SAINT MARK, EVANGELIST
The
Cycle of holy mother Church brings before us today, the Lion, who, together with
the Man, the Ox and the Eagle, stands before the Throne of God. It was on this
day, that Mark ascended from earth to heaven, radiant with his triple aureola
of Evangelist, Apostle, and Martyr.
As
the preaching made to Israel had its four great representatives, — Isaias,
Jeremias, Ezechiel, and Daniel; so, likewise, would God have the New Covenant
to be embodied in the four Gospels, which were to make known to the world the Life
and teachings of his divine Son. The Holy Fathers tell us, that the Gospels are
like the four streams which watered the Garden of pleasure, and that this
Garden was a figure of the future Church. The first of the Evangelists, — the
first to register the actions and words of our Redeemer, — is Matthew, whose
star will rise in September; the second is Mark, whose brightness gladdens us
today; the third is Luke, whose rays will shine upon us in October; the fourth
is John, whom we have already seen in Bethlehem, at the Crib of our Emmanuel.
Mark was the beloved disciple of Peter; he was the brilliant satellite of the
Sun of the Church. He wrote his Gospel at Rome, under the eyes of the Prince of
the Apostles. The Church was already in possession of the history given by
Matthew; but the Faithful of Rome wished their own Apostle to narrate what he
had witnessed. Peter refused to write it himself, but he bade his disciple take
up his pen, and the Holy Ghost guided the hand of the new Evangelist. Mark
follows the account given by Matthew; he abridges it, and yet he occasionally
adds a word, or an incident, which plainly prove to us that Peter, who had seen
and heard all, was his living and venerated authority. One would have almost
expected, that the new Evangelist would pass over in silence the history of his
master's fall, or, at least, have said as little as possible about it; but no,
— the Gospel written by Mark is more
detailed on Peter's denial than is that of Matthew; and as we read it, we
cannot help feeling, that the tears, elicited by Jesus' look, when in the house
of Caiphas, were flowing down the Apostle's cheeks, as he described the sad
event. Mark's
work being finished, Peter examined it and gave it his sanction; the several
Churches joyfully received this second account of the mysteries of the world's
redemption, and the name of Mark was made known throughout the whole earth.
Mark having written his Gospel, was next to labour as
an Apostle. Peter sent him, first,
to Aquileia, where he founded an important Church: but this was not enough for
an Evangelist. When the time designed by God came, and Egypt, — the source of
countless errors, — was to receive the truth, and the haughty and noisy
Alexandria was to be raised to the dignity of the second Church of Christendom,
— the second See of Peter, — Mark was sent by his master to effect this great
work. By his preaching, the word of salvation took root, grew up, and produced
fruit in that most infidel of nations; and the authority of Peter was thus marked,
though in different degrees, in the three great Cities of the Empire: Rome,
Alexandria and Antioch.
St. Mark may be called the first founder
of the Monastic life, by his instituting, in Alexandria itself, what were
called the Therapeutes. To him, also, may be justly attributed, the origin of
that celebrated Christian school, of Alexandria, which was so flourishing, even
in the 2nd Century.
But glorious as were these works of
Peter's disciple, — the Evangelist and Apostle Mark was also to receive the
dignity of Martyr. The success of his preaching excited against him the fury of
the idolaters. They were keeping a feast in honour of Serapis; and this gave
them an opportunity which they were not likely to lose. They seized Mark,
treated him most cruelly, and cast him into prison. It was there that our Risen
Lord appeared to him, during the night, and addressed him in these words, which
afterwards formed the Arms of the Republic of Venice: ‘Peace be to thee, Mark, my Evangelist!’ To
which the disciple answered: "Lord" — for such were his feelings of
delight and gratitude, that he could say but that one word, as it was with
Magdalene, when she saw Jesus on the morning of the Resurrection. On the
following day, Mark was put to death by the pagans. He had fulfilled his
mission on earth, and heaven opened to receive the Lion, who was to occupy near
the throne of the Ancient of days the place allotted to him, as shown to the
Prophet of Patmos, in his sublime vision.
In the 9th Century, the West was enriched
with the Relics of St. Mark. They were taken to Venice; and, under the
protection of the sacred Lion, there began for that City a long period of
glory. Faith in so great a Patron achieved wonders; and from the midst of
islets and lagoons there sprang into existence a City of beauty and power.
Byzantine Art raised up the imposing and gorgeous Church, which was the
palladium of the Queen of the Seas; and the new Republic stamped its coinage
with the Lion of St. Mark. Happy would it have been for Venice, had she
persevered in her loyalty to Rome, and in the ancient severity of her morals!
Rogation Mass Procession
Today is also the Feast
THE GREATER LITANIES
The Liturgical Year - Abbot Dom
Guéranger
SAINT MARK'S PROCESSION
This day is honoured in the Liturgy by what is called Saint Mark's Procession. The term, however, is not a correct one, inasmuch as a Procession was a privilege peculiar to the 25th of April previously to the institution of our Evangelist's feast, which, even so late as the 6th Century, had no fixed day in the Roman Church. The real name of this Procession is, The Greater Litanies. The word Litany means Supplication, and is applied to the religious rite of singing certain chants whilst proceeding from place to place, and this in order to propitiate heaven. The two Greek words Kyrie eleison (Lord have mercy on us) were also called Litany, as likewise were the invocations which were afterwards added to that cry for Mercy, and which now form a Liturgical prayer used by the Church on certain solemn occasions.
The Greater Litanies, (or Processions,) are so called to distinguish them from the Minor Litanies, that is, Processions of less importance as far as the solemnity and concourse of the Faithful were concerned. We gather from an expression of St. Gregory the Great, that it was an ancient custom in the Roman Church to celebrate, once each year, a Greater Litany, at which all the Clergy and people assisted. This holy Pontiff chose the 25th of April as the fixed day for this Procession, and appointed the Basilica of St. Peter as the Station.
Several writers on the Liturgy have erroneously confounded this institution with the Processions prescribed by St. Gregory for times of public calamity. It existed long before his time, and all that he had to do with it was the fixing it to the 25th of April. It is quite independent of the Feast of St. Mark, which was instituted at a much later period. If the 25th of April occur during Easter Week, the Procession takes place on that day, (unless it be Easter Sunday,) but the Feast of the Evangelist is not kept till after the Octave.
The question naturally presents itself, — why did St. Gregory choose the 25th of April for a Procession and Station, in which everything reminds us of compunction and penance, and which would seem so out of keeping with the joyous Season of Easter? The first to give a satisfactory answer to this difficulty, was Canon Moretti, a learned Liturgiologist of last century. In a dissertation of great erudition, he proves that in the 5th, and probably even in the 4th, century, the 25th of April was observed at Rome as a day of great solemnity. The Faithful went, on that day, to the Basilica of St. Peter, in order to celebrate the anniversary of the first entrance of the Prince of the Apostles into Rome, upon which he thus conferred the inalienable privilege of being the Capital of Christendom. It is from that day that we count the twenty-five years, two months and some days that St. Peter reigned as Bishop of Rome. The Sacramentary of St. Leo gives us the Mass of this Solemnity, which afterwards ceased to be kept. St. Gregory, to whom we are mainly indebted for the arrangement of the Roman Liturgy, was anxious to perpetuate the memory of a day, which gave to Rome her grandest glory. He, therefore, ordained that the Church of St. Peter should be the Station of the Great Litany, which was always to be celebrated on that auspicious day. The 25th of April comes so frequently during the Octave of Easter, that it could not be kept as a Feast, properly so called, in honour of St. Peter's entrance into Rome; St. Gregory, therefore, adopted the only means left of commemorating the great event.
But there was a striking contrast resulting from this institution, of which the holy Pontiff was fully aware, but which he could not avoid: — it was the contrast between the joys of Paschal Time, and the penitential sentiments wherewith the Faithful should assist at the Procession and Station of the Great Litany. Laden as we are with the manifold graces of this holy Season, and elated with our Paschal joys, — we must sober our gladness by reflecting on the motives which led the Church to cast this hour of shadow over our Easter sunshine. After all, we are sinners, with much to be sorry for, and much to fear; we have to avert those scourges which are due to the crimes of mankind; we have, by humbling ourselves and invoking the intercession of the Mother of God and the Saints, to obtain the health of our bodies, and the preservation of the fruits of the earth; we have to offer atonement to Divine justice for our own and the world's pride, sinful indulgences, and insubordination. Let us enter into ourselves, and humbly confess that our own share in exciting God's indignation is great; and our poor prayers, united with those of our holy Mother the Church, will obtain mercy for the guilty, and for ourselves who are of the number. A day, then, like this, of reparation to God's offended Majesty, would naturally suggest the necessity of joining some exterior penance to the interior dispositions of contrition which filled the hearts of Christians. Abstinence from flesh meat has always been observed, on this day, at Rome; and when the Roman Liturgy was established in France, by Pepin and Charlemagne, the Great Litany of the 25th of April was, of course, celebrated, and the Abstinence kept, by the Faithful of that country. A Council of Aix-la-Chapelle, in 836, enjoined the additional obligation of resting from servile work on this day: the same enactment is found in the Capitularia of Charles the Bald. As regards Fasting, — properly so called, — being contrary to the spirit of Paschal Time, it would seem never to have been observed on this day, at least not generally. Amalarius, who lived in the 9th Century, asserts that it was not then practiced even in Rome.
We take this opportunity of protesting against the negligence of Christians on this subject. Even persons who have the reputation of being spiritual, think nothing of being absent from the Litanies said on St. Mark's and the Rogation Days. One would have thought, that when the Holy See took from these Days the obligation of Abstinence, the Faithful would be so much the more earnest to join in the duty still left, — the duty of Prayer. The people's presence at the Litanies is taken for granted: and it is simply absurd, that a religious rite of public reparation should be one from which almost all should keep away. We suppose that these Christians will acknowledge the importance of the petitions made in the Litanies; but God is not obliged to hear them in favour of such as ought to make them and yet do not. This is one of the many instances which might be brought forward of the strange delusions into which private and isolated devotion are apt to degenerate. When St. Charles Borromeo first took possession of his See of Milan, he found this negligence among his people, and that they left the Clergy to go through the Litanies of the 25th of April by themselves. He assisted at them himself, and walked bare-footed in the Procession. The people soon followed the sainted Pastor's example.
ST. MARK THE EVANGELIST
Double – Second Class
Red vestments
Missa ‘Protexisti me’
Missa ‘Protexisti me’
INTROIT - Psalm 63: 3, 2
Protexisti
me, Deus, a convéntu malignántium, allelúia: a multitúdine operántium
iniquitátem, allelúia, allelúia. Ps. 63: 2. Exáudi, Deus, oratiónem meam cum déprecor: a timóre inimíci
éripe ánimam meam. Gloria Patri.
Thou
hast protected me, O God, from the assembly of the malignant, alleluia: from
the multitude of the workers of iniquity, alleluia. alleluia. Ps. Hear, O God,
my prayers, when I make supplication to Thee: deliver my soul from the fear of
the enemy. Glory be to the Father.
COLLECT
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.
EPISTLE - Ezechiel 1: 10-14
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.
ALLELUIA - Psalm 88: 6
Alleluia,
alleluia. The Heavens shall confess Thy wonders, O Lord; and Thy truth in the
Church of the saints. Alleluia.
ALLELUIA - Psalm 20: 4
Alleluia.
O Lord, Thou halt set on his head a crown of precious stones. Alleluia.
GOSPEL - Luke 10: 1-9
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 labourers are few:
pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest that He send labourers 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 labourer 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 - Psalm 88: 6
The
Heavens shall confess Thy wonders, O Lord, and Thy truth in the Church of the
Saints, alleluia, alleluia.
SECRET
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.
PREFACE OF THE APOSTLES
It
is truly meet and just, right and for our salvation, to entreat Thee humbly, O
Lord, that Thou wouldst not desert Thy flock, O everlasting Shepherd; but
through Thy blessed Apostles, wouldst keep it under Thy constant protection;
that it may be governed by those same rulers, whom as vicars of Thy work, Thou
didst set over it to be its pastors. And therefore with Angels and Archangels,
with Thrones and Dominations, and with all the hosts of the heavenly army, we
sing the hymn of Thy glory, evermore saying:
COMMUNION - Psalm 63: 11
The
just shall rejoice in the Lord, and shall hope in Him: and all the upright in
heart shall be praised, alleluia, alleluia.
POSTCOMMUNION
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.
Litany of the Saints
Lord, have mercy on us. Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us. Christ, have mercy on us
Lord, have mercy on us. Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.
God the Father of Heaven, have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy on us.
God the Holy Spirit, have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, one God, have mercy on us.
Holy Mary, pray for us.
Holy Mother of God, pray for us.
Holy Virgin of Virgins, pray for us.
St. Michael, pray for us.
All holy Angels and Archangels, pray for us.
All holy orders of blessed spirits, pray for us.
St. John the Baptist, pray for us.
St. Joseph, pray for us.
All holy Patriarchs and Prophets, pray for us.
St. Peter, pray for us.
St. Paul, pray for us.
St. Andrew, pray for us.
St. James, pray for us.
St. John, pray for us.
St. Thomas, pray for us.
St. James, pray for us.
St. Philip, pray for us.
St. Bartholomew, pray for us.
St. Matthew, pray for us.
St. Simon, pray for us.
St. Thaddeus, pray for us.
St. Matthias, pray for us.
St. Barnabas, pray for us.
St. Luke, pray for us.
St. Mark, pray for us.
All holy Apostles and Evangelists, pray for us.
All holy Disciples of the Lord, pray for us.
All Holy Innocents, pray for us.
St. Stephen, pray for us.
St. Lawrence, pray for us.
St. Vincent, pray for us.
Fabian and Sebastian, pray for us.
John and Paul, pray for us.
Cosmas and Damian, pray for us.
Gervase and Protase, pray for us.
All holy Martyrs, pray for us.
St. Sylvester, pray for us.
St. Gregory, pray for us.
St. Ambrose, pray for us.
St. Augustine, pray for us.
St. Jerome, pray for us.
St. Martin, pray for us.
St. Nicholas, pray for us.
All holy Bishops and Confessors, pray for us.
All holy Doctors, pray for us.
St. Anthony, pray for us.
St. Benedict, pray for us.
St. Bernard, pray for us.
St. Dominic, pray for us.
St. Francis, pray for us.
All holy Priests and Levites, pray for us.
All holy Monks and Hermits, pray for us.
St. Mary Magdalen, pray for us.
St. Agatha, pray for us.
St. Lucy, pray for us.
St. Agnes, pray for us.
St. Cecilia, pray for us.
St. Catherine, pray for us.
St. Anastasia, pray for us.
All holy Virgins and Widows, pray for us.
All holy Saints of God, intercede for us.
Be merciful, Spare us, O Lord.
Be merciful, Hear us, O Lord.
From all evil, Spare us, O Lord.
From all sin, Spare us, O Lord.
From thy anger, Spare us, O Lord
From a sudden and unprovided death, Spare us, O Lord.
From the snares of the devil, Spare us, O Lord.
From anger, and hatred, and every evil will, Spare us, O Lord.
From the spirit of fornication, Spare us, O Lord.
From lightning and storms, Spare us, O Lord.
From the scourge of earthquake, Spare us, O Lord.
From plague, famine, and war, Spare us, O Lord.
From everlasting death, Spare us, O Lord.
Through the mystery of thy holy Incarnation, Spare us, O Lord.
Through thy Coming, Spare us, O Lord.
Through thy Birth, Spare us, O Lord.
Through thy Baptism and holy Fasting, Spare us, O Lord.
Through thy Cross and Passion, Spare us, O Lord.
Through thy Death and Burial, Spare us, O Lord.
Through thy holy Resurrection, Spare us, O Lord.
Through thy admirable Ascension, Spare us, O Lord.
Through the coming of the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete, Spare us, O Lord.
In the day of Judgment, Spare us, O Lord.
We sinners, We beg of thee, hear us.
That thou wouldst spare us, We beg of thee, hear us.
That thou wouldst pardon us, We beg of thee, hear us.
That thou wouldst kindly bring us to true penance, We beg of thee, hear
us.
That thou wouldst kindly govern and preserve thy holy Church, We beg of
thee, hear us.
That thou wouldst kindly preserve in holy religion the Pope and all
clerics in holy orders, We beg of thee, hear us.
That thou wouldst kindly humble the enemies of holy Church, We beg of
thee, hear us.
That thou wouldst kindly give peace and true concord to Christian kings
and princes, We beg of thee, hear us.
That thou wouldst kindly grant peace and unity to the whole Christian
world, We beg of thee, hear us.
That thou wouldst restore to the unity of the Church all who have
strayed from the truth and lead all infidels to the light of the Gospel, We beg
of thee, hear us.
That thou wouldst kindly confirm and preserve us in thy holy service, We
beg of thee, hear us.
That thou wouldst kindly lift up our minds to heavenly desires, We beg
of thee, hear us.
That thou wouldst kindly give eternal blessings to all our benefactors,
We beg of thee, hear us.
That thou wouldst kindly deliver our souls, and the souls of our brethren,
relations, and benefactors from eternal damnation, We beg of thee, hear us.
That thou wouldst kindly give and preserve the fruits of the earth, We
beg of thee, hear us.
That thou wouldst kindly grant eternal rest to all the faithful
departed, We beg of thee, hear us.
That thou wouldst be so kind as to answer our prayers Son of God, We beg
of thee, hear us.
Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, graciously hear us,
O Lord.
Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.
Christ, hear us,
Christ, graciously hear us.
Lord, have mercy on us. Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us. Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us. Lord, have mercy on us.
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