Feast Day:
November 30
Patron Saint of
Fishermen
St. Andrew, whose feast day is
November 30th, is the patron saint for fishermen. Andrew, like his brother, Simon Peter,
was a fisherman. He became a disciple of the great St. John the Baptist, but when John
pointed to Jesus and said, "Behold the Lamb of God!" Andrew understood that
Jesus was greater. At once he left John to follow the Divine Master. Jesus knew that
Andrew was walking behind him, and turning back, he asked, "what do you seek?"
When Andrew answered that he would like to know where Jesus lived, Our Lord replied,
"Come and see." Andrew had been only a little time with Jesus when he realized
that this was truly the Messiah.
From then on, he decided to follow
Jesus. Andrew was thus the first disciple of Christ. Next, Andrew brought his brother
Simon (St. Peter) to Jesus and Jesus received him, too, as His disciple. At first the two
brothers continued to carry on their fishing trade and family affairs, but later, the Lord
called them to stay with Him alll the time. He promised to make them fishers of men, and
this time, they left their nets for good. It is believed that after Our Lord ascended into
Heaven, St. Andrew went to Greece to preach the gospel. He is said to have been put to
death on a cross, to which he was tied, not nailed. He lived two days in that state of
suffering, still preaching to the people who gathered around their beloved Apostle. Two
countries have chosen St. Andrew as their patron - Russia and Scotland.
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