NOVEMBER 30 – ST. ANDREW, APOSTLE.
ST. ANDREW was one of the fishermen of Bethsaida, and brother, perhaps elder brother, of St. Peter, and became a disciple of St. John Baptist. He seemed always eager to bring others into notice; when called himself by Christ on the banks of the Jordan, his first thought was to go in search of his brother, and he said, “We have found the Messias,” and he brought him to Jesus. It was he again who, when Christ wished to feed the five-thousand in the desert, pointed wut the little lad with the five loaves and fishes. St. Andrew went forth upon his mission to plant the faith in Scythia and Greece, and at the end of years of toil to win a martyr’s crown. After suffering a cruel scourging at Patre in Achaia, he was left, bound by cords, to die upon a cross. When St. Andrew first caught sight of the gibbet on which he was to die, he greeted the precious wood with joy. “O, good cross!” he cried, “made beautiful by the limbs of Christ, so long desired, now so happily found! Receive me into thy arms, and present me to my Master, that He who redeemed me through thee may now accept me from thee.” Two whole days the martyr remained hanging on this cross alive, preaching, with outstretched arms from this chair of truth, to all who came near, and entreating them not to hinder his passion.
REFLECTION: If we would do good to others, we must, like St. Andrew, keep close to the Cross.
WORD OF THE DAY
MARY, NAME OF. Meaning “lady,” “beautiful,” or “well beloved.” A favorite name given to Jewish women at the time of Christ. It was the name of Moses’ sister. Nowadays an honored name with Catholics and one of the most popular. Christian names of women, in a variety of forms, e.g., Maria, Marie, Miriam, and in combination with other names, e.g., Marianne, Rosemary. The Irish word for Mary, “Muire,” is given only to Mary the Mother of God; all other Marys are called Moira. Its special feast in the Western Church was observed on September 12, since 1684, in grateful memory of the Christian victory over the Turks at Vienna in 1683. The feast has been suppressed since the Second Vatican Council. (Etym. Greek maria or mariam; from Hebrew miryam, exalted one.)
Modern Catholic Dictionary, Fr. John Hardon SJ (Get the real one at Eternal Life — don’t accept an abridged or edited version of this masterpiece!)
ST. ANDREW NOVENA
Today begins a popular Novena:
Hail and blessed be the hour and moment in which the Son of God was born of the most pure Virgin Mary, at midnight, in Bethlehem, in piercing cold. In that hour vouchsafe, O my God, to hear my prayer and grant my desires, through the merits of our Saviour Jesus Christ, and of His blessed Mother. Amen.
(It is piously believed that whoever recites the above prayer fifteen times a day from the feast of St. Andrew (Nov. 30th) until Christmas, will obtain what is asked). This formula of the prayer bears an Imprimatur from † Michael Augustine, Archbishop of New York. New York, February 6, 1897.
DAILY ADVENT MEDITATIONS
Deepen your appreciation of the Incarnation and our salvation with The Great Truths Series by Fr. Richard Clarke S.J. Read today’s “The Long Darkness” but consider this:
Thus it is that each ill deed goes on bearing its deadly fruit, often long after the doer is dead and gone. Yet every man had light and grace sufficient, and more than sufficient, to enable him to walk in the ways of God, and to find his way to the kingdom of heaven. But none save a very few availed themselves of it. “They loved darkness more than light.”
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