The primary source of information about Mark comes from the New Testament, specifically the book of Acts. It is commonly believed that Mark mentioned in Acts 12:12 is the same person. According to the biblical account, when Saint Peter escaped from prison, he sought refuge at the home of Mark's mother. This incident highlights the connection between Mark and Peter, suggesting a close relationship between the two.
Mark accompanied Paul and Barnabas on their first missionary journey, but for unknown reasons, he returned alone to Jerusalem. Mark's actions during this journey displeased Paul, as he refused to let Mark accompany him on the second journey despite Barnabas's insistence. However, it seems that the conflict between Paul and Mark did not last long, as Paul later asks Mark to visit him in prison. This indicates a resolution or reconciliation between them.
The Gospel of Mark, the oldest and shortest of the four Gospels, focuses on Jesus's rejection by humanity while emphasizing his divine mission. It is believed to have been written for gentile converts in Rome after the deaths of Peter and Paul, sometime between A.D. 60 and 70. Mark drew from various sources for his Gospel, including Peter, the Church in Jerusalem with its Jewish roots, and the Church at Antioch, which had a predominantly Gentile population. While it is uncertain whether Mark personally knew Jesus, some scholars speculate that he may have been the young man mentioned in his own Gospel, who fled naked during Jesus's arrest in Gethsemane. Additionally, Mark is associated with being the first bishop of Alexandria, Egypt, and is revered as the patron saint of Venice, with a winged lion symbolizing his connection to the Gospel.
Patronage: Against impenitence; attorneys; barristers; captives; Egypt; glaziers; imprisoned people; insect bites; lions; notaries; prisoners; scrofulous diseases; stained glass workers; struma; Diocese of Venice, Florida; Venice, Italy.
Symbols and Representation: Winged lion; fig tree; pen; book and scroll; club; barren fig tree; scroll with words Pax Tibi; winged and numbed lion; lion.
Often Pictured as a man writing or holding his gospel; a man with a halter around his neck; a lion in the desert; a man with a book or scroll accompanied by a winged lion; holding a palm and book; holding a book with pax tibi Marce written on it; bishop on a throne decorated with lions; helping Venetian sailors; rescuing Christian slaves from Saracens.
O God, who raised up Saint Mark, your Evangelist, and endowed him with the grace to preach the Gospel, grant, we pray, that we may so profit from his teaching as to follow faithfully in the footsteps of Christ. Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever.
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