SAINT NI CH OL AS T h e Inspiration for ou r modern day Santa Claus and Fath er Ch ristmas He tou ched th e h earts of the people and inspired th em with th e true mean ing of giving as h e led them to Ch rist. Let u s pause and remember that we are always and everywhere in the presen ce of ou r loving God. From the very beginning God h as loved u s and continues to love u s. God h as always walked with His people. He sent u s a Savior in the n ame of Jesu s the Ch rist and His S pirit lives in and amon g u s forever. Glory to You, Sou rce of All Being, Etern al Word, and Holy Spirit. As it was, i s n ow, and ever more sh all be. Amen. According to tradition, Nicholas was born in Asia Minor and even in h is you th was known for h is zeal in h elping the un fortun ate and oppressed. In h is n ative city of Patara, th ere was a poor man who h ad th ree marriageable dau gh ters, bu t cou ld find n o h u sbands for them because he cou ld offer n o su itable dowry. T h e con temptible idea stru ck h im to sacrifice the inn ocen ce of h is daugh ters to gain th e n eeded mon ey. Wh en Nicholas became aware of this, h e wen t by n ight an d th rew a bag con taining as mu ch gold as was n eeded for a dowry throu gh th e window. T h is h e repeated th e second and th ird n igh ts.
An other tradition su rrou nding Nich olas tells of h im calming the sea by h is prayers during a sh ip voyage. Nicholas was imprison ed for the faith and was Bish op of Myra. It is known that h e took part in the Cou n cil of Nicea. He h ad a peacefu l death, u tterin g the words; Into You r h ands, I commend my spirit. He died in Myra and mu ch later h is remains were transferred to Bari, Italy. Saint Nicholas is h ighly venerated in the East as a miracle worker, as preach er of the Word of God, and spokesman of the Father. Good Saint Nicholas of Myra Nicholas HYMN Good Saint Nicholas of Myra Deeds and legen ds tell h is fame Saintly bish op, friend of children Bari pilgrims chant th e n ame. Blessed Nicholas, Blessed Nicholas, He loved all in Jesu s n ame. Miracles and signs and won ders He performed to praise the Lord For a poor and weary people Sou rce of care and joy ou tpou red. Sailors, n ation s, peoples thank Him For h e message that h e brou gh t You n g and old n ow h ail the memory Of the lesson s that h e taught. May h is ways of tru e devotion Guide u s on ou r earth ly way Ch allenge u s to be more like h im As Ch rist s gospel we obey. Father, Son and Holy Spirit Bind u s in commu n ity So that we with h oly Nicholas May etern al glory see.
LET U S PR AY O God, in You r great love, You gave u s the example of You r servant Saint Nicholas, as a perpetu al n ame for deeds of kindness. May h is gifts of love remin d u s of the Great Gift of Jesu s. May we con tinue to be faithfu l to You as we are kind to others in word and deed. Grant th at we, You r Ch u rch, may always work for the h appiness of others, the relief of the poor, and the con solation of those wh o su ffer from dou bt or grief. Amen. SCRIPT U RE 1 J OHN 4: 7-14 Beloved, let u s love on e anoth er, because love is of God; everyon e who loves is begotten by God and knows God. Wh oever is withou t love does n ot know God, for God is love. In this way the love of God was revealed to u s: God sent His on ly Son into the world so that we migh t have life throu gh Him. In this is love: n ot that we h ave loved God, bu t that He loved u s and sent His Son as expiation for ou r sins. Beloved, if God so loved u s, we also mu st love on e another. No on e h as ever seen God. Yet, if we love on e another, God remains in u s, and His love is br ou ght to perfection in u s. T h is is h ow we know that we remain in Him and He in u s, that He h as given u s of His Spirit, and whoever acknowledges that Jesu s is the Son of God, God remains in h im and h e in God. GG REFLECT ION Saint Basil Fou rth Century Wh at keeps you from giving n ow? Aren t you r own warehou ses fu ll? Isn t th e reward promised? Th e command is clear: the h u ngry person is dying n ow, the n aked person is freezing n ow, the person in debt is beaten n ow and you want to wait u n til tomorrow? I am n ot doing an y h arm, you say. I ju st want to keep wh at I own, th at s all. You own! If everyon e took on ly what they n eeded an d gave the rest to those in n eed, there wou ld be n o su ch thin g as rich and poor. After all, didn t you come into life n aked, and won t you retu rn naked to the earth? T h e bread in you r cu pboard belon gs to the h un gry person ; T h e coat h anging un u sed in you r closet belon gs to the person who n eeds it; the sh oes in you r closet belon g to the person with n o sh oes; the mon ey you put into the bank belon gs to the poor. You do wron g to everyon e you cou ld h elp bu t fail to h elp.
Saint Ambrose Fou rth Century T h e large rooms of which you are so prou d are in fact you r sh ame. T h ey are big enou gh to h old crowds and also big enou gh to sh u t ou t the voice of the poor there is you r sister or brother, n aked, crying! An d you stand con fu sed over the choice of an attractive floor covering. INT ERCESSI ON Good Saint Nicholas, h elp u s to prepare for the feast of the n ativity of Jesu s. Help u s n ot to be blind to the gift of A dvent an d the preparation for the Secon d Coming. Help u s to be sincere in the greetin gs we send and receive with love and prayer. Good Saint Nicholas, h elp protect u s from sh oppers fatigue, stress, and overspendin g. Help u s to be kind and generou s of h eart to all, especially th ose who are alon e, finan cially poor or fearfu l. May ou r celebration of you r feast lead others to see the tru e meaning of giving and receiving. Guide all people to th e greatest of all gifts, Jesu s the Ch rist, the Prince of Peace and Ch ild of Mary, Lo rd of lords and King of kings. O come, come gather and sing the praises of Blessed Nicholas the glory of God, the foun tain of won ders, and the great protector of the faith ful. Rejoice, O light fu ll of brightness that makes the ends of the earth sh ine with wonders. Rejoice, O divine deligh t of the afflicted, the fervent advocate of those who suffer from inju stice. An d n ow, O all-blessed Nicholas, Never cease praying to Ch rist ou r God For those who h on or the festival of you r memory With faith and love. Or t ho dox Lit u rg y
Let your light shine before others that they may see your good works and give glory to God. Matthew 5 Saint Nicholas, h oly preacher of Ch rist, pray to the lord that we may be delivered from all danger. Saint Joh n Baptist de La Salle and all you h oly Brothers who have gon e before u s, h elp u s to be filled with generou s h an ds and h earts. Live Jesu s in ou r h earts. Forever!