It's the Feast of St Mark, 2nd Class, with the color of Red. In this episode: the meditation: "In the Footsteps of the Good Shepherd", today's news from the Church: "The Summit Cross of Aneto Peak in Spain Cut Down", and today's thought from the Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre.
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Saint Mark the Evangelist is known to the Church as a faithful disciple and the author of one of the four Gospels, a man who helped preserve the living memory of Christ for future generations. He is traditionally identified with John Mark, a companion of the Apostles, and appears in the Acts of the Apostles as a helper in the early missionary journeys. Though not one of the Twelve, he belonged to that first generation of believers who worked closely with them, learning directly from their witness.
Mark is especially associated with Peter the Apostle, whom he accompanied and served. According to early Christian tradition, Mark’s Gospel reflects Peter’s preaching, capturing the vivid and direct way the Apostle proclaimed the life, death, and resurrection of Christ. His Gospel is the shortest of the four, marked by urgency and clarity, presenting Christ as the powerful Son of God whose actions reveal His divine authority.
Mark is also believed to have carried the Gospel beyond the bounds of the Holy Land, traveling to Egypt and founding the Church in Alexandria. There, he preached Christ to a people unfamiliar with the faith, establishing a Christian community that would grow and endure. His mission, however, came at a cost. Tradition holds that he was eventually martyred in Alexandria, remaining faithful to the end.
The Church honors Saint Mark not only as an evangelist, but as a link between the Apostles and the generations that followed. Through his writing, the message of Christ was preserved and spread, reaching countless souls. His symbol in Christian art is the lion, representing both the royal dignity of Christ and the boldness of Mark’s proclamation.
Devotion to Saint Mark has been especially strong in places connected to his mission, particularly in Alexandria and later in Venice, where his relics were brought and venerated. His feast day on April 25 is marked with solemn liturgies and, in some regions, processions asking for God’s blessing on the land and the harvest.
In agricultural traditions, his feast has also been associated with prayers for good crops, reflecting the dependence of daily life on God’s providence.
Saint Mark the Evangelist, faithful herald of the Gospel and servant of Christ, pray for us.
Authentic spiritual life, the sacraments, and the traditional liturgy are its primary means of bringing this life of grace to souls.
Although the traditional Latin Mass is the most visible and public expression of the work of the Society, we are committed to defending Catholic Tradition in its entirety: all of Catholic doctrine and morals as the Church has always defended them. What people need is the Catholic Faith, without compromise, with all the truth and beauty which accompanies it.
