The feast of St. Andrew

Andrew son of Jonah, apostle and martyr, and brother of Simon Peter, was among the first of the twelve apostles to be called by the Lord Jesus at the beginning of His public ministry. Today is his feast, and the teaching term is finally over, Deo gratias. Melancholicus is quite exhausted, although not quite as much as his brother Conor who, by some miraculous process unknown to him, manages to juggle full-time studies in History and Classical Civilisation with a full-time job in telecommunications.

THE INTROIT

Thy friends, O God, are made exceedingly honourable; their principality is exceedingly strengthened. Ps. Lord, thou hast proved me and known me: Thou hast known my sitting down and my rising up.


THE COLLECT

WE humbly entreat Thy majesty, O Lord: that as the blessed Apostle Andrew was once a teacher and ruler of Thy Church: so he may be a constant advocate for us before Thee. Through our Lord.

The Apostle Andrew was martyred in the year A.D. 60 in Achaia (in modern Greece) under Aegeas, the Roman governor of the province. He was crucified on the X-shaped ‘decussate’ cross, which is now indelibly associated with St. Andrew. What marvellous patience and peace, not to mention union with God, the blessed apostle must have enjoyed in order to have submitted to such a painful and lingering death for love of Christ Jesus.

The end of the liturgical year is nigh. The Sunday closest to St. Andrew’s day is always the first Sunday of Advent, which this year falls on 2 December. The liturgical year now ending has not been kind to Melancholicus, all things considered, and he wishes to entreat the prayers of his readers that things may improve for him in this year to come.

May God reward you.