Feast of St. Andrew (November 30)

 

St. Andrew was a fisherman who was a disciple of John the Baptist until John pointed at Jesus and said, "Behold the Lamb of God!" He then became a disciple of Christ and convinced his brother, Simon Peter to join him. Peter, of course, ended up being chosen as "The Rock" on which Christ built his Church - the first Pope.

It must have been like teaching your brother to play basketball and then not being able to beat him in a game of one-on-one.

After Christ died, St. Andrew went to Greece to preach the Gospel. He was crucified on a "decussate" cross - tied, not nailed. St. Andrew is the Patron Saint of Scotland and Russia.

Speaking of brothers, this is for my brother James:

The Pope released his second encyclical yesterday, called "Spe Salvi". In it, he says that Jesus was not a political liberator "like Spartacus". Too bad, I say.


Image of St Andrew, Hours of Bona Sforza, Gerard or Lucas Horenbout, Ghent, circa 1517-1521, 130 x 95 mm, Add. MS 34294, f. 189
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