25 April 2013 Feast — St Mark, Evangelist St Peter’s secretary in Rome. Author of the second Gospel which emphasizes the Saviour’s miraculous powers. (Fr James Socias, ‘et al’ [Eds], “Daily Roman Missal”, 1989, p1511) Despite his Roman name, Mark was Jewish by birth. He was also known by his Hebrew name John. Not one of the twelve Apostles, he probably knew Jesus personally. Many ecclesiastical writers see in the episode of the young man, who let go the sheet and fled at Jesus’ arrest in Gethsemane, a reference to Mark in his Gospel. Mark alone mentions it. This tallies with the fact that he was the son of a woman named Mary, who seems to have been a wealthy widow in whose house the first Jerusalem Christians used to meet. According to ancient tradition this house was in fact the Cenacle, where Our Lord celebrated the Last Supper and instituted the Blessed Eucharist. (Cf F Fernandez, “In Conversation with God”, 6:189-93) The apostolic mandate From his early youth Mark was among the first Christians of Jerusalem who had lived with Our Lady and the Apostles, all of whom he knew well. His mother was one of the first women to provide for Jesus and the Twelve. He is a cousin of Barnabas, one of the chief figures of those first days; and who initiated him in the task of spreading the Gospel. Mark went with Paul and Barnabas on their apostolic journey (Cf Acts 13:5-13), but on arriving in Cyprus he probably felt he was unable to carry on any further, for at that point he left them and went back to Jerusalem (Cf Acts 13:13). Paul seems to have been disgusted at Mark’s inconstancy. Many years later in Rome, Paul finds him “a comfort” and faithful companion. (Cf 1 Pet 5:13) About ten years later we find him in Rome, helping Peter who refers to him as “my son, Mark” (Cf Phil 24), thereby testifying to a long-standing close relationship. Being interpreter for the Prince of Apostles provided him with a privileged vantage-point, reflected in the Gospel he wrote later. St Jerome writes that “Mark, the disciple and interpreter of Peter, wrote down his Gospel at the request of the brethren living in Rome, according to what he had heard Peter preach. And Peter, having heard it, approved it with his authority to be read in the Church.” (“De script eccl”) This was no doubt Mark’s principal mission in life: to faithfully transmit Peter’s teaching. The Church proposes St Mark to us today as a model. It can be a great source of hope and consolation to contemplate the life of this holy Evangelist, because despite weaknesses we can, like him, trust in divine grace and in the assistance of our Mother the Church. Our imperfections should not cause us to turn away from God or to abandon our apostolic mission. At times we may have failed to respond properly to God’s grace. In these and other circumstances, if they occur, we should not be discouraged. Failures and acts of cowardice can serve a purpose and that is why we turn to Our Lord asking his pardon and help. But precisely because he trusts us and that we can count on receiving grace anew, we ought to begin again immediately and resolve to be more faithful. With Our Lord’s help we learn to draw good from our weaknesses, especially when the enemy, who never rests, tries to discourage us and get us to give up. Jesus wants us to be his despite any history of weakness on our part. “Go into all the world and proclaim the Gospel to every creature” (Mk 16:15) is the apostolic mandate. Moved by the Holy Spirit, St Mark testifies that this command was fulfilled: the Apostles “went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by signs that attended it” (Mk 16:20). Ref: Cf F Fernandez, “In Conversation with God”, 6:189-93 Prayer Helps Read ‘the Signs of the Times’ Through prayer especially to Jesus at Communion, you will understand so many things about the world and its relationship to him. You will be in a position to read accurately what are referred to as the ‘signs of the times’. Above all, you will have something to offer those who come to you in need. Through prayer you will possess Christ and be able to communicate him to others, the greatest contribution you can make in your lives: ‘to communicate Christ to the world’. Through prayer you will receive the strength to resist the spirit of the world. You will receive the power to show compassion to every human being -- just as Jesus did. Through prayer you will have ‘a part in salvation history’ as it unfolds in your generation. You will be able to enter into the heart of Jesus and understand his feelings towards his Church. ... Going to Jesus in prayer and through him to the Father, you will always find inspiration in Mary his Mother. You will learn to pray with her, and with her to await the action of the Holy Spirit in your lives. (Cf Acts 1:14) Ref: Cf Pope John Paul II, “Prayers and Devotions”, 1994, pp263-4 Our Lady · “Holy Mary is the ‘Queen of peace’, and thus the Church invokes her. So when your soul or your family are troubled, or things go wrong at work, in society or between nations, cry out to her without ceasing. Call to her by this title: ‘Queen of peace, pray for us.’ Have you at least tried it when you have lost your calm? You will be surprised at its immediate effect.” (St Josemaria Escrivá, “Furrow”, 874) · “My Mother and Lady, teach me how to pronounce a ‘yes’ which, like yours, will identify with the cry of Jesus before his Father: ‘not my will but God’s be done’ (Lk 22:42).” (St Josemaria Escrivá, “The Way of the Cross” 4th Station, 1) • Dedication of the Lower Holy Chapel of Paris, in honor of Our Lady, by Philip, Archbishop of Bonurges, in the year 1248. — Du Breuil, Theatre des Antiquites. (“Catholic Gems or Treasures of the Church” Historical Calendar; www.bethlehemobserver.com) • Dedication of the Lower Holy Chapel of Paris in honor of Our Lady (1248). (www/divinewill.org/feastsofourlady.html); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html) • Dedication of the Lower Holy Chapel in honor Mary. Paris. 1248. (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm) • Dedication of the Holy Chapel of Paris in Our Lady’s honor, 1248. (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html) • Our Lady of Good Counsel, Genazzano, Italy. 1467. History. (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm)