Feast of St. Andrew the Apostle

In St. Bernard’s sermon for the feast of St. Andrew who was martyred by crucifixion, he writes, “Where did so frail a creature get such constancy, such love and strength of will?” For when the apostle Andrew saw the cross on which he was to be crucified, his heart expanded with so much love that he exclaimed, “O cross, long desired … I come to you full of joy and gladness, for I am a disciple of him who hung from your arms.”

St. Bernard continues, “Let us not imagine that St. Andrew got that great courage from himself. It was the Holy Spirit who came to help his weakness and filled his soul with a love stronger than death. May it please God to make us share in that Spirit!”  We cannot persevere in grace by our own strength, so let us be prepared by daily asking the Holy Spirit to help us when our time comes.