ST MARK, EVANGELIST, ST. FRANCA OF PIACENZA (FRANCA VISALTA), ABBESS, April 25

ST MARK, EVANGELIST
St. Mark, The second Gospel was written by St. Mark, who, in the New Testament, is sometimes called John Mark. Both he and his mother, Mary, were highly esteemed in the early Church, and his mother's house in Jerusalem served as a meeting place for Christians there. St. Mark was associated with St. Paul and St. Barnabas (who was Mark's cousin) on their missionary journey through the island of Cyprus. Later he accompanied St. Barnabas alone. We know also that he was in Rome with St. Peter and St. Paul. Tradition ascribes to him the founding of the Church in Alexandria. St. Mark wrote the second Gospel, probably in Rome sometime before the year 60 A.D.; he wrote it in Greek for the Gentile converts to Christianity. Feastday April 25

ST. FRANCA OF PIACENZA (FRANCA VISALTA), ABBESS

Born of a noble family from Piacenza, Franca entered the Benedictine convent of St Syrus, and became abbess at a young age. Her attempt to restore discipline encountered strong opposition, so she became abbess of the Cistercian abbey of Montelana, later transferred to Pittoli. She died in 1218.  April 25