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We wish a Blessed Feast of St. Andrew to all our readers; especially to those from Scotland, Greece, Malta, Romania and Russia. Thank you so much for taking the time to read our blog articles here at Torch of The Faith.
The Apostle St. Andrew was, of course, a native of Bethsaida, elder brother of St. Peter and, like him, a fisherman. He was one of the disciples of St. John the Baptist and the first called by Christ. Tradition says that after the Ascension he preached the Gospel in Greece and the Balkan countries. He was condemned to death for the Faith in Patras, a city of Greece, during Nero's persecution. An ardent lover of the Cross of Christ, he was crucified, too, but on a cross of the shape of the letter ''X''. This holy death is often seen depicted in sacred art and stained glass windows.
Whilst there are different versions accounting for the transfer of St. Andrew's hallowed relics to Scotland, it is certain that they were venerated at Kirrymont, later renamed St. Andrews, for many centuries.
On 14th June, 1559, the cathedral at St. Andrews, including the Apostle's shrine and sacred relics, was disgracefully destroyed by Protestant revolutionaries who entered the city with John Knox.
The remains of St. Andrew's sacred cathedral in the present day.
There is a marvellous verse in the hymn When Christ Our Lord to Andrew Said, which expresses both a truly Catholic conception of the theology of the Cross and the desires of all orthodox Catholics for the re-conversion of these isles. It reads:-Â
St. Andrew now in bliss above,
thy fervent prayers renew
that Scotland yet again may love
the faith, entire and true;
that I the cross allotted me
may bear with patient love!
'Twill lift me, as it lifted thee,
to reign with Christ above.
May God bless and strengthen all faithful Catholics in Scotland who have endured so many trials, from both within and without the Church, in order to keep the Faith. You stand as a bright light here in Britain and beyond.
In recent years, through the literature of the Good Counsel Network, we came across the beautiful St. Andrew's Novena.
We see that Michael Matt has reminded Remnant readers today that it is a lovely custom for families to pray this novena together from today's feast until Christmas Eve.
The custom includes praying the novena prayer, with the lights lowered and the Advent wreath lit, five times at breakfast, five times at lunch, and five times after the evening meal. After praying it at the evening meal, the family then sings together the Advent hymn O Come, O Come Emmanuel.
It stikes us that this marvellous practice offers Catholics, whether in families or living alone, a very practical way to prepare their hearts and homes for the coming of Our Saviour at Christmas.
It also brings home something of the harsh realities which Our Blessed Lord was so humble to endure in the Incarnation for our salvation and sanctification.
The prayer is as follows:-
Hail and blessed be the hour and moment at which the Son of God was born of a most pure Virgin at a stable at midnight in Bethlehem in the piercing cold. At that hour vouchsafe, I beseech Thee, to hear my prayers and grant my desires.
(Mention your prayer intentions here).
Through Jesus Christ and His most blessed Mother.
Amen.
Traditionally the prayer is prayed 15 times each day from 30th Nov to Christmas Eve.
St. Andrew, Patron of Scotland - Pray for us!
