Saint Mark was not a perfect man — he hesitated, he left a mission, he struggled. But he came back. And when he did, he gave the world the Gospel of Jesus Christ. If you have ever felt like you failed God, Saint Mark is your saint. This prayer to Saint Mark the Evangelist is for all who seek the courage to return to their calling.
Who Is Saint Mark the Evangelist?
Saint Mark, also known as John Mark, was a young disciple who witnessed the early Church firsthand. His mother’s home in Jerusalem was a gathering place for the first Christians. He traveled with Saint Paul and Saint Barnabas, but left the mission early — a decision that caused tension between the apostles. He later reconciled with Paul, became a close companion of Saint Peter, and recorded Peter’s preaching about Jesus. This became the Gospel of Mark — the shortest and most direct of the four Gospels. According to the constant tradition of both the Eastern and Western Church, Saint Mark the Evangelist founded the Church of Alexandria, and he is believed to have died as a martyr around 68 AD. He is the patron of notaries, writers, and the city of Venice.
When Should You Pray This Prayer?
- On April 25, his feast day
- When you feel you have failed God or abandoned your calling
- When you need courage to share your faith
- When studying Scripture or seeking deeper understanding of the Gospels
- When asking for intercession for writers, those who proclaim the truth, or those who share the Gospel
Prayer to Saint Mark the Evangelist
O God,
who raised up Saint Mark, your Evangelist,
and endowed him with the grace to preach the Gospel,
grant, we pray,
that we may so profit from his teaching
as to follow faithfully in the footsteps of Christ.
Who lives and reigns with you
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever.
Amen.
(Collect of the Feast of Saint Mark — Roman Rite)
You may also find comfort in this prayer for courage to begin again
How to Use This Prayer
Pray this on April 25 to honor Saint Mark on his feast day. You can also pray it before reading the Gospel of Mark — it can be read in less than two hours — or before any moment when you need the courage to speak the truth. Saint Mark reminds us that a second chance is always possible.
A Prayer for Courage and a Second Chance
Saint Mark,
you know what it means to fail and begin again.
You left the mission,
but you returned —
and God entrusted you with proclaiming His Word for all of history.
Intercede for me today.
Give me the courage
to return to what God is asking of me,
to speak the truth without fear,
and to follow Christ faithfully until the end.
Saint Mark the Evangelist, pray for us.
Amen.
Related Prayers
- Prayer to Saint Joseph the Worker — for strength, perseverance, and dignity in daily work
- Novena to Saint Anthony of Padua — for lost things and urgent needs
- How to Pray the Rosary — a step-by-step guide to deepen your prayer life
Share this prayer with someone who needs courage to begin again.
