Mark the Evangelist
Mark was not one of the twelve Apostles. There is a question whether he knew Jesus or how well he might have known Jesus. Mark never mentions himself by name in his gospel but will use the word gospel more times than the other gospels combined.
Mark’s gospel might be the older of the gospels, but there is a scholarly debate if it is Mark or Matthew that is the oldest. Mark’s is the shortest of the gospels. It is fun to try to read the gospel of Mark out loud. The more you read the faster you speak until you need to stop to breathe. He used the word immediately many times and begins many sentences with the word and.
Mark is thought to be the young man who ran away when Jesus was arrested (Mark 14:51-52).Some scholars think the name of John was used to refer to Mark or even putting both names together as John Mark (Acts 12:25).
We do know he was a disciple of Saint Peter the Apostle who travelled with him to Rome and was referred to as “my son Mark” by the first Pope. Could Mark have been Peter’s secretary?
Mark was also known to have travelled with his cousin Saint Barnabas, and with Saint Paul through Cyprus. He evangelized in Alexandria, Egypt, established the Church there, served as its first bishop, and founded the first famous Christian school.
He was martyred April 25, 68 at Alexandria, Egypt. His gospel is represented by a winged lion. This comes from his sharing of John the Baptist as one crying out in the desert or roaring in the desert.
St. Mark, pray for us.
May the Lord bless you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen