Our 100th article!
Bianca Ruba | Faith and Wellbeing Editor
As Saint Andrew’s day approaches, The Oystercatcher takes a look into the life of this holy man.
Saint Andrew was the first disciple of Jesus. He was the younger brother of Saint Peter and was born in Bethsaida on the Sea of Galilee. The brothers were fishermen by trade. Jesus called them to be his disciples by saying that he would make them “fishers of men.”
The Gospel of John teaches us much about St. Andrew who was originally a disciple of St. John the Baptist. When John pointed to Jesus and said, “Behold the Lamb of God!” Andrew understood that Jesus was greater and immediately left John to follow Jesus. He visited in Jesus’ home and later brought his brother Simon Peter, who Jesus also called to be an apostle.
It is believed that Saint Andrew and Saint Peter continued their trade as fishermen until Christ called them to a closer relationship, and they left all things to follow Jesus.
Saint Andrew was martyred by crucifixion at Patras in Achaea in Greece. Because St. Andrew deemed himself unworthy to be crucified on the same type of cross on which Christ had been crucified, he asked to be tied to an X shaped cross. The Apostle Andrew did not die right away, but instead he was left to suffer for two days while he continued to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ until he finally passed. Today, this represents the satire on the Scottish flag.
Although little is mentioned in the Book of Acts regarding the life of St. Andrew, much can be learned through St. Andrew’s life. He and Saint Peter gave up their lifelong careers and lifestyles, leaving everything behind, to follow Jesus. Their undying faith in a difficult world is an inspiration to all Christians.
The presence of Andrew’s relics in Scotland – a tooth, a kneecap, an arm and finger bones – meant that St Andrews became a popular medieval pilgrimage site although they were destroyed in the 16th century during the Scottish Reformation.
In 1879 the Archbishop of Amalfi gifted Andrew’s shoulder blade to St Mary’s Cathedral in Edinburgh. Pope Paul VI donated further relics in 1969.
His patronage extends to fishmongers, gout, singers, sore throats, spinsters, maidens, old maids and women wishing to become mothers.
Saint Andrew is the Patron Saint of Scotland, Russia and Greece. On the 30th of November, we celebrate our school’s and the country’s Patron’s feast day.
