Nov-30: Feast of the Apostle St. Andrew
Nov-30: Feast of the Apostle St. Andrew Advent always begins on the Sunday closest to November 30th, the feast day of St. Andrew the Apostle. Coincidence? May not be ... if you know about the first Apostle St Andrew. St. Andrew (Greek ἀνδρεία for manly or brave) was born between 5 and 10 AD in Bethsaida in Galilee, a fisherman by trade, and a former disciple of John the Baptist. He was with John the Baptist, his master, when he (and another unnamed disciple) heard John say: "Lo! Behold the Lamb of God" (Jn 1: 36) "... they saw where he was staying; and they stayed with him that day..." (Jn 1: 37-39). After this encounter with Jesus, Andrew could not rest till he had shared the infinite treasure which he had discovered, and brought his brother Simon (later christened Simon Peter, the rock on which Christ built the Church) to Christ that he might also know him (Jn 1: 40-43). Pope Benedict XVI commented on the significance of the two sons of Jonas - mix of Ara...