In Festo Sancti Marci Evangelistae - April 25

Today is the feast of St. Mark the Evangelist, author of the second Gospel, disciple of St. Peter. St. Mark is signified in religious art by the figure of the Lion (just as St. Matthew is signified by the Man, St. Luke by the Ox, and St. John by the Eagle).

St. Mark is honored today under the triple-title of Evangelist, Apostle, and Martyr. His martyrdom took place in 70 AD, and his body was eventually taken to Venice - he remains the patron of Venice to this day.

The following hymn (which scans much better in Latin) was composed in the ninth century by St. Paulinus, himself a successor to St. Mark as bishop of Aquileia. The hymn contains just enough biographical information about St. Mark's labors to give us a rough sketch of his life.

(The Feast of St. Mark is honored by the chanting of the Greater Litanies, which can be found here]

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Already throughout the whole earth there brightly gleams the light which shines from the Father's throne: the light which is the fount and source and splendour of the golden light: the light that never fails, beautifies heaven, and expels darkness from the world

Blessed Mark, the Evangelical teacher, received into his heart a lovely ray of this sparkling sacred light. He became as a lmap reflecting that great light and dispelling the gloom of this world by his brilliant flame

He was one of the seven fair pillars, and one of the seven golden candlesticks whose brightness shines as a star throughout the universe. He was one of the foundations that support the lofty structure of the Church

He was one of the favoured living creatures seen of old by the holy prophet Ezechiel, and by John, the disciple that leaned on Jesus' breast. Mark was prefigured under the type of a lion, whose wild roar is heard in the wildnerness

He was sent by blessed Peter to Aquileia, that city of ancient fame. There he sowed the seed of the divine word, and with joy garnered into heaven a hundred-fold of fruit

There he speedily raised a Christian Church. He gave it solidity of unshaken faith by building it on that faultless Rock, against which the billows and storms and floods vent their rage in vain

The soldier of Christ returned, wearing a wreath of fair lilies, with palm and laurel and roses: and thus crowned, he joyfully entered Rome, led thither by Christ

This done, he sets out for Alexandria, and filled with the Holy Ghost, traverses the ever fertile land of Egypt, preaching that the only begotten Son of the Father Almighty had come into the world for the world's salvation

[this stanza is so beautiful in the Latin, it is worth transcribing here; smooth as silk ...]

His ita gestis pergit Alexandriam
Sancto repletus Spiritu, laetissimos
Fines per omnes jugiter Memphiticos
Patris tremendi praedicabat unicum
Venisse mundi pro salute Filium

A cruel mob, enraged against the soldier of Christ, prepared various torments for him: he was bound with chains, pierced with arrows, and after his holy flesh had been torn with scourges, he was thrust into a dismal dungeon

Mark was the first that taught Alexandria to know the true God. He there built a church, which he dedicated to Christ, consecrated by the shedding of his own blood, and fortified by the solidity of holy faith

Glory, praise and empire be to the Father! To thee, O Jesus, who reignest in heaven above, and to the Holy Ghost, be honour and power! To the undivided Trinity be adoration paid for endless ages! Amen.

[likewise, worth repeating in the Latin ...]

Gloria Patri, decus et imperium
Sit Nate semper tibi super sidera
Honor, potestas, Sanctoque Spiritui
Sit Trinitati virtus individuae
Per infinita saeculorum saecula.
Amen.

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Propers of the Mass

Introit

Protexisti me, Deus, a convéntu malignántium, allelúja: a multitúdine operántium iniquitátem, allelúja, allelúja. Exáudi, Deus, oratiónem meam cum déprecor: a timóre inimíci éripe ánimam meam. v. Gloria Patri et Filio et Spiritui Sancti sicut erat in principio et nunc, et semper, et saecula saeculorum. Amen.

(Thou hast protected me, O God, from the assembly of the malignant, alleluia: from the multitude of the workers of iniquity, alleluia. alleluia. Hear, O God, my prayers, when I make supplication to Thee: deliver my soul from the fear of the enemy)

Collect

Deus, qui beátum Marcum Evangelístum Tuum evangélicæ prædicatiónis grátia sublimásti: tríbue, quæsumus; ejus nos semper et eruditióne profícere, et oratióne deféndi. Per Dóminum nostrum ...
R. Amen.

(O God, Who didst endow blessed Mark, Thine evangelist, with the grace of preaching, grant us, we beseech Thee, ever to profit by his teaching and be defended by his prayers. Through our Lord Jesus Christ ...)

Epistle

Léctio Ezechiélis Prophétæ. Similitudo vultus quátuor animálium: fácies hóminis, et fácies leónis a dextris ipsórum quátuor: fácies autem bovis a sinístris ipsórum quátuor, et fácies áquillæ désuper ipsórum quátuor. Fácies eórum, et pennæ eórum exténtæ désuper: dum pennæ singulórum jungebán-tur, et duæ tegébant córpora eórum: et unumquódque eórum coram fácie sua ambulábat: ubi erant impetus spíritus, illuc gradiebántur, nec revertebántur cum ambulárent. Et similitúdo animálium, aspéctus eórum quasi carbónum ignis ardéntium, et quasi aspéctus lampadárum. Hæc erat vísio discúrrens in médio animálium, splendor ignis, et de igne fulgur egrédiens. Et animália ibant, et revertebántur in similitúdinem fúlguris coruscántis.

(Lesson from Ezechiel the Prophet. As for the likeness of the faces of the four living creatures; there was the face of a man, and the face of a lion on the right side of all the four; and the face of an ox on the left side of all the four; and the face of an eagle over all the four. And their faces and their wings were stretched upward; two wings of every one were joined, and two covered their bodies; and every one of them went straight forward; whither the impulse of the spirit was to go, thither they went, and they turned not when they went. And as for the likeness of the living creatures, their appearance was like that of burning coals of fire, and like the appearance of lamps. This was the vision running to and fro in the midst of the living creatures, a bright fire, and lightning going forth from the fire. And the living creatures ran and returned like flashes of lightning. Thanks be to God.)

Alleluia

Allelúja, allelúja. V. (Ps. 88: 6) Confitebúntur caeli mirabília tua, Dómine: étenim veritátem tuam in ecclésia sanctórum. Allelúja. V. (Ps. 20: 4) Posuísti, Dómine, super ca-put ejus corónam de lápide pretióso. Allelúja.

(Alleluia, alleluia. V. (Ps. 88: 6) The heavens shall confess Thy wonders, O Lord; and Thy truth in the Church of the saints. Alleluia. V. (Ps. 20: 4) O Lord, Thou halt set on his head a crown of precious stones. Alleluia)

Gospel

In illo témpore: Designávit Dóminus et álios septuagínta duos: et misit illos binos ante fáciem suam in omnem civitátem et locum, quo erat ipse ventúrus. Et dicébat illis: "Messis quidem multa, operárii autem pauci. Rogáte ergo Dóminum messis ut mittat operários in messem suam. Ite: ecce ego mitto vos sicut agnos inter lupos. Nolíte portáre sácculum, neque peram, neque calceaménta, et néminem per viam salutavéritis. In quamcúmque domum intravéritis, primum dícite: Pax huic dómui; et si ibi fúerit fílius pacis, requiéscet super illum pax vestra: sin autem, ad vos revertétur. In eádem autem domo manéte edéntes, et bibéntes quæ apud illos sunt: dignus est enim operárius mercéde sua. Nolíte transíre de domo in domum. Et in quamcúmque civitátem intravéritis, et suscéperint vos, manducáte quæ apponúntur vobis: et curáte infírmos, qui in illa sunt, et dícite ilis: Appropinquávit in vos regnum Dei."

(At that time, The Lord appointed also other seventy-two; and He sent them two and two before His face into every city and place whither He Himself was to come. And He said to them, "The harvest indeed is great, but the laborers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that He send laborers into His harvest. Go, behold I send you as lambs among wolves. Carry neither purse, nor scrip, nor shoes; and salute no man by the way. Into whatsoever house you enter, first say, Peace be to this house: and if the son of peace be there, your peace shall rest upon him: but if not, it shall return to you. And in the same house remain, eating and drinking such things as they have: for the laborer is worthy of his hire. Remove not from house to house. And into what city soever you enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you; and heal the sick that are therein; and say to them, The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you.")

Offertory

Confitebúntur caeli mirabília tua, Dómine, et veritátem tuam in ecclésia sanctórum, allelúja, allelúja

(The Heavens shall confess Thy wonders, O Lord, and Thy truth in the Church of the Saints, alleluia, alleluia)

Secret

Beáti Marci Evangelístæ tui solemnitáte, tibi múnera deferéntes, quæsumus, Dómine; ut, sicut illum prædicátio evangélica fecit gloriósum: ita nos ejus intercéssio et verbo, et ópere tibi reddat accéptos. Per Dominum nostrum Jesum Christum ...
R. Amen.

(Bringing Thee gifts, O Lord. on the festival of blessed Mark, Thine evangelist, we pray Thee, that, as the preaching of the Gospel made him glorious, so his intercession may render us in word and deed acceptable to Thee. Through our Lord Jesus Christ ...)

Communion

Laetábitur justus in Dómino, et sperábit in eo: et laudabúntur omnes recti corde, allelúja, allelúja.

(The just shall rejoice in the Lord, and shall hope in Him: and all the upright in heart shall be praised, alleluia, alleluia)

Post-Communion

Tríbuant nobis quaesumus, Dómine, contínuum tua sancta praesidium: quo, beáti Marci Evangelístae tui précibus, nos ab ómnibus semper tueántur advérsis. Per Dóminum nostrum Jesum Christum ...

(May Thy holy things, we beseech Thee, O Lord, bring us continual protection, so that, through the prayers of blessed Mark, Thine evangelist, they may ever guard us from all evils. Through the same Lord Jesus Christ ...)