St. Andrew Avellino
Posted on November 20, 2018 by admin No comments
Born: 1521 Castronuovo, Basilicata
Died: 10 November 1608
Beatified: 1624 by Urban VIII
Canonized: 1712 by Clement XI
Major shrine: Church of St. Paul, Naples
Feast: 10 November
Patronage: Naples, Sicily; invoked against sudden death
Saint Andrew (Andrea) Avellino (1521 – 10 November 1608) was an Italian priest. He is venerated as patron saint of Naples and Sicily and invoked especially against a sudden death.
Life
Born at Castronuovo (today Castronuovo di Sant’Andrea), a small town in the province of Potenza Basilicata, his baptismal name was Lancelotto, which he changed to Andrew when he entered the Order of Theatines. After receiving his elementary training in the school of Castronuovo, he was sent to Venice to pursue a course in the humanities and in philosophy. Being a handsome youth, his chastity was often exposed to danger from female admirers, and to escape their importunities he took ecclesiastical tonsure.
Hereupon he went to Naples to study canon and civil law, obtained the degree of Doctor of Laws and was ordained priest at the age of twenty-six. For some time he held the office of lawyer at the ecclesiastical court of Naples.
The Archbishop of Naples now commissioned him to reform a convent at Naples, which by the laxity of its discipline had become a source of great scandal. By his own example and his untiring zeal he restored the religious discipline of the convent but not without many and great difficulties. Certain wicked men who were accustomed to have clandestine meetings with the nuns became exasperated at the saint’s interference, and one night he was assaulted and severely wounded. He was brought to the monastery of the Theatines to recuperate. Here, however, he resolved to devote himself entirely to God and he entered the Order of Theatines, which had but recently been founded by St. Cajetan. In 1556, on the vigil of the Assumption he was invested, being then thirty-five years of age. He took the name of Andrew in honor of the apostle.
After completing his novitiate, he obtained permission to visit the tombs of the Apostles and the Martyrs at Rome, and, upon his return, was made master of novices. After holding this office for ten years, he was elected superior. His zeal for strict religious discipline and for the purity of the clergy, as well as his deep humility and sincere piety, induced the General of his Order to entrust him with the foundation of two new Theatine houses, one at Milan and the other at Piacenza. By his efforts, many more Theatine houses rose up in various dioceses of Italy. As superior of some of these new foundations, he was so successful in converting sinners and heretics by his prudence in the direction of souls and by his eloquent preaching that numerous disciples thronged around him, eager to be under his spiritual guidance. One of the most noteworthy of his disciples was Lorenzo Scupoli, the author of The Spiritual Combat. St. Charles Borromeo was an intimate friend of Avellino and sought his advice in the most important affairs of the Church. He also requested Avellino to establish a new Theatine house in Milan.
Death
On 10 November 1608, when beginning the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, he was stricken with apoplexy, and, after receiving the Holy Viaticum, died at the age of 88. In 1624, only 16 years after his death, he was beatified by Pope Urban VIII, and in 1712 was canonized by Pope Clement XI.
Veneration
He is venerated as patron saint of Naples and Sicily and invoked especially against a sudden death. His remains lie buried in the Church of St. Paul at Naples. His feast day is November 10.
Prayer to Saint Andrew Avelino Patron for Stroke Victims
St. Andrew we ask your intercession upon (name), please pray that he/she heals quickly…his/her movements, speech and that the doctors give him/her the best medical care he/she can receive. Amen
Novena to Saint Andrew Avelino Against Sudden Death
(Please recite this Novena for nine consecutive days)
I. O most glorious saint, whom God has made our protector against apoplexy, seeing that thou thyself didst die of that disease, we earnestly pray thee to preserve us from an evil so dangerous and so common. Pater, Ave, Gloria.
V. By the intercession of St Andrew, stricken with apoplexy.
R. From a sudden and unprovided death deliver us, O Lord.
II. O most glorious saint, if ever by the just judgment of God we should be stricken with apoplexy, we earnestly beseech thee to obtain for us time enough to receive the Last Sacraments and die in the grace of God. Pater, Ave, Gloria.
V. By the intercession of St Andrew, stricken with apoplexy.
R. From a sudden and unprovided death deliver us, O Lord.
III. O most glorious saint, who didst endure, before dying, a terrible agony, through the assaults of the devil, from which the Blessed Virgin and St. Michael delivered thee, we earnestly beseech thee to assist us in the tremendous moment of our death. Pater, Ave, Gloria.
V. By the intercession of St Andrew, stricken with apoplexy.
R. From a sudden and unprovided death deliver us, O Lord.
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Click here to download Prayer to St. Andrew Avellino in .pdf format
Click here to download Novena to St. Andrew Avellino in .pdf format