Information: St. Andrew the ApostleFeast Day: November 30

Born: early 1st Century, Bethsaida

Died: mid-late 1st Century, Patras

Major Shrine: Church of St. Andreas at Patras

Patron of: Scotland, Russia, Sicily, Greece, Romania, Amalfi, Luqa (Malta) and Prussia; Army Rangers, mariners, fishermen, fishmongers, rope-makers, singers and performers

Holy Spirit Interactive Kids: A Saint a Day St. Andrew the Apostle   Feast Day: November 30 Born / Died: around the time of Jesus St. Andrew was born at Bethsaida in Israel. He and his brother, Simon Peter, grew up to become fishermen. And when Andrew heard the great St. John the Baptist preach, he became his disciple. When Jesus came to be baptized, John pointed to Jesus and said, “Behold the Lamb of God,” Andrew understood that Jesus was greater. At once he left John and followed Jesus. Jesus knew that Andrew was walking behind him and turning back, asked why he was being followed. Andrew said that he would like to know where Jesus lived. Jesus warmly invited him to, “Come and see.” Andrew had been with Jesus only a short while when he realized that this was truly the Messiah and he became the first disciple of Christ. Then Andrew brought his brother Simon (St. Peter) to Jesus. The Lord welcomed him as his disciple too. At first the two brothers continued their fishing trade and family affairs. But soon the Lord called them to stay with him all the time. He promised to make them fishers of men, and this time they left their nets for good. St. Andrew went through life leading people to Jesus, both before and after Jesus died. After Jesus ascended into heaven, St. Andrew preached the Gospel in Greece. There, he was put to death on a saltire cross (x shaped), to which he was tied, not nailed. He lived two days in that state of suffering but still found enough strength to preach to the people who gathered around their beloved apostle. Hundreds of years later, when the king of Scotland faced a large invading army, he prayed for guidance. A white cloud in the form of a saltire cross floated in the blue sky above him and he won the battle. Saint Andrew was named the patron saint of Scotland and the Saltire became the national flag of Scotland. St. Andrew is also the patron saint of Russia.

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CATHOLIC ALMANACMonday, November 30

Liturgical Color: Red

Today is the Feast of St. Andrew,
Apostle. For his preaching, St. Andrew
was crucified on an X-shaped cross. He
remained alive for several days,
continuing to preach the gospel to those
who came to view his execution.

Catholic Culture 

Advent: November 30th

Feast of St. Andrew, apostle

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Old Calendar: St. Andrew

St. Andrew was a native of Bethsaida in Galilee, a fisherman by trade, and a former disciple of John the Baptist. He was the one who introduced his brother Peter to Jesus, saying, “We have found the Messiah.” Overshadowed henceforth by his brother, Andrew nevertheless appears again in the Gospels as introducing souls to Christ. After Pentecost, Andrew took up the apostolate on a much wider scale, and is said to have been martyred at Patras in southern Greece on a cross which was in the form of an “X”. This type of cross has long been known as “St. Andrew’s cross.”

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Jesse Tree ~ Adam and Eve

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St. Andrew (or Andreas) the Apostle

Andrew, Peter’s brother, and John were the first disciples to follow the Lord. With tender delicacy the Gospel (John 1:35-42) describes their first meeting with Jesus. Andrew did not belong to the inner circle of the apostles, Peter, James and John, and the evangelists narrate nothing extraordinary about him (John 6:8); but tradition (resting on apocrpyhal Acts) extols his great love of the Cross and of the Savior; and the Church distinguishes him both in the Mass (his name occurs in the Canon and in the Libera since the time of Pope St. Gregory I who had a special devotion to him) and in the Breviary.

The story of his martyrdom rests on the apocryphal Acts which lack historical foundation. The pagan judge exhorted him to sacrifice to the gods. Andrew replied: “I sacrifice daily to almighty God, the one and true God. Not the flesh of oxen and the blood of goats do I offer, but the unspotted Lamb upon the altar. All the faithful partake of His flesh, yet the Lamb remains unharmed and living.” Angered by the reply, Aegeas commanded him to be thrown into prison. With little difficulty the people would have freed him, but Andrew personally calmed the mob and earnestly entreated them to desist, as he was hastening toward an ardently desired crown of martyrdom.

When Andrew was led to the place of martyrdom, on beholding the cross from a distance he cried out: “O good Cross, so long desired and now set up for my longing soul I confident and rejoicing come to you; exultingly receive me, a disciple of Him who hung on you.” Forthwith he was nailed to the cross. For two days he hung there alive, unceasingly proclaiming the doctrine of Christ until he passed on to Him whose likeness in death he had so vehemently desired. –The legendary account of our saint’s martyrdom has this value: it presents to us the mysticism of the Cross of later times.

Excerpted from The Church’s Year of Grace, Pius Parsch.

Patron: Achaia; Amalfi, Italy; anglers; Burgundy; diocese of Constantinople; fish dealers; fish mongers; fishermen; gout; Greece; Lampertheim; Germany; maidens; old maids; Patras, Greece; Russia; Scotland; singers; sore throats; spinsters; University of Patras; unmarried women; women who wish to become mothers.

Symbols: Fish; Saint Andrew’s cross; Cross saltire (x-shaped); V or Y shaped cross; two fishes; tall cross and book; vertical spear; primitive fish hook; fisherman’s net.
Often Portrayed As: Man bound to a cross; man preaching from a cross; preacher holding some fish.

Things to Do:

• Today’s feast traditionally marks the end of the Church year and beginning of Advent. Advent always begins on the Sunday closest to November 30, with this day being the last possible day of the old Liturgical Year. Christmas is right around the corner. An old saying reflected this:
  

  St Andrew the King
  Three weeks and three days
  before Christmas begins.

  Because weddings were not allowed during Advent and Christmas and Andrew is the patron of unmarried maidens, many countries have marriage-related superstitions connected to this day. See Patron Saints Index for a few traditions. 

• Beginning today the Christmas Anticipatory Prayer, also known as the “Novena to St. Andrew” (Hail and Blessed be the hour…) is prayed every day until Christmas. 
• View some of the art depictions of St. Andrew. Here’s another Gallery of Images of Andrew. 
• Remember to pray for fishermen and all who make their livelihood by the sea. 
• Andrew is the patron saint of Scotland, Russia, and Romania. The flag of Scotland (and the Union Flag and the arms and Flag of Nova Scotia) feature a saltire (X-shaped cross) in commemoration of the shape of St. Andrew’s cross. 
• Read more about St. Andrew from Butler’s Lives of the Saints. Also read about Andrew from The Golden Legend. 
• Foods connected with this feast: St. Andrew was a fishermen, so fish dishes and biblical themes would reign supreme. Women for Faith and Family have reprinted Evelyn Vitz’s suggested “Biblical Dinner” menu. But there are other foods connected with this day: 
  • Scotland: St. Andrew is the patron of Scotland. Scones, haggis, sheepshead and fish dishes are traditional. The scones are called “wigs”, although their shape is rectangular. 
  • England: St Andrew is a patron of lace-makers. On his feast, sometimes known as “Tander”, areas such as Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire and Northamptonshire celebrate by feasting, drinking elderberry wine, sports and serving a special cake called the Tandra Cake, particularly in Bedfordshire. It has a bread dough base to which lard, sugar, currants, lemon peel and eggs are added. This is also a day for squirrel hunting in England, so Brunswick Stew would be another dish on the table in England. 
  • Slovakian Countries: Halushky (pasta dish) is cooked. Unmarried girls place slips of paper with names of single young men into the dish.

The Word Among Us 

Meditation: Matthew 4:18-22

Saint Andrew, Apostle (Feast)

Peter, and his brother Andrew … (Matthew 4:18)

 

When we first meet Andrew in Matthew’s Gospel, he is fishing with his brother Peter. In fact, all four Gospels regularly identify Andrew with Peter. Does this mean he is just a sidekick to the lead apostle, kind of like Robin was to Batman? No, their relationship is much more equal, more like Paul and Barnabas.

Neither brother would have been the man they were without the other. Neither of them would have developed their unique gifts without the relationship and solidarity they had together. They needed each other!

As a disciple of John the Baptist, Andrew was one of the first to follow Jesus. He’s the one who evangelized his brother Peter, in fact! So clearly, Peter would have been a very different man had it not been for Andrew. His simple, steady faith must have made a deep impact on the impulsive fisherman. And for his part, Andrew most likely thrived under Peter’s leadership as the infant Church began to spread out from Jerusalem in the days after Pentecost.

Even though Andrew was not often in the limelight, people knew him as someone to depend on, whether it was the boy who gave him his loaves and fishes (John 6:8-9) or Philip, who asked him what to do with the Greeks who wanted to meet Jesus (12:20-22). Andrew was happy to work behind the scenes, and his steady faith produced a lot of fruit!

This is what makes Andrew a perfect model for us. Perhaps you see yourself as a simple, everyday Catholic. You may not have a big platform to evangelize. You may not have an important role in your parish. You may not have much influence over other people. But you are not just a sidekick. Like Andrew, you are a pillar of the Church. It just wouldn’t be the same without you.

We don’t often see the impact that we have on the Church. We don’t often know how much of a difference our intercessions make in the grand scheme of things. But God knows. He treasures every one of our prayers, and he rejoices every time we turn from temptation and trust in him. So keep on following the Lord; we need you!

“Lord, thank you for calling me into your service! Thank you for giving me an essential role to play in your Church!”

 

Romans 10:9-18
Psalm 19:8-11

Regnum Christi 

A Decisive Response

U. S. A. | SPIRITUAL LIFE | SPIRITUALITY

November 30, 2015 – Feast of Saint Andrew, apostle

By Father Edward Hopkins, LC Matthew 4:18-22 As Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon who is called Peter, and his brother Andrew, casting a net into the sea; they were fishermen. He said to them, “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.” At once they left their nets and followed him. He walked along from there and saw two other brothers, James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John. They were in a boat, with their father Zebedee, mending their nets. He called them, and immediately they left their boat and their father and followed him. Introductory Prayer: Dear Jesus, I believe that you have called me to follow you more closely today. I trust that in this prayer, you will help me see the concrete implications of following your will. I love you and want to respond to all that you ask of me, today and always. Thank you for watching over me and guiding me home to heaven. Petition: Make me a fisher of men, here and now, Lord! As Jesus Walked By: One summer afternoon a priest just happened to be in the area and visited my home. Within three years, two of my brothers and I were following Christ on the road to the priesthood. Jesus didn’t just happen to walk by these two pairs of brothers! He had every intention of inviting those brothers to become “fishers of men.” How much happens in my life, prepared and intended by God, to help me follow him more closely? And all I see is an accident, a coincidence? Ask him when was the last time he just happened by. At Once They Followed Him: Jesus never calls someone when it’s perfectly convenient, when that person has nothing better to do. No, he calls precisely when we are in the middle of living our life, doing what we do best, what we do most, “casting or mending our nets.” “What a losing formula!” we are tempted to conclude. Yet what is it he really wants of us when he calls? He wants a response — a reply of love. Love is all about preference and priority. If I love him more than myself, I can follow him “at once.” If I prefer him over my own activities and life, I can follow him “immediately.” What is the response of love I am giving or want to give Jesus today in my life? They Left Something Behind: “Pro-choice:” That’s what God is! He wants us to choose. But he is not indifferent about what we choose. Every choice implies the rejection of other options. We cannot follow someone somewhere without leaving something and someone else behind. Peter and Andrew left their nets behind. James and John left their boat and their father behind. This was possible only with Jesus before them. Yet we, too, often try to follow Christ without leaving things and others behind: the world, comforts, my preferences… We think that we can have it all. We can’t. We are in danger of “taming our faith,” bending to the demands of our passions and the world’s insistence. Love requires a choice, a choice for the real, complete Jesus. It asks me to reject everything in me that is not him. How wholehearted is my following of Christ? Conversation with Christ: Lord Jesus, you have called me and continue to call me throughout this day. Help me to respond with love, a love that trumps all my other loves, likes and desires. I don’t want you to have to wait for me, Lord. Just show me what you want and give me the courage and generosity to give it to you, no matter the cost. Resolution: I will give up something today that diminishes the attention that I give to my spouse, family or friends.

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Homily of the Day

November 30, 2015

There is a video on YouTube that experimented on what passersby would do if someone simply collapsed in a public place and sought help. Shockingly, many people who walked by could not be bothered and simply walked on. The video looks like a modern version of the Parable of the Good Samaritan (Lk 10:25  36)

One Bread, One Body 

One Bread, One Body

Language: English | Español

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<< Monday, November 30, 2015 >> St. Andrew Romans 10:9-18 View Readings Psalm 19:8-11 Matthew 4:18-22 Similar Reflections ARE YOU SAVED? “If you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” —Romans 10:9 “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” —Romans 10:13 Are you saved? The Biblical answer for a Christian to that question is: “I have been saved by Christ’s death and resurrection.” “When the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, He saved us” (Ti 3:4-5). “He saved us; not because of any righteous deeds we had done, but because of His mercy. He saved us through the baptism of new birth and renewal by the Holy Spirit” (Ti 3:5). Moreover, we not only have been saved but are being saved by the gospel at this very moment, if we hold fast to it (1 Cor 15:2). Finally, we will be saved, if we persevere in living our Baptisms (see Rm 10:9, 13). If we have been, are being, and will be saved, we will be motivated by love (see 2 Cor 5:14) to lead others to salvation in Jesus. However, we may be bewildered about sharing our faith. St. Andrew may be the perfect person to help us. For example, when some Greeks came to Philip and asked to see Jesus, Philip, for some reason, did not go to Jesus but to Andrew (Jn 12:21-22). Then Philip, with Andrew, “came to inform Jesus” (Jn 12:22). Accept Jesus as the Savior, Lord, and God. Ask St. Andrew to help you lead others to salvation in Jesus. Then go, be fishers of men (Mt 4:19), and make disciples of all nations (Mt 28:19). Prayer: Father, beginning this Advent make my voice sound “over the whole earth” and my “words to the limits of the world” (Rm 10:18). St. Andrew, pray for us. Promise: “Scripture says, ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who announce good news!’ ” – – Rm 10:15 Praise: St. Andrew was one of the first to lead others to Jesus.