Saint Mark of León: who he was, what to ask of him and his prayer for taking charge of any situation

There are times when it feels as though life is steering us, rather than the other way round.

A court case that never seems to reach an end, paperwork that grinds to a halt, a conversation we dread having or, quite simply, a stretch of life when we lack the strength to take the reins. For moments like these, popular devotion has a very clear ally: Saint Mark of León, the saint people turn to when they want to regain control of a situation.

Here we tell you who he was, why he is called “of León”, what to ask of him, his prayer and how to work with his candle.

Saint Mark of León is, in fact, Saint Mark the Evangelist, author of one of the four Gospels, known in Latin devotion as San Marcos de León. He travelled alongside Saint Peter and Saint Paul, set down in writing the life, teachings, passion and resurrection of Jesus, and was one of the great driving forces of Christianity in its earliest days.

His legacy was so important that today he is the patron saint of cities such as Venice, where the winged lion is his emblem, and of professions such as notaries. His feast day is celebrated on 25 April.

Each evangelist is represented by a symbol, and Saint Mark’s is the lion (león in Spanish). His Gospel opens with the voice crying out in the wilderness, and that powerful voice came to be linked with the lion’s: strength, courage and a word that makes itself heard.

From this grew the popular tradition of “taming with Saint Mark”: just as the saint knew how to calm the lion, the faithful prayed to him to calm difficult situations and to stand firm in the face of them. Over the centuries, Saint Mark of León became the saint of mastery, but in the sense we give it: not overpowering anyone, but regaining control of what happens to us, speaking with confidence and making sure our truth is heard.

• ⚖️ Court cases and lawsuits: to face them calmly and let reason and justice come to light.
• 📄 Paperwork and red tape: to unblock bureaucratic matters that simply won’t move.
• 🗣️ Difficult conversations: negotiations, interviews or moments when you need your point of view to be heard.
• 🦁 Courage and inner strength: when you feel you haven’t the strength to get through something personal and need to keep moving forward.

Glorious Saint Mark of León,
you who proclaimed the good news with a steadfast voice
and tamed the lion through your faith,
today I come to you in humility and trust.

Give me your strength to face what troubles me,
serenity, that fear may not carry me away,
and clarity to speak with truth and confidence.

Calm the situations that have grown hard,
open the paths that have been closed
and let justice and reason prevail.

Let nothing and no one take the reins of my life from me,
and may all be resolved for my good and the good of those I love.
I trust in your intercession. Amen.

The Saint Mark of León candle is there for you whenever you need to take the reins. You can light it at any time you need it, although the most special days are the 25th of each month, in honour of his feast day, or during a waxing moon, the phase that lends strength to what we wish to achieve.

1. Find a quiet spot and cleanse the space before you begin.
2. On a piece of white paper, write down the situation you wish to resolve, with names and details if there are any, and place it beneath the candle, on a heat-resistant metal tray.
3. Hold the candle in your hands, breathe deeply and picture the situation resolving in your favour.
4. Say the prayer to Saint Mark of León in a firm, clear voice.
5. Light the wick and let it burn down completely, never leaving it unattended.
6. When it has finished, give thanks and dispose of what remains with respect.

Every candle comes with its prayer and full instructions.

Saint Mark of León Prepared Ritual Candle →
To take charge of situations and personal relationships.

Saint Mark of León Prayer Candle →
With his prayer printed on it, to pray every day.

If your request is about something very specific, these allies will help you strengthen Saint Mark’s energy:

Court Cases & Lawsuits Intention Candle →
For favourable rulings and judgements.

Clear Paperwork Prepared Votive →
To unblock paperwork and red tape.

Court Cases & Paperwork Ritual →
The complete ritual, ready to do.

Double-Charge My Word Goes Candle →
So your word is heard and respected.

Mastering a situation isn’t about imposing yourself; it’s about no longer feeling that life is deciding for you. Saint Mark of León reminds us that faith and a steadfast word can calm even the fiercest lion. Light your candle, trust, and let his strength be with you.

May Saint Mark of León give you strength and help you hold the reins of your life. 🦁