De sancto Marco evangelista
The Life and Martyrdom of Saint Mark
An account of the etymology of Mark's name, his apostolic mission under Peter, his ministry in Alexandria, and his eventual martyrdom.
The name Mark is interpreted as 'sublime in mandate,' 'certain,' 'turned aside,' and 'bitter.' He is 'sublime in mandate' by reason of the perfection of his life, because he not only kept the common commandments but also the sublime ones, such as the counsels. He is 'certain' by reason of the certainty in the doctrine of his Gospel, because he handed down the doctrine of his Gospel as a certain doctrine, just as he learned it from his master, Peter. He is 'turned aside' because of his profound humility; it's said that out of extreme humility, he cut off his own thumb so he would be considered unfit for the priesthood. He is 'bitter' because of the harshness of his punishment, as he was dragged all through the city and gave up his spirit in the midst of those torments. Alternatively, Mark is said to come from 'marcus,' a large hammer that, with a single blow, subdues iron, produces melody, and firms the anvil. In this way, Mark, through the unique teaching of his Gospel, subdues the perfidy of heretics, spreads divine praise, and confirms the Church. Mark the Evangelist was a Levite by birth and a priest; he became a son of the Apostle Peter through baptism and his disciple in the divine word, traveling with the blessed Peter himself to Rome. While Peter was preaching the Gospel there, the faithful who were in Rome asked the blessed Mark to write down the Gospel for the lasting memory of the believers. Mark faithfully wrote down what he had heard from his master, the blessed Peter. Peter examined the work carefully, and once he saw that it contained the full truth, he approved it for all the faithful to receive. Seeing that Mark was steadfast in the faith, Peter sent him to Aquileia, where he preached the word of God and converted countless multitudes to the faith of Christ. It is said that he also wrote his Gospel there, which is still shown today in the church of Aquileia and kept with fitting devotion. Finally, the blessed Mark brought the citizen of Aquileia, Hermagoras—whom he had converted to the faith of Christ—to Rome to Peter, so that... ...he might consecrate him as bishop of Aquileia. Once Hermagoras had accepted the office of the episcopate and had governed the church of Aquileia very well, he was finally captured by infidels and crowned with martyrdom there; Mark, however, was sent by the blessed Peter to Alexandria, where he was the first to preach the word of God. Upon his first entry into Alexandria (as Philo, the most eloquent of the Jews, says), a great multitude was gathered in faith, devotion, and the observance of continence; Papias, the bishop of Hierapolis, also clarifies his very famous praises with a distinguished style. Peter Damian says this about him: he bestowed such grace upon him in Alexandria that all who flocked to the rudiments of the faith at that time were soon flying toward the heights of monastic perfection through his self-control and the intensity of his entire holy way of life—a goal toward which he urged them not only through the wonders of miracles and the eloquence of his preaching, but also through his own outstanding example. And further on: it happened that after his death he returned to Italy, so that the land where he was given the grace to write the Gospel might deserve to possess his sacred relics. Blessed are you, Alexandria, stained purple by this triumphant blood; and happy are you, Italy, enriched by the treasure of this body. It is said, however, that he was so humble that he cut off his own thumb to prevent being ordained to the priesthood by human judgment; yet the plan and authority of Saint Peter prevailed, and he appointed him bishop of Alexandria. But as soon as he entered Alexandria, his sandal suddenly broke and came loose; realizing this in the spirit, he said, "The Lord has truly cleared my path, and Satan, whom the Lord has already absolved me from dead works, will not be able to hinder me." Seeing a man mending old shoes, Mark handed him his sandal to be repaired; while the man was working, he severely wounded his left hand and cried out, "One God!" Hearing this, the man of God said, "The Lord has truly made my path prosperous," and making clay from his spittle, he anointed the man's hand, and he was immediately healed. Seeing such power in him, the man brought him into his house and began to ask who he was and where he came from. But he confessed that he was a servant of the Lord Jesus. Cai said to him, "I would like to see him." And Mark replied, "I will." "I will show him to you." Starting there, Mark preached Christ to him and baptized him along with his entire household. When the men of that city heard that a Galilean had arrived who despised the sacrifices of the gods, they set a trap for him. Realizing this, he ordained the man he had healed, named Anianus, as bishop, and set out for Pentapolis. After staying there for two years, he returned to Alexandria, where he had built a church on the rocks by the sea in a place called Bucculi, and found that the faithful there had multiplied. The temple priests, however, tried to seize him. But when blessed Mark was celebrating Mass on Easter, they all gathered, put a rope around his neck, and dragged him through the city, saying, "Let's drag the buffalo to the place of the Bucculi." His flesh was torn away onto the ground, and the stones were drenched with his blood. Afterward, he was locked in prison and comforted by an angel, but the Lord Jesus Christ himself also visited and comforted him, saying, "Peace be with you, Mark, my evangelist; don't be afraid, for I am with you to rescue you." In the morning, they put a rope around his neck again and dragged him roughly back and forth, shouting, "Drag the buffalo to the place of the Bucculi!" As he was being dragged, he gave thanks, saying, "Into your hands I commend my spirit." With those words, he breathed his last under Nero, who began his reign around the year of our Lord 57. When the pagans wanted to burn him, the air suddenly turned stormy, hail arose, thunder rumbled, and lightning flashed, so that everyone tried to escape, leaving his holy body untouched; the Christians then seized his body and buried it in the church with all reverence. The blessed Mark’s appearance was this: a long nose, arched eyebrows, beautiful eyes, balding, a long beard, of excellent build, middle-aged, sprinkled with gray, continent in his affections, and full of the grace of God. The blessed Ambrose says this about him: when the blessed Mark was shining with countless miracles, it happened that a cobbler, to whom he had handed a shoe to be mended, pierced his own left hand while working on it. When he cried out, "There is only one God," because of the wound he had inflicted, the servant of God heard him and came joyfully; he took some spittle, applied it to the man's hand, healed it instantly, and gave it back to his work. He likewise imitates the miracle of the man born blind, which was performed by the Lord, whose Gospel he was preaching. This is from Ambrose.
The Translation of Relics and Miraculous Intercession
The narrative of how Saint Mark's body was brought to Venice and the subsequent miracles performed through his intercession.
In the year of our Lord 468, during the time of the Emperor Leo, the Venetians brought the body of Saint Mark from Alexandria to Venice, where a church was built in his honor with marvelous beauty. Some Venetian merchants traveling in Alexandria persuaded the two priests guarding Saint Mark's body, through prayers and promises, to let them take the body secretly and transport it to Venice. But as the body was lifted from the tomb, such a fragrance filled all of Alexandria that everyone wondered where such a sweet scent was coming from. When they were sailing and had revealed to other ships how they were carrying the body of Saint Mark, one of them said, "Perhaps you are carrying the body of some Egyptian and think you are carrying the body of Saint Mark." Immediately, the ship carrying Saint Mark’s body turned on its own with marvelous speed and struck the ship where that man was sitting, breaking part of its side; it wouldn't let go until everyone on board cried out that they believed it was indeed the body of Saint Mark. One night, as the ships were moving at high speed and the sailors, battered by a storm and wrapped in darkness, didn't know where they were, Saint Mark appeared to a monk guarding his body and said, "Tell them all to lower the sails quickly, because they aren't far from land." Once the sails were lowered, they found themselves near an island when morning came. But as they passed along various shores and hid the holy treasure from everyone, the inhabitants who came out would call out, "Oh, how blessed you are, you who carry the body of Saint Mark." Let us worship him with humble prayer. A sailor, who remained completely skeptical, was seized by a demon and tormented until he was brought to the body and confessed his belief. Once he was set free, he gave glory to God and from then on held blessed Mark in great devotion. At one time, when the body of Saint Mark had been hidden inside a marble column with only a few people aware of it to keep it more secure, it happened that after those witnesses passed away, no one could know where the holy treasure was, nor could they find it by any signs. Because of this, there was wailing in the churches, a huge sense of loss among the laity, and grief hung over everyone. The devout people were afraid that their patron, so illustrious, had been stolen away secretly; therefore, a solemn fast was proclaimed, a more formal procession was organized, and behold, while everyone was watching and stunned, stones leaped out from the column and clearly revealed to all the chest where his body was hidden. Soon they offered devout praises to the Creator, who had deigned to reveal his patron to them, and thus the day was brightened by the glory of such a great miracle. As the years passed, it remained a feast day for those who followed. A young man, tormented by a cancer in his breast with worms eating away at him, began to implore the help of blessed Mark with a devout mind. Behold, as he slept, there appeared to him a man wearing a pilgrim's habit, who seemed to be traveling somewhere with a quick step. When he was asked who he was and where he was hurrying so fast, he claimed to be Mark, moving with such speed to help a ship that was calling on him in its peril; then, reaching out his hand, he touched the sick man, who woke up in the morning and felt completely healed. A short time later, that ship entered the port of Venice, telling of both its own peril and Mark's help. For the benefit of both, therefore, thanks are given to God, and God is praised as wonderful in his saint, Mark. While some Venetian merchants were traveling to Alexandria on a Saracen ship and clearly saw the danger looming, they immediately boarded a small boat and cut the rope; at once, that ship perished in the flood of the waves, and the voracious water swallowed up all the Saracens. But one of them, calling upon blessed Mark, bound himself by a vow as best he could, that if Mark would bring him help, he would receive the baptism of his own people and visit his shrine. Soon a radiant man appeared to him, rescued him from the waves, and placed him in a small boat with the others. Yet when he arrived in Alexandria, he remained ungrateful to his deliverer, neither hurrying to the shrine of Saint Mark nor receiving the sacraments of our faith. Mark appeared to him again and rebuked him for his ingratitude. Coming to his senses, therefore, he came to Venice, and there, reborn in the sacred font of baptism and named Mark, he believed perfectly in Christ and finished his life in good works. While a man was working at the top of the bell tower of Saint Mark in Venice, he suddenly fell. Although he was mangled limb by limb, he didn't forget Saint Mark during the fall; he begged for his protection, and as he plummeted, he unexpectedly caught onto a protruding beam, escaped unharmed, and devoutly returned to finish his work. i. A certain servant of a noble provincial, bound by a vow, wanted to visit the body of Saint Mark but couldn't get permission from his master; eventually, he put the fear of his earthly master behind the fear of God and set out devoutly to visit the saint without saying goodbye to his master. When the master found out, he was angry that the man had returned and ordered him to be blinded. The master's cruel henchmen were only too happy to obey, and they threw God's servant, who was calling on Saint Mark, to the ground and set sharp stakes to gouge out his eyes. But they made no progress with their attempt, because the stakes suddenly shattered and went limp. The master then ordered that his legs be broken with axes and his feet cut off, but the indomitable iron of the axes immediately softened into lead. He ordered that his bones and teeth be crushed with iron hammers, but the iron forgot its own strength and was softened by the power of God. Seeing this and struck with awe, the master asked for forgiveness and, with his servant, visited the tomb of Saint Mark with diligent devotion. A certain soldier had been so wounded in the arm in battle that his hand hung from it, to the point that his doctors and friends advised him to have it cut off; but he, ashamed to become a cripple when he had been known as such a capable man, had his hand bound up with cloths or bandages to hold it in place. He then prayed for Saint Mark's help, and his hand was immediately restored to its former health, though a scar remained as both a testimony to such a great miracle and a monument to such a favor. A man in Mantua was falsely accused by wicked people and thrown into prison. After spending forty days there and suffering from extreme exhaustion, he finally spent three days fasting and mortifying himself, calling upon the patronage of blessed Mark, who appeared to him and ordered him to leave the prison without fear. But he, drowsy from his weariness, neglected to obey the saint's commands, thinking he was being deluded by illusions. Then, a second and even a third time, the saint appeared to him and commanded the same thing in the same way. Coming to his senses and seeing the door open, he left the prison without fear and soon broke his shackles as if they were made of tow. He walked out at midday right past the guards and everyone else, in such a way that while he saw them all, no one saw him. Arriving at the tomb of blessed Mark, he devoutly fulfilled his debt of thanks. When a great drought struck all of Apulia and no rain came to water that land of blessing, it was revealed that they were being struck by this plague because the feast of Saint Mark was not being observed there. So, as they called upon Saint Mark and promised to celebrate his feast day with devotion, Mark drove the drought away from them and, what's more, provided an abundance, giving them healthy air and the rain they needed.
A Final Visitation at the Hour of Death
A vision of Saint Mark appearing to a dying brother in Pavia to escort his soul to the Lord.
Around the year of our Lord 1212, in the Dominican priory at Pavia, there was a brother of holy and religious life named Julian, a native of Faenza; he was young in body but old in mind. As he was struggling through his final illness, he asked the prior of the house about his condition, and when the prior told him that death was near, he was immediately filled with joy. Clapping his hands and his whole body, he began to cry out, "Make room, brothers, for my soul is about to leap from my body because of an overwhelming abundance of joy, since I have already heard pleasant news." Then, lifting his hands to heaven, he began to say, "Bring my soul out of prison," and so on. "Wretched man that I am, who will deliver me from this body of death?" In the midst of this, he fell into a light sleep and saw blessed Mark come to him and take his place beside him, and behold, a voice said to him, "What are you doing here, O Mark?" And he replied, "I have come to this dying man, because his service is acceptable to God." And again the voice said to him, "Why, among all the other saints, have you come to him in particular?" And he replied, "Because he had a special devotion to me and visited with diligent devotion the place where my body rests." And for that reason, I have come to visit him at the hour of his passing. And behold, certain figures in white filled the whole house. Marcus asked them, "Why have you come here?" They replied, "To present this man's soul in the sight of the Lord." When the aforementioned brother woke up, he sent for the prior of the house—from whom I heard these things—and after recounting everything he had seen to him, he passed away happily in the Lord with great joy.
Read the original Latin
Marcus interpretatur sublimis mandato, certus, declinatus et amarus, Sublimis mandato ratione perfectionis in vita, quia non solum servavit mandata communia, sed etiam sublimia, sicut sunt consilia, Certus ratione certitudinis in doctrina evangelii sui, quia doctrinam evangelii sui certam tradidit doctrinam, utpote quam a Petro magistro suo didicit. Declinatus ratione profundae humilitatis, nam propter nimiam humilitatem pollicem sibi amputasse dicitur, ut sacerdotio reprobus haberetur. Amarus ratione poenae acerbitatis, quia ubique per civitatem tractus fuit et inter haec tormenta spiritum tradidit. Vel Marcus dicitur a marco, quod est malleus major, qui quidem eodem ictu ferrum domat, melodiam generat, incudem firmat. Sic Marcus unica doctrina sui evangelii domat haereticorum perfidiam, dilatat laudem divinam, confirmat ecclesiam.
Marcus evangelista leviticus genere et sacerdos, Petri apostoli in baptismate filius atque in divino sermone discipulus cum ipso beato Petro Romam profectus est. Cum autem Petrus ibidem evangelium praedicaret, rogaverunt fideles, qui erant Romae, beatum Marcum, ut evangelium ad perpetuam fidelium memoriam deberet conscribere. Quod ille quidem, ut ex ore magistri sui beati Petri audierat, fideli stilo conscripsit, Petrus autem illud diligenter examinans ubi omnem veritatem plene conspexit, recipiendum ab omnibus fidelibus comprobavit. Videns autem Petrus Marcum constantem in fide, ipsum Aquilegiam destinavit, ubi verbum Dei praedicans innumeras gentium multitudines ad fidem Christi convertit ac evangelium suum similiter ibi conscripsisse dicitur, quod quidem usque hodie in Aquilegiensi ecclesia ostenditur et devotione congrua reservatur. Tandem beatus Marcus Aquilegiensem civem, scilicet Ermagoram, quem ad fidem Christi convertit, Romam ad Petrum adduxit, ut. eum Aquilegiae in episcopum consecraret. Suscepto itaque Ermagoras pontificatus officio cum Aquilegiensem ecclesiam optime gubernasset, tandem ab infidelibus capitur et ibidein martirio coronatur, Marcus vero a beato Petro Alexandriam missus est et ibi primus verbum Dei praedicavit. In primo autem introitu suo Alexandriam (ut ait Philo, disertissimus Judaeorum) maxima multitudo in fide et devotione et continentiae observatione adunata est, Papyas quoque Hieropolitanus episcopus valde praeclara ejus praeconia praecipuo dilucidat stilo.
Petrus vero Damiani sic ait de eo: tantam eidem apud Alexandriam gratiam praerogavit, ut omnes, qui tunc ad fidei rudimenta confluerent, mox per continentiam ac totius sanctae conversationis instantiam tanquam ad monasticae perfectionis fastigium pervolarent, ad quod mox modo miraculorum prodigiis, non modo praedicationis eloquiis, sed etiam eximiis provocabat exemplis. Et infra: factum est autem, ut post mortem ad Italiam deinde sit reversus , ut terra, in' qua datum est sibi evangelium scribere, sacras mereretur ejus reliquias possidere. Beata es, o Alexandria, triumphali hoc sanguine purpurata, felix et tu Italia corporis hujus thesauro dives effecta. Tantae autem humilitatis dicitar fuisse , ut pollicem sibi amputaverit, ne ad ordinem sacerdotii posset humano judicio promoveri, verumtamen dispositio Petri et auctoritas sancti Petri praevaluit, qui ipsum Alexandriae episcopum destinavit. Mox autem ut Alexandriam est ingressus, subito calceamentum ejus ruptum est atque solutum, quod in spiritu intelligens ait: vere expeditum fecit dominus iter meum nec me Sathanas impedire poterit, quem ab operibus mortuis dominus jam absolvit. Videns autem Marcus quendam vetera consuentem, eidem calceamentum tradidit corrigendum; quod cum faceret, sinistram manum graviter vulneravit ac fortiter exclamare coepit: unus Deus. Quo audito vir Dei ait: vere prosperum fecit dominus iter meum, factoque luto ex sputo manum ejus unxit et continuo sanitatem recepit. Videns homo ille tantam ejus efficaciam in domum suam illum introduxit, et quis esset et unde, percunctari coepit.
At ille se domini Jesu servum confessus est. Cai ille ait: vellem ego videre eum. Et Marcus: ego . tibi eum demonstrabo ; incipiensque Marcus Christum ei evangelizavit et ipsum cum tota domo sua baptizavit. Audientes autem viri civitatis illius quendam Galilaeum, qui deorum sacrificia contemneret, advenisse, ei insidias posuerunt; quod ille cognoscens hominem illum, quem curaverat, qui dicebatur Anianus, ibidem episcopum ordinavit et ipse Pentapolim perrexit et cum ibidem duobus annis stetisset, iterum Alexandriam rediit, qui et juxta mare in rupibus ecclesiam construxerat in loco, qui dicitur Bucculi, et fideles ibidem multiplicatos invenit. Pontifices autem templorum eum comprehendere conabantur; cum autem in solemnitate paschali beatus Marcus missam celebraret, convenerunt illuc omnes et fune in collo ejus misso ipsum per civitatem trahebant dicentes: trahamus bubalum ad loca bucculi. Carnes autem ejus in terram fluebant et sanguine lapides rigabantar. Posthac in carcere recluditur et ibidem ab angelo confortatur, sed et ipse dominus Jesus Christus eum visitavit eumque confortavit dicens: pax tibi, Marce evangelista meus, noli timere, quia ego tecum sum, ut eruam te.
Mane ergo facto funem iterum collo ejus immittant et huc illucque raptim eum pertrahunt exclamantes: trahite bubalum ad loca bucculi. Ipse autem dum traheretur, gratias agebat dicens: in manus tuas commendo spiritum meum, et hoc dicens spiritum exhalavit sub Nerone, qui coepit circa annum domini LVII. Cum autem pagani eum vellent comburere, subito aér turbatur, grando exoritur, tonitrua intonant, fulguraque coruscant, ita ut quilibet evadere niteretur, et sanctum corpus intactum reliquerunt, Christiani vero corpus ejus rapuerunt et in ecclesia cum omni reverentia sepelierunt. Fuit autem forma beati Marci hujus longo naso, subducto supercilio, pulchris oculis, recalvaster, prolixa barba, habitudinis optimae, aetatis mediae, canis adspersus, affectione continens, gratia Dei plenus. Beatus autem Ambrosius de eo sic ait: cum beatus Marcus innumeris coruscaret miraculis, contigit, ut sutor, cui calceamentum tradiderat corrigendum, sinistram sibi in ejus labore pertinderet manum. Hic cum inflicto vulnere: unus Deus, clamavit, Dei famulus audiens laetus adfuit, litum ex sputo factum accepit ejusque manum inunxit sanamque illico reddidit et labori contra dedit. Illius, cujus nempe praedicabat evangelium , similiter imitatur miraculum caeci videlicet a nativitate illuminati a domino factum. Haec Ambrosius,
Anno ab incarnatione domini CCCCLXVIII tempore Leonis imperatoris Veneti corpus sancti Marct de Alexandria Venetias transtulerunt, ubi ecclesia in honore sancti Marci mira pulchritudine fabricata est. Quidam namque mercatores Veneti, qui Alexandriam perrexerant, duos presbiteros custodes corporis sancti Marci precibus et promissionibus induxerunt, ut occulte corpus illad tolli permitterent et Venetias transportarent. Verum cum corpus de tumulo levaretur, tantus odor totam Alexandriam sic perfudit, ut omnes, unde tanta prodiret odoris suavitas, mirarentur. Cum autem navigàárent et qualiter corpus sancti Marci deferrent, aliis navibus revelassent, unus illorum ait: forsan alicujus Aegyptii corpus vobis datum defertis et sancti Marci corpus vos deferre putatis. Continuo igitur navis, in quà: erat corpus sancti Marci, per se ipsam mira celeritate se vertit et in navem, in qua ille residebat, insurgens lateris partem fregit, non prius illam dimittens, donec omnes se ibidem corpus esse beati Marci credere aeclamarent. Cum quadam nocte naves cursu velocissimo ducerent et nautae tempestate conquassati et tenebris obvoluti, quo pergerent, ignorarent, sanctus Marcus cuidam monacho custodi corporis sui apparuit dicens: dic omnibus istis, ut velociter vela deponapt, quia non longe a terra distant. Quibus depositis mane facto se juxta quandam insulam invenerunt. Verum cum per littora diversa transirent et sanctum thesaurum oinnibus occultarent, venientes incolae conclamabant: o quam beati estis, qui sancti Marci corpus portatis.
Sinite, ut ipsum suppliciter adoremus. Quidam nauta adhuc omnino incredulus a daemone arripitur et tamdiu vexatur, donec ad corpus adductus se credere confitetur. Qui liberatas gloriam Deo dedit et beatum Marcum in devotione magna deinceps habuit Quodam tempore cum corpus sancti Marci infra quandam columnam de lapidibus marmoreis factam paucis consciis esset repositum, ut ibi cautius servaretur, contigit, ut testibus illis ex hac luce sublatis, nemo, ubinam sanctus esset thesaurus, posset agnoscere nec aliquibus indiciis invenire. Fit ex hoc planctus in eeclesiis, desolatio ingens in laicis, moeror imminet universis. Formidabat siquidem plebs devota, ne patronus tam inclitus furtive fuisset sublatus, ideoque jejunium sollemne indicitur, processio sollemnior ordinatur et ecce cunctis videntibus ac stupen- tibus lapides a columna prosiliunt et archam , uhi corpus ejus latebat, ommibus evidenter ostendunt. Mox devotas laudes agunt creatori, qui suum iis dignatus est revelare patronum sicque dies illustrata tanti prodigii gloria !) annis decurrentibus posteris fuit festiva. Juvenis quidam cancri morbo in mamilla vermibus corrodentibus cruciatus coepit beati Marci suffragia mente implorare devota et ecce ibi dormienti quidam peregrino habitu insignitus apparuit, qui gradu concito aliquo pergere videbatur.
Qui ab eo interrogatus, quis esset et quo am velociter festinaret, Marcum se esse asseruit, qui tam velociter pergeret et cuidam navi se invocanti periculo subveniret, extensaque manu infirmum tetigit, qui mane evigilans penitus se sanatum sensit. Post modicum navis illa portum Venetiarum intravit narrans et suum periculum et Marci adjutorium. Pro utriusque igitur beneficio Deo gratiarum actio exsolvitur et in sancto suo Marco Deus mirabilis praedicatur.
Dum quidam mercatores Veneti supra quandam navem Saracenorum Alexandriam pergerent et imminens periculum evidenter viderent, mox super scapham adscendunt et funem praecidunt statimque navis illa fluctuum inundatione periit et universos Saracenos unda vorax involvit. Unus autem ex iis beatum Marcum invocans voto, quo potuit, se adstrinxit, quod, si suum sibi conferret auxilium, et suorum baptisma susciperet et ipsius limina visitaret. Mox sibi vir splendidus quidam apparuit, qui ereptum de fluctibus in sedpha cum caeteris collocavit. Ille autem Alexandriam veniens, sed liberatori suo ingratus existens nec sancti Marci festinat ad limina nec nostrae fidei suscipit sacramenta. Cui denuo Marcus apparuit et ipsum de sua ingratitudine increpavit. Rediens igitur ad se Venetias venit et ibidem sacro baptismatis fonte renatus et Marcus appellatus et in Christum perfecte credidit et in bonis operibus vitam finivit.
Vir quidam dum in summitate campanilis sancti Marci de Venetiis quiddam operis exerceret, subito cadit inprovide membratim toto corpore laniatus, in ipso tamen casu suo sancti Marci non immemor ejus patrocftium imploravit, qui cadens ex insperato cuidam ligno prominenti substitit et dato fune illaesus evasit et ad opus pristinum eonsummandum devotus assurgit. i. Quidam cujusdam nobilis provincialis temporaliter servus dum voto adStrictus corpas sancti Marci visitare vellet, sed a domino suo licentiam obtinere non posset, tandem timorem carnalis domini timori caelestis postposuit et insalutato domino ad sanctum visitandum devotus accessit. Quod dominus. aegre ferens ipsum reversum exocellari mandavit. Favent quantocius erudeli domino crudeliores satellites, et Dei famulum sanctum Marcum invocantem ad terram projiciunt et acutos palos oculis effodiendis apponunt. Sed nihil palorum proficiebant conamine, quia in se tabescebant subita fractione. Jubet igitur, ut securibus crura frangantur et pedes praecidantur, sed indomabile ferrum securium protinus mollescit in plumbum.
Jubet malleis ferreis os et dentes contundi, sed ferrum suae virtutis obliviscitur et Dei potentia hebetatur. Quod dominus videns et stupens veniam petiit et eum servo sepulchrum sancti Marci devotione sedula visitavit.
Miles quidam in proelio sic vulneratus in brachio, ut manus a brachio dependeret, adeo ut ipsam praecidendam medici et amici consulerent, ille vero erubescens fieri mancus, qui consuevit haberi tam probus, manum in locum suum restitutam pannis sive medicamentis ligari fecit. Invocavit igitur beati Marci suffragia et manus continuo fuit sanitati pristinae restituta, sola tamen cicatrix remansit et in tanti miraculi testimonium et in talis beneficii monumentum.
Vir quidam in civitate Mantuae falso ab immundis accusatus in carcerem est reclusus, qui cum XL dies peregisset ibidem et nimio afficeretur taedio, tandem triduum jejunio se macerans beati Marci patrocinium invocavit, qui sibi apparens jubet, ut de carcere securus abscedat. llle vero, dormitans prae taedio, neglexit parere jussionibus sancti existimans illusionibus se deludi. Deinde secundo et etiam tertio sibi apparuit et eadem similiter imperavit. Qui ad se rediens et ostium apertum conspiciens de carcere securus exiit et instar stuppae compedes mox confregit. Ihat igitur die media per medium custodum caeterorumque omnium, ita ut ipse cunctos videns a nemine videretur. Qui veniens ad sancti Marci tumulum exsolvit devote debitum gratiarum.
Cum totam Apuliam sterilitas magna invaderet nec terram illam benedfBtionis pluvia irrigaret, revelatum est, quod tali plaga percutitur eo, quod ibi sancti Marci festivitas non colatur. Dum igitur sanctum Marcum invocarent et festum ejus festive se celebraturos promitterent, sterilitatem ab iis Marcus depulit et insuper abundantiam ministravit, dans iis salubrem aérem et pluviam congruentem.
Circa annum domini MCCXII apud Papiam in conventu ordinis fratrum praedicatorum fuit quidam frater religiosae ac sanctae vitae nomine Julianus, natione Faventinus, juvenis corpore, sed canus mente, qui infirmitate ultima elaborans cum priorem domus super statu suo requisivisset et ille mortem vicinam sibi imminere diceret, statim facie exhilaratus et manibus ac toto corpore applaudens clamare coepit: date locum, fratres, quia per nimiam laetitiae abundantiam anima jam prosiliet ex corpore, ex eo quia jam jucundos rumores audivi, et elevatis in coelum manibus dicere coepit: educ de carcere animam meam etc. Infelix ego homo, quis me liberabit de corpore mortis hoc? Inter haec ille levi somno obdormiens vidit beatum Marcum ad se venisse et se Juxta ejus locum collocasse, et ecce vox ad eum dicens: quid ibi agis, o Marce? Et ille: ad morientem accessi istum, quia Deo ejus ministerium est acceptum. Et iterum vox ad eum: quare inter caeteros sanctos ad eum maxime tu venisti? Et ille: quia in me specialem devotionem habuit et locum, ubi corpus meum quiescit, devotione sedula visitavit. Et ideo veni eum in hora sui exitus visitare. Et ecce quidam albati totam domum compleverunt.
Quibus ait Marcus: quare huc venistis? Et illi; ut istius animam in conspectu domini praesentemus. Evigilans autem praedictus frater pro priore domus, a quo ego ista audivi, continuo misit, et omnia que viderat, sibi recitans, cum multo gaudio in domino feliciter obdormivit,
The Golden Legend (Legenda Aurea) companion
Continue through all 240 chapters, one saint a day
Chosen Portion serves the Golden Legend as a daily portion on iOS, free, alongside the full Sub Rosa archive
The Legenda Aurea was organized for day-by-day use across the liturgical year, and Chosen Portion restores that original one-feast-per-day reading rhythm
- A complete saint's life or feast reading most days in 5-10 minutes
- 240 chapters - enough daily readings to cover a full liturgical year and beyond
- Daily reminders so the plan survives busy weeks