Today we take a pause on the liturgical calendar very early in the season of Advent to celebrate the Feast of St. Andrew, considered to be the first of the Apostles. Andrew provides us two very important lessons as Knights.
This morning when we gathered for Morning Prayer, Father made the comment that we interrupt our Advent celebration to recognize today’s feast day.
At first I thought he was just trying to be funny, which he probably was, but then it got me to thinking about the life of St. Andrew. His life was basically a life of interruption. Andrew caused a major interruption in the lives of the apostles, convincing Peter to change the course of his life from being a fishermen, to a “fisher of men”. He was also present at the Mount of Olives, when he privately (along with Peter, James and John) asked Jesus for signs that would point to the end times (Mark 13). These private conversations most likely forcing Jesus to suspend his public ministry to teach the twelve or portion of independently.
In preparing for the celebration of the Christmas season, a time when we gather and sing praises to God for sending his Son, how are we going to interrupt our lives to fully live out the Gospel message?
The second lesson that we can learn from St. Andrew is taken directly from his name, in Greek his name means manly. As Catholic men, how are we setting an example for our family, our communities, and our brothers?
Join me this year in praying the St. Andrew Christmas Novena, starting today, and praying the following fifteen times each day until Christmas Eve for an increase in faith, hope, and charity, and for an increase in our noble order; for it is piously believed that whoever recites this, will obtain the favor requested.
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 the piercing cold. In that hour vouch safe, I beseech Thee, O my God, to hear my prayer and grant my desires through the merits of Our Savior Jesus Christ, and of His blessed Mother.
Amen.
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