The Catholic Defender: The Story of the Holy Grail

https://deepertruthdon.podbean.com/e/deepertruth-the-story-of-the-holy-grail/

On Passover (Thursday night) 2 April, 33 A.D., at one point during the Last Supper, Matthew 26:28 states, "And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, "Drink of it, all of you; for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins."

The Psalmist wrote, "I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the LORD..., (Psalms 116:13)"

Why is the the cup at Mass the "cup of Salvation"?

Because of the consecration from wine to the Blood of Christ.

Consider what St. Paul writes, "The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ? (1 Corinthians 10:16)?

The answer to both questions is yes.

At Mass we receive the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ through the consecration.

In the garden, at one point Jesus sweated a bloody sweat (Hematidrosis) because of how grieved He was knowing the coming Passion (Luke 22:24).

This is the clear foundation of New Testament writings.

From the cross we read, "But one of the soldiers (St. Longinus) pierced his side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water (John 19:34)."

St. Longinus previously having been wounded in a past battle, he was blind in one eye.

He was healed when he pierced the side of Jesus with his spear and some of the blood and water from Jesus fell into his eyes.

his healing, St. Longinus gives his profession of faith, “Truly this was the Son of God!”

Recognizing the power of the Blood of Christ, gathered a portion of blood-soaked earth at the foot of the cross.

This is the most famous and widely recognized claimant. It is an agate cup housed in the Valencia Cathedral in Spain. A study in the 1960s confirmed the cup itself dates to the 1st century B.C. or A.D. and resembles a Jewish blessing cup (kiddush cup) of that era. Popes John Paul II and Benedict XVI have both used this chalice when celebrating Mass in Valencia, though the Vatican has never officially pronounced on its authenticity.

Located in the Basilica of San Isidoro in León, Spain, this jewel-encrusted goblet was claimed by two historians in 2014 to be the true Grail, based on their research into medieval Islamic texts.

This is a green glass dish kept in the Genoa Cathedral, once believed to be made of emerald. It was taken to Paris by Napoleon and damaged during its return, at which point it was confirmed to be glass from the 9th or 10th century, not a 1st-century artifact.

Tradition tells us that the Holy Grail was taken to Rome initially with St. Peter.

According to tradition, the Cenacle (Acts 1:13) , the room where the Last Supper took place , and the Holy Cup were the property of the family of St. Mark the Evangelist.

Mark served as interpreter for St. Peter in Rome and because of his unique relationship with Peter, Mark gave him the Holy Grail.

Acts 12:25 and Acts 15:37 addresses St. Mark traveling with St. Paul and Barnabas.

St. Mark was possibly a family member, a cousin of Barnabas (Col 4:10, Phlm 1:24) and together with St. Paul traveled on many missionary journeys promoting the young Catholic Faith. 2 Timothy 4:11 and Colossians 4:10 St. Paul writes how valuable St. Mark was to him during his imprisonments.

Much like Onesiphorus was great help while St. Paul was in Rome (2 Timothy 1:16-19). Mark's Gospel was the first to be written which was a great source for Matthew and Luke.

Probably because of St. Mark's original upbringing, he would be the founder of the Church in Egypt and Alexandria about 50 A.D.

Just after the Council of Jerusalem (49 A.D.)  St. Peter would be setting up the Church in Babylon (modern day Iraq) before going to Rome. St. Peter installed St. Mark as the first Bishop of Alexandria.

It was sometime between 68 - 74 A.D. when St. Mark would receive Martyrdom by the Pagans of Serapis who followed the false gods of Serepion Abbis Greek Egyptian who tied a rope to his neck attaching him to a horse's tail which dragged him through Alexandria's district Bokalia for nearly two whole days until he was torn to pieces.

 Mark's symbol as a Gospel Writer is a lion with wings.  Mark 1:3 begins the story of St. John the Baptist "a voice crying in the wilderness, like the roaring lion."  Jesus is the "Lion of Judah" the focus of St. Mark's preaching.

St. Eusebius writes that Mark was succeeded by Annianus as the second bishop of Alexandria.

The Universal Catholic Church recognizes St. Mark's feast day on April 25.

Saint Mark the Evangelist is the patron saint of notaries and lawyers. Mark was the disciple of Saint Peter the Apostle and went on a Christian mission with Saint Paul and his cousin Saint Barnabas. He is the author of Mark’s Gospel, which is one of the four gospels in the New Testament.

O Glorious St. Mark through the grace of God, our Father, you became a great Evangelist, preaching the Good News of Christ. May you help us to know Him well so that we may faithfully live our lives as followers of Christ. Amen.