Mark provided both Luke and Matthew with basic sources for their Gospel's. St. Mark's symbol is a winged lion. This is believed to be derived from his description of St. John the Baptist, as "a voice of one crying out in the desert" (Mark 1:3). The wings come from Ezekiel's vision of four winged creatures as the evangelists.

St. Mark pray for us!