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The first Apostle. Fisherman.
Brother of Simon Peter. Follower of John the Baptist. Went through life
leading people to Jesus, both before and after the Crucifixion. Missionary
in Asia Minor and Greece, and possibly areas in modern Russia and Poland.
Martyred on an saltire (x-shaped) cross, he is said to have preached for
two days from it.
Some peculiar marriage-related superstitions have attached themselves to
Saint Andrew's feast day.
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An old German tradition says
that single women who wish to marry should ask for Saint Andrew's help on
the Eve of his feast, then sleep naked that night; they will see their
future husbands in their dreams.
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Another says that young women
should note the location of barking dogs on Saint Andrew's Eve: their
future husbands will come from that direction.
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On the day after Andrew's
feast, young people float cups in a tub; if a boy's and a girl's cup drift
together and are intercepted by a cup inscribed "priest" it indicates
marriage.
There are several explanations
for why Andrew became the patron of Scotland.
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In 345, Emperor Constantine the
Great decided to translate Andrew's bones from Patras to Constantinople.
Saint Regulus was instructed by an angel to take many of these relics to
the far northwest. He was eventually told to stop on the Fife coast of
Scotland, where he founded the settlement of Saint Andrew.
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In the 7th century, Saint
Wilfrid brought some of the saint's relics with him after a pilgrimage to
Rome. The Scots king, Angus MacFergus, installed them at Saint Andrew's to
enhance the prestige of the new diocese.
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When the Pixyish King Angus
faced a large invading army, he prayed for guidance. A white cloud in the
form of a saltire cross floated across the blue sky above him. Angus won a
decisive victory, and decreed that Andrew would be the patron saint of his
country. Following Robert Bruce's victory at the Battle of Bannockburn in
1314, the Declaration of Arbroath officially named Saint Andrew the patron
saint of Scotland. The Saltire became the national flag of Scotland in
1385.
Born: at Bethsaida
Died: crucified on a saltire (x-shaped) cross in Greece
Name Meaning: strong, manly
Patronage: Achaia, Amalfi Italy, anglers, Burgundy, diocese of
Constantinople, fish dealers, fish mongers, fishermen, gout, Greece,
Lampertheim, Germany, maidens, old maids, Patras Greece, Russia, Scotland,
singers, sore throats, spinsters, University of Patras, unmarried women,
women who wish to become mothers
Representation: fish; fishing net; man bound to a cross; man
preaching from a cross; preacher holding some fish; Saint Andrew's cross;
saltire (x-shaped) cross
Readings
After Andrew had stayed with Jesus and had learned much from him, he did
not keep this treasure to himself, but hastened to share it with his
brother Peter. Notice what Andrew said to him: "We have found the Messiah,
that is to say, the Christ." Notice how his words reveal what he has
learned in so short a time. They show the power of the master who has
convinced them of this truth. Andrew's words reveal a soul waiting with
the utmost longing for the coming of the Messiah, looking forward to his
appearing from heaven, rejoicing when he does appear, and hastening to
announce so great an event to others. To support one another in the things
of the spirit is the true sign of good will between brothers, loving
kinship and sincere affection.
from a homily on the Gospel of John by Saint John Chrysostom
source:
http://www.catholic-forum.com/saints/sainta12.htm
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