The Significance of St. Andrew, the First Called, and His Importance to Advent

The Significance of St. Andrew, the First Called, and His Importance to Advent In a few days, Advent starts. Advent has four Sundays. One would think the Church looks at the calendar, finds December 25th, and then counts back four Sundays . . . and that would be the beginning of Advent. While that makes logical sense, that is not how the Church does it! The Church works from the other side of Christmas! The Church finds the 30th day of November . . . the Feast of St. Andrew. Then it finds the Sunday closest to that date. And that marks the first Sunday of Advent! It’s the same result, whichever way you do it, but the official way first looks for the Feast of St. Andrew. Why would the Church do that? Why tie Advent to St. Andrew the fisherman? In our present day, we do not hear much of Andrew. When we speak of Saints, many of the Apostle’s names do not come up. Maybe Peter, but very few others and Andrew is not normally a popular selection in modern day conversation. . . . His Importance to Advent While Andrew might not be a popular saint in the present age, that is not what the Church says. Saints all have a great impact on Christianity. However, arguably, none had a greater impact than the Apostles. On the Feast days of the Apostles, the Church sings the Gloria. That is not normally performed for the saints’ Feast Days, but for the Apostles the Church does so. In doing so, it indicates this Feast ranks higher. Hear more within the Homily. Among the Apostles, Andrew has a singular status. He is the first Apostle. The Church calls Andrew the “First of the Called”. Andrew, a disciple of St. John the Baptist, is the first to be called among the Apostles. The Homily explains the significance. Of all the religious during the times of St. John the Baptist’s ministry, Andrew was one of the few who responded and committed himself. He heard John’s message of his preparing the way for the One. Note the way this message celebrates the coming of Advent. There is One who is Coming. Hear more about the Significance of Andrew, the First Called and His Importance to Advent. Listen to this Meditation Media. ______________________________________________________________________ The image is called Saint Andrew the Apostle by Flemish Artist and Painter: Peter Paul Rubens: 1611 The painting shows the calling of St. Peter and St. Andrew.