St. Andrew, Apostle

St. Andrew is one of the twelve apostles of Jesus Christ and the brother of Simon Peter.

In the synoptic gospels, Jesus called Andrew and Simon from their fishing boats and promised to make them “fishers of men”. The Gospel of Luke does not mention Andrew at first, but names him later in the account. It seems clear anyway that the brothers operated their fishing business together.

Andrew was a disciple of St. John the Baptist before he was called by Jesus. St. John the Baptist pointed Jesus out to Andrew, saying “Behold, the Lamb of God!” In this account, from the Gospel of John, it is Andrew who recognizes from this statement that Jesus is the Messiah. Andrew then goes and tells his brother.

At the feeding of the multitude, Andrew was the one who told Jesus that there was a boy there with some loaves and fishes.

He spread the gospel to Greece, where he was martyred. He is thought to have been crucified on an X-shaped cross, which is now known as a St. Andrew’s cross.

Patron Saint of …

He is the patron saint of fishermen, rope-makers, and textile workers.

Daily Mass Readings for the Feast of Saint Andrew, Apostle

• First Reading – Romans 10:9-18: “But I ask, did they not hear? Certainly they did; for their voice has gone forth to all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world.”
• Responsorial Psalm – Psalm 19: “The judgments of the Lord are true, and all of them are just.”
• Gospel – Matthew 4:18-22: “As Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon who is called Peter, and his brother Andrew, casting a net into the sea; they were fishermen.”

As Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon who is called Peter, and his brother Andrew, casting a net into the sea; they were fishermen. He said to them, “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.”

Matthew 4:18-19