A meditation on the Feast of St. Andrew the Apostle, from Dom Guéranger’s The Liturgical Year.Saint Andrew the Apostle, brother of Saint Peter and one of the first disciples called by Christ, was originally a fisherman from Bethsaida and a follower of John the Baptist before recognizing Jesus as the Messiah and bringing Peter to Him. Known in the Gospels for his readiness, humility, and missionary zeal, Andrew preached the faith throughout regions traditionally identified as Scythia, Greece, and Asia Minor, becoming a foundational figure for several ancient Christian communities. His martyrdom occurred at Patras in Achaia, where he was bound—rather than nailed—to an X-shaped cross (the crux decussata) and continued preaching to the crowd for two days before dying, a testament to his courage and love for Christ. The Church celebrates his feast on November 30, one of the oldest and most solemn apostolic feasts in the liturgical year; in the Roman tradition, it often serves as a herald of Advent, since the Sunday nearest his feast typically begins the new liturgical cycle. His feast highlights his role as Protoklētos (“the First-Called”) and invites the faithful to imitate his promptness in responding to Christ’s invitation.Dom Prosper Guéranger's The Liturgical Year, a monumental fifteen-volume work, offers a comprehensive exploration of the Catholic Church’s liturgical calendar, guiding readers through the spiritual and historical richness of the Church’s worship. Written in the 19th century, the series provides daily meditations, historical context, and liturgical texts for the Mass and Divine Office, covering the entire cycle of seasons—Advent, Christmas, Lent, Passiontide, Easter, and the Time after Pentecost—as well as feast days of saints. Guéranger’s work, rooted in a deep contemplative spirit, aims to immerse the faithful in the Church’s prayerful life, emphasizing the unity of faith through the axiom lex orandi, lex credendi ("the law of prayer is the law of belief"), and remains a cherished resource for Catholics seeking to deepen their spiritual lives. Dom Prosper Guéranger (1805–1875) was a French Benedictine monk, liturgical scholar, and founder of the Solesmes Abbey, renowned for his pivotal role in reviving the Benedictine Order in France and restoring the Roman liturgy after the disruptions of the French Revolution. Born in Sablé-sur-Sarthe, he entered the priesthood in 1827 and, inspired by a vision to restore monastic life, reestablished the Benedictine community at Solesmes in 1833, becoming its first abbot. A staunch defender of ultramontanism and traditional Catholic worship, he also championed the revival of Gregorian chant, significantly influencing the liturgical renewal movement.Please note: The entries of the Liturgical Year are primarily authored by Dom Prosper Guéranger, but occasionally contain editors’ additions of subsequent information and events that are relevant to the given feast.Link to the Dom Guéranger's Liturgical Year playlist (updated daily, unless a ferial day): https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZKdyYnV_bkh7rH6piW0ShgsdcefFoOvJ