APRIL 25, 2017
8:45 AM ORDINARY FORM MASS (4TH GRADE)
St. Mark is the writer of the 2nd Gospel, and the companion of St. Peter.
In the icon of St. Mark, there is a lion at his feet.
Each of the Gospels has an "animal" associated with it.
These come from the first chapter of the Prophet Ezekiel where he describes a vision of angels at the throne of God. Each of these "creatures" had four heads. The head of a man, a lion, an ox, and an eagle.
These are associated with the Gospels as:
St. Matthew: a winged man; because it deals with Jesus' humanity and lineage.
St. Mark: a winged lion; because Jesus is the lion of Judah, and lions were thought to be born dead, and were resurrected by their fathers.
St. Luke: a winged ox; because the story-telling is slow and methodical, and also deals with Jesus and His sacrifice – and oxen were sacrificial animals
St. John: an eagle; because John's theology and ideas soar beyond the other Gospels.
Back to St. Mark, whose feast is today.
He founded the Church in Alexandria, Egypt, and was martyred in the year 68 AD. He is the patron saint of Egypt, Venice (Italy), and of Lawyers.
