Mark fulfilled in his life what every Christian is called to do: proclaim to all people the Good News that is the source of salvation.
Saint Mark, also known as John Mark, was one of the four Evangelists. The details of his early life are not recorded in Scripture; what we know is inferred from various sources. He is said to have been member of the priestly tribe of Levi; the Egyptian Coptics say that he was born in Northern Africa in the region of Cyrene, also the home of Simon of Cyrene, who helped Jesus carry the Cross.
His Jewish name, John, means “the kindness of God”, while his Roman name, Mark, means “the hammer”. As a young Levite, Saint Mark received a thorough education and was able to read and write multiple languages, making him well suited for his task of Evangelist. His family moved to Palestine following barbarian raids in Northern Africa.
Saint Mark’s family was closely associated with the Apostles. His mother was one of the “Marys” who followed Christ. The early Christians often gathered at her house and she was highly esteemed. Saint Mark’s father, Aristopolos, was a cousin to the wife of St. Peter. There is also evidence that he was related to Saint Thomas. Saint Mark therefore grew up in a family that was closely associated with Christ.
Saint Mark is also considered to be the young man who carried a pitcher signaling that his home would be used for the Last Supper (Luke 22:10-12). This same house would later be used for the coming of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost. His home was the first Christian Church. When Saint Peter was freed from prison he went directly to the house of Saint Mark. It is also commonly held that Saint Mark tasted the wine that Jesus had transformed from water at Cana.
After Christ’s Ascension, Saint Mark accompanied Peter on his missionary trips. He served Saint Peter as his secretary, and accompanied Peter to Rome, where he wrote his gospel to preserve Saint Peter’s preaching.
He is said later to have preached the Gospel in Venice and Aquila. To this day the Venetians hold him to be the father of their faith, and the great basilica in Venice is dedicated to him. After preaching in Italy, Saint Mark traveled to Lebanon. He is thought to have reached Mt. Lebanon and served as the first Bishop of Gobayel. After serving in Lebanon, Saint Mark journeyed to Alexandria, where he is considered to be the father of the Egyptian Church. He began the theology school of Alexandria, which would grow to be a center of Christian learning and culture over the next few centuries.
Saint Mark was martyred in Alexandria. A rope was tied around his neck, and he was dragged to death. In the year 828, merchants from Venice stole his remains from Alexandra and brought them to Venice, where they are buried in the great basilica. In 1968, Pope Paul VI gave some of the relics back to the Coptic Church in Egypt.
Today let’s remember Saint Mark, and as he did, follow Jesus’s apostles and become one of them until the moment of our death.
Heaven is our goal.
Sources: Saint Mark – Peoria, IL Catholic Church (saint-mark.net)