St. Andrew

Feast Day November 30th

Patron Saint of fishermen, singers, Scotland, Romania, Russia, Ukraine

St. Andrew was a native of Bethsaida, a town in Galilee, upon the banks of the lake of Genesareth. He was the son of Jonas, or John, a fisherman of that town, and brother to Simon Peter. It is no small proof of the piety and good inclinations of St. Andrew, that when St. John Baptist began to preach penance in the desert, he was not content with going to hear him as others did, but became his disciple, passed much of his time in hearing his instructions, and studied punctually to practice all his lessons and copy his example. He was with his master when St. John Baptist, seeing Jesus pass by the day after he had been baptized by him, said, “Behold the Lamb of God.” Andrew, with another disciple of the Baptist, went after Jesus, and said they desired to know where he dwelt; and he bade them come and see. St. Andrew, by conversing with Christ, extinguished in his breast all earthly passions and desires, and attained to the happiness of his pure divine love.

Andrew, who loved affectionately his brother Simon, called afterwards Peter, could not rest till he had imparted to him the infinite treasure which he had discovered, and brought him to Christ that he might also know him. Simon was no sooner come to Jesus than the Saviour of the world admitted him as a disciple and gave him the name of Peter. From this time they became Jesus’ disciples, not constantly attending upon him, as they afterwards did, but hearing him frequently, as their business would permit, and returning to their trade and family affairs again.

Our Saviour being come back into Lower Galilee in autumn, and meeting one day Peter and Andrew fishing in the lake, before the end of the same year, he called them to a constant attendance upon the ministry of the gospel, saying that he would make them fishers of men. The brothers immediately left their nets to follow him, and never went from him again.

After Christ’s resurrection and the descent of the Holy Ghost, St. Andrew preached the gospel in Scythia. St. Paulinus says this divine fisherman, preaching at Argos, put all the philosophers there to silence. St. Philastrius tells us, that he came out of Pontus into Greece. It is agreed that he laid down his life in Achaia for Christ. St. Sophronius, St. Gaudentius, and St. Austin assure us that he was crucified; When the apostle saw his cross at a distance, he is said to have cried out, “Hail, precious cross, that hast been consecrated by the body of my Lord, and adorned with his limbs as with rich jewels. I come to thee exulting and glad: receive me with joy into thy arms…receive me into thy arms, taking me from among men, and present me to my master; that he who redeemed me on thee, may receive me by thee.” It is the common opinion that the cross of St. Andrew was in the form of the letter X, styled a cross decussate, composed of two pieces of timber crossing each other obliquely in the middle. That such crosses were sometimes used is certain; yet no clear proofs are produced as to the form of St. Andrew’s cross.

The body of St. Andrew was translated from Patrae to Constantinople in 357, together with those of St. Luke and St. Timothy, and deposited in the Church of the Apostles, which Constantine the Great had built a little before.

Sources:

https://www.ewtn.com/library/MARY/ANDREW.HTM
https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-andrew/
http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/resources/prayers/devotions/to-our-lord-jesus-christ/prayer-of-st-andrew/
http://www.saintandrew.us/st-andrew-prayer.html

Intercessory Prayers to St. Andrew

O glorious St. Andrew, you were the first to recognize and follow the Lamb of God. With your friend, St. John, you remained with Jesus for that first day, for your entire life, and now throughout eternity. As you led your brother, St. Peter, to Christ and many others after him, draw us also to Him. Teach us to lead others to Christ solely out of love for Him and dedication in His service. Help us to learn the lesson of the Cross and to carry our daily crosses without complaint so that they may carry us to Jesus.

Amen.

Prayers by St. Andrew

At the time of his martyrdom, he saw his own cross in the distance, and cried:
“O good Cross, made beautiful by the body of the Lord: long have I desired you, ardently have I loved you, unceasingly have I sought you out; and now you are ready for my eager soul. Receive me from among men and restore me to my Master, so that he-who, by means of You, in dying redeemed me-may receive me. Amen.”