Saint of the Day – 7 October – Saint Mark (Died 336) The 34th Pope and Confessor. Born in Rome on an unknown date and died there in 336. He was Pope for less than a year having ascended the Throne on 18 January 336.
Patronage – of Abbadia San Salvatore, Italy. Also known as – Marcus.
The Roman Martyrology reads today: “At Rome, on the Ardeatine way, the demise of St Mark, Pope and Confessor.”
Little is known of Mark’s early life. According to the Liber Pontificalis, he was a Roman and his father’s name was Priscus. Mark succeeded Sylvester I as Pope on 18 January 336.
Some evidence suggests that the early lists of Bishops and Martyrs known as the Depositio Episcoporum and Depositio Martyrum, were begun during his Pontificate.
According to the Liber Pontificalis, Pope Mark issued a Decree, investing the Bishop of Ostia with a Pallium and confirmed his appointment to Consecrate newly elected Popes.
Also from the same source, Pope Mark is credited with the foundation of the Basilica of San Marco, a Basilica in Rome, and a cemetery Church over the Catacomb of St Balbina, just outside the City on lands obtained as a donation from Emperor Constantine.
Mark died on 7 October and was buried in the Catacomb of St Balbina. In 1048 his remains were removed to the Town of Velletri and from 1145 were translated to the Basilica of San Marco in Rome, where they are kept in an urn under the Altar. He is particularly venerated at the the Town of which he is the Patron, Abbadia San Salvatore at Monte Amiata.
AnaStpaul 