AND TODAY WE CELEBRATE… The Feast of Saint Andrew the Apostle

The First-Called (First Century)

His life

+ Sacred Scripture tells us that Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, was a fisherman and that he was also a disciple of Saint John the Baptist.

+ Andrew is often called the Protoclete—the “First-Called”—because he is remembered as the first of the Apostles to have said “yes” to Jesus’ invitation to follow. The Gospel of John also tells us that after Andrew heard John the Baptist call Jesus “the Lamb of God,” he introduced his brother to Jesus (cf. John 1:36-40).

+ Andrew demonstrated his faith when he brought Jesus the boy with five barley loaves and two fish, the simple elements that Jesus transformed into enough food to feed the multitude (cf. John 6:8-9).

+ Andrew was with Jesus on the mountain at the Transfiguration and was also with him in the Garden of Gethsemane during his final hours.

+ According to ancient tradition, Andrew preached in the Gospel in several places after Pentecost. Andrew is said to have been martyred in Patras, Greece, by being crucified on a cross in the form of an X.

+ Saint Andrew is honored as the patron saint of fishermen and fish mongers, as well as various places, including Austria, Greece, Russia, Scotland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and Ukraine, along with many other dioceses and cities.

For prayer and reflection

“The Apostle Andrew… teaches us to follow Jesus with promptness (cf. Mt 4: 20; Mk 1: 18), to speak enthusiastically about him to those we meet, and especially, to cultivate a relationship of true familiarity with him, acutely aware that in him alone can we find the ultimate meaning of our life and death.”—Pope Benedict XVI

Prayer

We humbly implore your majesty, O Lord,

that, just as the blessed Apostle Andrew

was for your Church a preacher and pastor,

so he may be for us a constant intercessor before you.

Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,

who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

one God, for ever and ever.

Amen.