MEMORIAL OF SAINT MARK THE EVANGELIST ~ FEAST DAY: APRIL 25TH 2026

SATURDAY OF THE THIRD WEEK OF EASTER | YEAR A | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/saturday-of-the-third-week-of-easter-year-a/

SAINTS OF THE DAY | APRIL 25, 2026 | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/saints-of-the-day-feast-day-april-25th/

MEMORIAL OF SAINT MARK THE EVANGELIST

History of the Saints | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/category/saints-of-the-day

Watch “Holy Mass and Holy Rosary | EWTN | April 25 2026 | “Holy Mass from the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy” | Pray “Holy Rosary Novena From Lourdes” | Pray “The Chaplet of Divine Mercy in song from the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy” | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/catholic-daily-mass-april-25-2026/

LIVE UPDATES: Pope Leo XIV’s Historic Apostolic Journey to Africa | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/live-updates-pope-leo-xivs-historic-apostolic-journey-to-africa/

DAILY PRAYERS: St. Michael the Archangel Prayer; Regina Caeli Prayer; and the Chaplet of Divine Mercy Prayer | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/st-michael-the-archangel-prayer-angelus-prayer-and-the-chaplet-of-divine-mercy-prayer/

Pope Leo XIV’s Historic Apostolic Journey to Africa | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/live-updates-pope-leo-xivs-historic-apostolic-journey-to-africa/

We thank God for the safe and successful completion of Pope Leo XIV’s visit to Africa and we pray and thank God for journey mercies. Amen🙏🏽

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Greetings and blessings, beloved family.

Alleluia! Go out to all the world and proclaim the Gospel to every creature! Today is the Feast of Saint Mark, Evangelist, a day to celebrate the lion of the Gospels whose pen captured the swift, powerful movement of Jesus’ ministry. On this April Saturday, we honor the man whom Peter called my son. In the Gospel, we hear the Great Commission: Jesus commands His disciples to preach to every creature, promising that signs, healing, protection, and authority will accompany those who believe. Mark’s Gospel reminds us that while Jesus is seated at the right hand of God, He continues to work with us, confirming the Word through our lives. In the First Reading, Saint Peter exhorts us to clothe ourselves with humility and to cast all our worries upon God. He warns us of the roaring lion, the devil, but reassures us that after we have suffered a little, God will restore and strengthen us. We are joined today by Saint Mark himself, the cousin of Barnabas and companion to both Paul and Peter, who translated the memories of the Apostles into a living Word for us. Like Saint Mark, let us walk in the light of God’s countenance and rejoice in His name all the day long. Amen. 🙏🏽

BIBLE READINGS FOR TODAY’S HOLY MASS:

Third Week of Easter | USCCB | https://bible.usccb.org/daily-bible-reading

Today’s Bible Readings: Feast of Saint Mark, Evangelist | April 25, 2026
Reading I: 1 Peter 5:5b–14
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 89:2–3, 6–7, 16–17
Gospel: Mark 16:15–20

Gospel Reading ~ Mark 16:15–20

“Go into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel to every creature.”

Jesus appeared to the Eleven and said to them: “Go into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel to every creature. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved; whoever does not believe will be condemned. These signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will drive out demons, they will speak new languages. They will pick up serpents with their hands, and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not harm them. They will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.” Then the Lord Jesus, after he spoke to them, was taken up into heaven and took his seat at the right hand of God. But they went forth and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the word through accompanying signs.

SCRIPTURE REFLECTIONS

In the Gospel, we witness the final earthly instructions of Jesus, known as the Great Commission. He does not suggest a localized mission, He demands a global proclamation to every creature. This reflection emphasizes that the power of the Gospel is not meant to be static or hidden. It is active and transformative. Jesus promises that signs will accompany those who believe. These signs, healing, deliverance, and divine protection, are not for the glory of the believer, but are the credentials of the Gospel, proving that the Word is true. Even as Jesus ascends to His throne, the narrative ends with a beautiful partnership: the disciples preach, and the Lord works with them.

The transition from Jesus’ physical presence to His session at the right hand of God does not signal His absence, but His sovereign authority. To believe and be baptized is to be caught up into this authority. We are reminded that we do not go out on our own strength, the Risen Lord is the invisible partner in every act of faith. Whether we are laying hands on the sick or simply proclaiming the Gospel through our daily integrity, we are participating in the ongoing work of Christ that Saint Mark so vividly recorded.

The First Reading provides the character profile of a true missionary. Saint Peter, Mark’s mentor, calls us to clothe yourselves with humility. He understands that the pride of the world is opposed by God, but favor is bestowed on the humble. Peter’s advice to cast all your worries upon him is the secret to apostolic endurance. When we realize that God cares for us, the roaring lion of the devil loses his power to terrify. Suffering may come for a little, but the promise is total: God will restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish those who remain firm in His grace.

The Responsorial Psalm (Psalm 89) serves as the anthem for the Feast of an Evangelist: “For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.” It celebrates the faithfulness that endures through all generations, the very faithfulness Mark sought to preserve in his writing. When we know the joyful shout of the Gospel, we walk in the light of God’s countenance. Justice and mercy are the foundations of His throne, and through His name, we are exalted. Like the heavens that proclaim His wonders, the Church proclaims His victory to the assembly of the holy ones.

As we celebrate Saint Mark today, let us reflect on our own commission. Reflect today: Are you going into the world with the Good News, or are you paralyzed by worries that you have yet to cast upon Him? This is the day to be sober and vigilant. Trust that the signs of God’s presence are still active today in your kindness, your prayers for the sick, and your courage. Do not fear the roaring lion; instead, imitate the boldness of the Lion of Judah. Proclaim the Word, and watch how the Lord works with you today to confirm His love.

Let us pray: Lord Jesus, You are the power and the wisdom of God. We thank You for the witness of Saint Mark, who recorded Your tremendous deeds for our salvation. Forgive us for the times we have been silent when You called us to speak, or proud when You called us to be humble. Fill us with the Holy Spirit that we may go into our whole world today, our families, our workplaces, and our communities proclaiming, Your victory. Be our strength and our partner in all we do, that through us, Your healing and grace may be known. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. 🙏🏽

SAINTS OF THE DAY | APRIL 25TH:

Link to Saints of the Day with Daily Reflections| April 25th https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com

Direct link to the detailed history of Saint Mark the Evangelist | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/saints-of-the-day-feast-day-april-25th/

SAINT MARK THE EVANGELIST, MARTYR: Saint Mark (1st c.) was the son of Mary of Jerusalem, whose home provided the Cenacle for the First Christians. Though he was once deemed immature by Saint Paul after turning back from a difficult journey, he was restored by the Father to become the son and interpreter of Saint Peter. In Rome, Mark recorded the memories of the first Pope, painting vivid word pictures of the unconquered King. His Gospel the shortest and swiftest was written for a world that needed to see the power of God in action. As the Bishop of Alexandria, he was dragged through the streets until his body was torn, proving that he had finally learned to pick up the cross he once feared. Represented as a lion, he remains the voice crying out in the wilderness, making ready the way of the Lord.

PRAYER: God, You helped Saint Mark the Evangelist with Your grace so that he could preach the Gospel. Through his intercession, strengthen all those who lack the courage to live the Gospel message in their own lives. Grant that we may learn from his teaching to walk faithfully in the footsteps of Christ, casting all our worries upon You, for You care for us. Amen. 🙏🏽

Our Blessed Mother Mary and Saint Mark the Evangelist — pray for us. 🙏🏽

PRAYER INTENTION: FOR EVANGELISTS, THE SPREAD OF THE WORD, AND THE CAPTIVE

As we celebrate the Lion of the Gospel who was confirmed by the Lord through accompanying signs, let us bring our petitions to the Father through his holy intercession. Lord, we pray for the Church, the Clergy, and all Evangelists; through the intercession of Saint Mark, grant them the new languages of love and the power of God to reach every creature, especially in lands where the Gospel is met with hostility. We pray for attorneys, barristers, notaries, and those who work in the justice system; through the prayers of Saint Mark (their Patron), grant them integrity and a spirit of true justice, that they may always defend the truth with the boldness of a lion. Finally, we pray for captives, prisoners, and those suffering from skin diseases or insect bites; through the merits of Saint Mark, bring them relief, comfort, and the freedom found only in Your Name. May Our Blessed Mother Mary, who hosted the first Christians in the Upper Room, protect all those who are currently scattered and bring them safely to the light of Your countenance. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. 🙏🏽

PRAYER FOR PEACE | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/a-prayer-for-peace/

THE POPE’S MONTHLY INTENTIONS FOR 2026: FOR THE MONTH OF APRIL: For Priests Crisis. Let us pray for priests going through moments of crisis in their vocation, that they may find the accompaniment they need and that communities may support them with understanding and prayer.

(https://popesprayerusa.net/popes-intentions/)

DEVOTION OF THE MONTH OF APRIL | MONTH OF HOLY EUCHARIST: April is dedicated to the Holy Eucharist, the greatest gift of Christ to His Church. In the Eucharist, Jesus is truly present Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity offering Himself as the Bread of Life. This month invites us to deepen our love and reverence for the Eucharist, especially during Holy Week and Easter, celebrating the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of our Lord. The Eucharist was instituted by Jesus at the Last Supper when He said, “Take and eat; this is My Body… Drink from it, all of you, for this is My Blood of the Covenant” (Matthew 26:26-28). In receiving the Eucharist, we are united with Christ and His Church. It is the source of our strength and the culmination of our salvation, as Christ Himself said in John 6:51, “I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats this bread will live forever.” As we journey through Lent, we are called to renew our reverence for the Eucharist. During Holy Week, we remember that Christ instituted this sacrament on Holy Thursday, offering us a way to remain in union with Him. Let us take this opportunity to attend Mass regularly, spend time in Eucharistic adoration, and reflect on the mystery of Christ’s presence in the Blessed Sacrament.

In this season of penance and reflection, may our devotion to the Eucharist strengthen our commitment to living as true disciples of Christ, leading us to the joy of Easter and the Resurrection.

O Sacrament Most Holy, O Sacrament Divine, all praise and all thanksgiving be every moment Thine! Lord Jesus, You have given Yourself to us in the Eucharist. May we receive You with reverence and love, and let Your grace transform us always. Amen 🙏🏽

https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/calendar/month.cfm?y=2026&m=4

PRAYER FOR THE DEAD
We pray for the repose of the gentle souls of our loved ones and souls of all the faithful departed. Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord. And let perpetual light shine upon them. May their gentle souls through the mercy of God rest in perfect peace with our Lord Jesus Christ… Amen 🙏🏽

Thanking God for His love and the gift of this glorious day, we offer Him a prayer of gratitude for the graces of the past month and entrust the remainder of April to His loving providence. We pray for God’s grace and mercy as we continue this season of Easter joy. May the Resurrection of Your Son help us to seek You in every moment of our lives. May the peace, hope, and steady guidance that flow from the empty tomb shape our steps, inform our decisions, and strengthen our resolve to live each day in the light of the Risen Christ. As we journey onward into this month, may God bless our families and loved ones, and may His light continue to shine brightly in every home. Let us draw closer to God and be renewed through the joy of the Gospel and generosity to the poor. May God keep us all safe and well during these challenging times. Wishing us all a spiritually enriching, most blessed, and grace-filled Easter Season. Amen. 🙏🏽

Save Us, Savior of the World. Our Blessed Mother Mary, and Saint Mark the Evangelist ~ Pray for us 🙏🏾

Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in you. Jesus, I trust in you! Immaculate Heart of Mary, Pray for us. Amen 🙏🏽

Blessings and Love always, Philomena 💖

DEVOTIONAL RESOURCES

A Guide to Catholic Prayer & Faith Resources: Prayers, Devotions, Teachings,and the Liturgical Year | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/catholic-prayer-faith-resources/

Catholic Mission & Witness: Foundations, Media Features, Global Outreach and Podcast Interview | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/catholic-mission-witness-foundations-media-features-and-global-outreach/

Daily Reflections with Philomena | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/