Fr. Eric Nicolai preaches on the feast of St. Andrew, Apostle, in Lyncroft Centre, Toronto. Saint Andrew is said to have preached the Gospel in Greece. There, in the city of Patras, he was martyred; he died nailed to a cross, like his divine Master. The priests of Achaia who witnessed his death write that his desire to be identified with Christ was so great that when he was being led toward the place of his martyrdom and saw the cross in the distance, he began to cry out what became a famous prayer; O bona crux, quæ decórem ex membris Dómini suscepísti "O good cross, made beautiful by the body of the Lord; long have I desired you, ardently have I loved you, unceasingly have I sought you out; and now you are ready for my eager soul. Receive me from among men and restore me to my Master, so that by means of you He may receive me who by means of you redeemed me.”

Music: Carlos Gardel, Amores de Estudiante, arranged for guitar by Bert Alink 2018 Public domain in Canada.

Thumbnail: Guillaume Courtois, Painting of the martyrdom of St. Andrew in the church of San Andrea Al Quirinale designed by G-L Bernini in Rome, 17th century.