Martinmas, St. Andrew, and Advent Preparation 

November 11th marks the feast of St. Martin of Tours and the beginning of Martinmas. As we move toward Advent, I've found myself thinking about St. Andrew, whose feast falls just after Advent begins this year (Nov 30) and reflecting on his relationship with his brother Peter. Andrew is often remembered for bringing Peter to Jesus after he himself encountered the Lord first. I find something really beautiful in this. He recognizes something worth sharing and brings his brother along. He doesn't need to be the one who occupies the central place, or to make Peter's encounter with Christ about himself.

I've been wondering what we might learn from that, particularly when we consider how easily comparison and rivalry can find their way into even our efforts to pursue what is good and holy. Mimetic desire doesn't necessarily disappear because our aspirations are admirable. Sometimes it is precisely in these spaces that we have difficulty recognizing when we have begun measuring ourselves against one another.

I would like to gently invite this as something worth carrying into Advent with deep self and other compassion. What might change if we could become a little more generous in how we receive another person's goodness? If someone else's gifts, relationship with God, or place in the world didn't have to become a point of comparison? There is a beautiful magnanimity in being able to recognize the good in another without experiencing it as a diminishment of our own. I think Andrew offers us a lovely example of this.

The St. Andrew’s Initiative

An Advent invitation inspired by St. Andrew, who brought his brother Peter to Jesus after encountering Him himself. Andrew recognized something good and wanted to share it with someone he loved. He didn't need to be at the center of the encounter; he was content to bring another person along.

The St. Andrew’s Initiative is an invitation to practice something of that same generosity in our own community. Share a song that moved you, a piece of writing, an idea, an experience, or something beautiful you have discovered. Pass along the good that has been given to you. And take pleasure in receiving what others share.

I hope this becomes part of the culture of Mirari: a community where we encourage one another, recognize the gifts and goodness in others, and make room for one another to flourish. We all have something good to offer, and sometimes a small act of sharing can become an unexpected gift in someone else's life.

St. Andrew Christmas Novena

NOVEMBER 30 – DECEMBER 24

Hail and blessed be the hour and moment in which the Son of God was born of the most pure Virgin Mary, at midnight, in Bethlehem, in the piercing cold.

In that hour, vouchsafe, I beseech Thee, O my God, to hear my prayer and grant my desires through the merits of Our Savior Jesus Christ, and of His blessed Mother.

Amen.

Traditionally repeated 15 times each day.