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Saint Andrew The Apostle

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• Saints Name & Birth, Death, Feast Day
  • The Saint for this weeks study is St. Andrew The Apostle
• Main Bio – Life 
  • Birth date unknown – Born at Bethsaida - same area as his brother – St. Peter the Apostle
  • Nothing known of his childhood
  • Was a fisherman who worked with his brother Peter (Simon)
  • Became a disciple of St. John The Baptist.
  • St. John The Baptist lead Andrew to Johns cousin – Jesus.
  • St. Andrew immediately saw when introduced to Jesus that Jesus was greater than John
  • John introduced Andrew to Jesus – “Behold the Lamb Of God” Andrew knew this was his divine master.
  • Andrew eventually introduced his brother Simon (Peter) to Jesus.
  • After Pentecost it is believed that St. Andrew went out to preach the Gospel in Greece, Asia Minor, Scythia, Thrace, Russia and Epirus. (Scythia - An ancient region of Eurasia extending from the mouth of the Danube River on the Black Sea to the territory east of the Aral Sea. Thrace was an ancient civilization near modern day Turkey , Bulgaria & Greece)
  • Eventually he was martyred by being tied to a saltire cross. (X shaped) – St. Andrew continued to preach from this cross for two days until he died. (A.D. 60)
  • Remember that these early Christians were barely tolerated by the Roman officials. It was only after they had had enough of these men preaching against the various religions of the Romans that these men were killed for their faith. The Early Christians were considered a cult by the Romans. They were astounded at the motivation of the apostles in the evangelization efforts. We can thank the Holy Spirit for this. (Pentecost)
  • Illustrations of St. Andrew usually depict him as an old white haired man with the Gospel in one hand and leaning on a saltire cross.
  • St. Andrew's relics were translated from Patrae to Constantinople, and deposited in the church of the Apostles there, about A.D. 357.
  • When Constantinople was taken by the French, in the beginning of the thirteenth century, Cardinal Peter of Capua brought the relics to Italy and placed them in the cathedral of Amalfi, where most of them still remain.
  • St. Andrew is honored as their chief patron by Russia and Scotland.

Some peculiar marriage-related superstitions have attached themselves to Saint Andrew's feast day.

(Would love to hear from anyone on how these superstitions started feedback@saintstudy.org – saintstudy.twitter.com – saintstudy Facebook)

• An old German tradition says that single women who wish to marry should ask for Saint Andrew's help on the Eve of his feast, then sleep naked that night; they will see their future husbands in their dreams.

• Another says that young women should note the location of barking dogs on Saint Andrew's Eve: their future husbands will come from that direction.

• On the day after Andrew's feast, young people float cups in a tub; if a boy's and a girl's cup drift together and are intercepted by a cup inscribed "priest", it indicates marriage.

There are several explanations for why Andrew became the patron of Scotland.

• In 345, Emperor Constantine the Great decided to translate Andrew's bones from Patras to Constantinople. Saint Regulus was instructed by an angel to take many of these relics to the far northwest. He was eventually told to stop on the Fife coast of Scotland, where he founded the settlement of Saint Andrew.

• In the 7th century, Saint Wilfrid brought some of the saint's relics with him after a pilgrimage to Rome. The Scots king, Angus MacFergus, installed them at Saint Andrew's to enhance the prestige of the new diocese.

• When the Pictish King Angus faced a large invading army, he prayed for guidance. A white cloud in the form of a saltire cross floated across the blue sky above him. Angus won a decisive victory, and decreed that Andrew would be the patron saint of his country. Following Robert Bruce's victory at the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314, the Declaration of Arbroath officially named Saint Andrew the patron saint of Scotland. The Saltire became the national flag of Scotland in 1385.

• The enthusiasm with which Andrew followed the call of Jesus teaches us:

• That we should, on the spot, give ear to God when He inspires us with a good thought, or calls us to a better course of life.
• In order to pursue God’s voice, we must shed all desires for worldly goods, and even leave our parents, if they should prove a impediment to us.
• (Matthew 10:37)  "he that loveth father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me."
• This is what is so fascinating about the Saints. They heard God calling them and showed us how to follow them to God.
• No matter what evils where in their past life, once forgiven, they were fiercely driven because they realized the consequences of how they lived their lives.
• Great example for Christians. These Saints are teaching us how to answer Gods call.
  
   
• A Prayer to Saint Andrew The Apostle

http://saints.sqpn.com/pray0146.htm

O Glorious Saint Andrew, you were the first to recognize and follow the Lamb of God. With your friend Saint John you remained with Jesus for that first day, for your entire life, and now throughout eternity.
As you led your brother Saint 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.

• Patronage

• Feast Day
  • November 30
• Conclusions – Interesting notes about their life or sainthood
  • From a homily on the Gospel of John by Saint John Chrysostom

After Andrew had stayed with Jesus and had learned much from him, he did not keep this treasure to himself, but hastened to share it with his brother Peter. Notice what Andrew said to him: "We have found the Messiah, that is to say, the Christ." Notice how his words reveal what he has learned in so short a time. They show the power of the master who has convinced them of this truth. Andrew's words reveal a soul waiting with the utmost longing for the coming of the Messiah, looking forward to his appearing from heaven, rejoicing when he does appear, and hastening to announce to great an event to others. To support one another in the things of the spirit is the true sign of good will between brothers, loving kinship and sincere affection.

• Homework
  • Who was your mother and/or fathers confirmation saint?
• Preview of next episode – Episode #104 – St. Thomas the Apostle
• References, Plugs & Web Sites

• Follow SaintStudy on Itunes, Facebook and Twitter – Or go to saintstudy.org

God Bless and may the peace of our Lord be with all of you…