EFFICACIOUS NOVENA TO SAINT ANDREW, APOSTLE & MARTYR: DAY 5

O God, come to my aid+
R. O Lord, make haste to help me.
V. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
R. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

—Pause for an “Examination of Conscience”—

Kyrie Eleison… Christe Eleison… Kyrie Eleison…

The Apostles Creed

I BELIEVE in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth; and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord; Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into hell; the third day He arose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven and sitteth at the right hand of God, the Father Almighty: from thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost, the Holy Catholic Church, the communion of Saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen.

Daily Prayer to St. Andrew

O Glorious St. Andrew, you were the first to recognize and follow the Lamb of God. With your friend St. John you remained with Jesus for that first day, for your entire life, and now throughout eternity. As you led your brother, St. Peter, to Christ, and many others after him, draw us also to Him. Teach us to lead others to Christ solely out of love for Him, and dedication in His service. Help us to learn the lesson of the Cross and to carry our daily crosses without complaint so that they may carry us to Jesus. Amen.

Short Meditation
(Life of Saint Andrew)

(Testimony from Tradition – crucifixion, and death)

Day 5

“Andrew, addressing the people again, begged them not to deprive him of what he looked upon as inestimable happiness. When he was led to the place of execution, and saw the (X-shaped) cross on which he was to die, he cried out joyfully: “O precious cross, which I have so long desired, so truly loved, so ceaselessly sought; at last I find thee prepared to receive me. Take me away from the world, and unite me again with my Lord, that He who has redeemed me on thee, may again receive me by thee.” Thus cried the Saint from afar; but when he reached the cross, he embraced and kissed it, and gave himself willingly to the executioners, who bound him to it. No sooner had the cross been raised, than it served as a pulpit to the holy Apostle, and he exhorted the Christians to remain firm in their holy faith, and the heathens to convert themselves to the only true God. He explained the nothingness of the idols and the truth of the Christian religion. For two days he lived and preached, hanging on the cross. The people began again to murmur against the governor, and desired to have the Saint taken down from the cross; but the holy martyr desired to be permitted to die upon it, as he esteemed death a priceless grace. On the third day, when the people seemed determined to rescue him by force, he called to his Saviour: “Do not permit, O Lord, that Thy servant, who, according to his own wish, hangs on the cross, be taken down from it; but do Thou take me from it to Thee, O my beloved Master, Jesus Christ, whom I have confessed and always loved, and whom, still confessing, I long to see. Take, O Lord Jesus, my spirit to Thee. I ardently desire to be united with Thee.” During this prayer, a bright light streamed from heaven and rested upon the Saint, whilst he breathed his last. The martyrdom of St. Andrew happened in the year of Our Lord AD 62, or, according to others, in AD 70. His holy body was transported to Constantinople in the time of Constantine the Great; but was afterward brought to Rome, where it has its resting place in the Church of St. Peter.

Pause and reflect for a moment…

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

DAY 5 PRAYER

Our Father…3 Hail Marys…Glory be…

LITANY OF ST. ANDREW

Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ hear us. Christ, graciously hear us.

God the Father of heaven, Have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world, Have mercy on us.
God the Holy Spirit, Have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, one God, Have mercy on us.

Holy Mary, Mother of God, Pray for us. (repeat after each line)

Andrew, Native of Bethsaida in Galilee
Andrew, Son of Jona, a fisherman
Andrew, Brother to Simon Peter
Andrew, “First-Called” by Jesus
Andrew, baptized in the Jordan
Andrew, disciple of John the Baptist
Andrew, follower of Jesus
Andrew, a fisher of men
Andrew, who helped feed the 5,000

Apostle Andrew, a man of kindly nature…………… Intercede for us (repeat after each line)

Apostle Andrew, a man with a cheerful spirit
Apostle Andrew, an innocent and good man
Apostle Andrew, friend of children and the elderly
Apostle Andrew, who cured people of diseases
Apostle Andrew, preacher of the love of God
Apostle Andrew, prisoner of the lamb of God
Apostle Andrew, crowned with martyrdom
Apostle Andrew, patient in your scourging
Apostle Andrew, lover of the cross

Lamb of God, who called Andrew to serve…….Have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, who called Andrew to evangelize…….Have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, who called Andrew to witness………Have mercy on us.

Let us pray:
God of surprises, you called St. Andrew from being a fisherman to being an evangelist. Grant quick recovery to all the sick so that we may honour his name and his life by continuing to take risks and draw people to your Son, Jesus. Inspire us to share our Catholic faith and life with all who desire a deeper and more personal relationship with your son, Jesus, who loves us into new ways of living in this new millennium. We ask this in the holy name of Jesus the Lord, now and forever. Amen.

CONCLUDING PRAYER

Saint Andrew, pray for us!

(If possible, kindly accompany this novena with the Holy Rosary at any hour of the day, either 5 or 10 or 15 or 20 decades…)

May the Divine assistance remain always with us, and may the souls of the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in peace. Amen.

Blessing+
Through the intercession of Saint Andrew (Apostle & Martyr), may the Lord bless + us, keep us from all evil, and bring us to everlasting life. Amen.

Great job praying Day 5! Click here for Day 6 Prayers

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