Hello all, Happy feast day to all born, baptized and married - TopicsExpress



          

Hello all, Happy feast day to all born, baptized and married today Happy feast day to all Deacons, Seminarians, Priests, Bishops, Monks, Nuns, Religious Brothers and Sisters in Christ Jesus. Happy feast day to all named Nicholas and parents of all named Nicholas Happy feast day to all who have lost their parent(s) Happy feast day to all devoted to the Most Holy Trinity Happy feast day to all who are filled with the virtue of Charity (alms giving) Happy feast day to all who generously share Christmas gifts to one another Happy feast day to all Children Happy feast day to all Catholic Missionaries Today (December 6) marks the feast of Saint Nicholas Saint Nicholas is popularly known as “Santa Claus” He is also called Saint Nikolaos of Myra Catholic History tells us that Nicholas was a historic 4th-century Saint He was born in the year 270 AD (the Ides of March) in Patara, Lycia, Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey) Nicholas was born a Greek He was the only son of wealthy Christian parents Saint Nicholas was the fruit of the prayer of his childless parents. As an infant, Saint Nicholas from the very day of his birth revealed to people the light of his future glory as a wonderworker. His mother, after giving birth was immediately healed from illness. The newborn infant, while still in the baptismal font, stood on his feet three hours, without support from anyone, thereby honoring the Most Holy Trinity. Saint Nicholas from his infancy began a life of fasting, and on Wednesdays and Fridays he would not accept milk from his mother until after his parents had finished their evening prayers. He was very religious from an early age From his childhood Nicholas thrived on the study of Divine Scripture; by day he would not leave church, and by night he prayed and read books, making himself a worthy dwelling place for the Holy Spirit. Tradition tells us that Nicholas rigorously observed the canonical fasts of Wednesdays and Fridays. His wealthy parents died in an epidemic while Nicholas was still young and he was raised by his uncle—also named Nicholas—who was the bishop of Patara. Bishop Nicholas of Patara (Saint Nicholas’ Uncle) rejoiced greatly at the spiritual success and deep piety of his nephew. He ordained Saint Nicholas a reader, and then elevated Nicholas to the Catholic Priesthood, making him his assistant and entrusting him to instruct the flock. In serving the Lord the Nicholas as Priest was fervent of spirit, and in his proficiency with questions of faith he was like an Elder, who aroused the wonder and deep respect of believers. Obeying Jesus words to sell what you own and give the money to the poor, Nicholas used his whole inheritance to assist the needy, the sick, and the suffering. Constantly at work and vivacious, in unceasing prayer, as priest, Saint Nicholas displayed great kind-heartedness towards the flock, and towards the afflicted who came to him for help, and he distributed all his inheritance to the poor. Tradition tells us that when Nicholas was young, he sought the holy by making a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. Along the way the saint predicted a storm would arise and threaten the ship. Returning by sea, a mighty storm threatened to wreck the ship. Saint Nicholas saw the devil get on the ship, intending to sink it and kill all the passengers. At the entreaty of the despairing pilgrims, he calmed the waves of the sea by his prayers. Nicholas calmly prayed. Through his prayer a certain sailor of the ship, who had fallen from the mast and was mortally injured was also restored to health. The terrified sailors were amazed when the wind and waves suddenly calmed, sparing them all. And so Saint Nicholas is the patron of sailors and voyagers. When he reached the ancient city of Jerusalem and came to Golgotha, Saint Nicholas gave thanks to the Savior. There as he walked where Jesus walked, he sought to more deeply experience Jesus life, passion, and resurrection. He went to all the holy places, worshiping at each one. One night on Mount Sion, the closed doors of the church opened by themselves for the great pilgrim. Going round the holy places connected with the earthly service of the Son of God, Saint Nicholas decided to withdraw into the desert, but he was stopped by a divine voice urging him to return to his native country. He returned to Lycia, and yearning for a life of quietude, the saint entered into the brotherhood of a monastery named Holy Sion, which had been founded by his uncle. But the Lord again indicated another path for him, “Nicholas, this is not the vineyard where you shall bear fruit for Me. Return to the world, and glorify My Name there.” So Saint Nicholas left Patara and went to Myra in Lycia. Upon the death of Archbishop John, Nicholas was chosen as Bishop of Myra after one of the bishops of the Council said that a new archbishop should be revealed by God, not chosen by men. One of the elder bishops had a vision of a radiant Man, Who told him that the one who came to the church that night and was first to enter should be made archbishop. He would be named Nicholas. The bishop went to the church at night to await Nicholas. Saint Nicholas, always the first to arrive at church, was stopped by the bishop. “What is your name, child?” he asked. God’s chosen one replied, “My name is Nicholas, Master, and I am your servant.” After his consecration as archbishop, Saint Nicholas remained a great ascetic, appearing to his flock as an image of gentleness, kindness and love for people. He became the Catholic Bishop of Myra (Demre, in Lycia, part of modern-day Turkey) Bishop Nicholas became known throughout the land for his generosity to those in need, his love for children, and his concern for sailors and ships. Under the Roman Emperor Diocletian, who ruthlessly persecuted Christians, Bishop Nicholas suffered for his faith, was exiled and imprisoned. The prisons were so full of bishops, priests, and deacons, there was no room for the real criminals—murderers, thieves and robbers. Bishop Nicholas, locked up in prison together with other Christians for refusing to worship idols Saint Nicholas sustained them and exhorted them to endure the fetters, punishment and torture. The Lord preserved him unharmed. Upon the accession of Saint Constantine as emperor, Saint Nicholas was restored to his flock, which joyfully received their guide and intercessor. Despite his great gentleness of spirit and purity of heart, Saint Nicholas was a zealous and ardent warrior of the Church of Christ. By fighting evil spirits, Saint Nicholas made the rounds of the pagan temples and shrines in the city of Myra and its surroundings, shattering the idols and turning the temples to dust. Having returned to his own diocese, Saint Nicholas brought it peace and blessings, sowing the word of Truth, uprooting heresy, nourishing his flock with sound doctrine, and also providing food for their bodies. Even during his life the Saint Nicholas worked many miracles. ---------------------------------------- I’ll mention a few miracles of Saint Nicholas (to avoid a long write up): One of the greatest of his miracles was the deliverance from death of three men unjustly condemned by the Governor, who had been bribed. Saint Nicholas boldly went up to the executioner and took his sword, already suspended over the heads of the condemned. The Governor, who was denounced by Saint Nicholas for his wrong doing, immediately repented and begged for forgiveness. ------------------------------- Tradition identifies another miracle- : There was a certain formerly rich inhabitant of Patara, whom Saint Nicholas saved from great sin. The man had three grown daughters, and in desperation he planned to sell their bodies so they would have money for food. When Saint Nicholas learned of the man’s poverty and of his wicked intention, he secretly visited him one night and threw a sack of gold through the window. With the money the man arranged an honorable marriage for his daughter. Without a dowry, a woman was unlikely to marry. This poor mans daughters, without dowries, were therefore destined to be sold into slavery. Saint Nicholas also provided gold for the other daughters, thereby saving the family from falling into spiritual destruction. In bestowing charity, Saint Nicholas always strove to do this secretly and to conceal his good deeds. Mysteriously, on three different occasions, a bag of gold appeared in their home-providing the needed dowries. The bags of gold, tossed through an open window, are said to have landed in stockings or shoes left before the fire to dry. This led to the custom of children hanging stockings or putting out shoes, eagerly awaiting gifts from Saint Nicholas. Saint Nicholas did many kind and generous deeds in secret, expecting nothing in return. Saint Nicholas had a reputation for secret gift-giving, such as putting coins in the shoes of those who left them out for him And so Saint Nicholas is a gift-giver - “Santa Claus”. History tells us also that Saint Nicholas saved his people from famine He also spared the lives of those innocently accused, and much more. ------------------------------------- Another story tells of three theological students, traveling on their way to study in Athens. A wicked innkeeper robbed and murdered them, hiding their remains in a large pickling tub. It so happened that Bishop Nicholas, traveling along the same route, stopped at this very inn. In the night he dreamed of the crime, got up, and summoned the innkeeper. As Nicholas prayed earnestly to God the three boys were restored to life and wholeness. In France the story is told of three small children, wandering in their play until lost, lured, and captured by an evil butcher. Saint Nicholas appears and appeals to God to return them to life and to their families. And so Saint Nicholas is the patron and protector of children. Having reached old age, Saint Nicholas peacefully fell asleep in the Lord. He died on the 6th of December 343 AD in Myra, Lycia His venerable relics were preserved incorrupt in the local cathedral church and flowed with curative myrrh, from which many received healing. In 1087, his relics were furtively translated to Bari, in southeastern Italy; for this reason, he is also known as Nikolaos of Bari. ------------------------------------------ Within a century of his death he was celebrated as a Saint. Today he is venerated in the East as wonder, or miracle worker and in the West as patron of a great variety of persons-children, mariners, bankers, pawn-brokers, scholars, orphans, laborers, travelers, merchants, judges, paupers, marriageable maidens, students, children, sailors, victims of judicial mistakes, captives, perfumers, even thieves and murderers! He is known as the friend and protector of all those in trouble or in need Because of the many miracles attributed to his intercession, he is also known as Nikolaos the Wonderworker Because of this he became the model for Santa Claus Saint Nicholas’ reputation evolved among the faithful, as was common for early Christian saints. Saint Nicholas is the patron saint of sailors He is the patron of travelers, and we pray to him for deliverance from floods, poverty, or any misfortunes. He is also the patron saint of merchants and archers He is the patron saint of thieves He is also the patron saint of children, and students in various countries in the Balkans and Eastern Europe (Albania, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Georgia, Greece, Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia), as well as in parts of Western Europe (Belgium, France, Netherlands, Portugal). He is also the patron saint of Aberdeen, Amsterdam, Barranquilla, Bari, Beit Jala, Fribourg, Huguenots, Kozani, Liverpool, Paternopoli, Sassari, Siggiewi and Lorraine. He was also a patron of the Varangian Guard of the Byzantine emperors, who protected his relics in Bari. ------------------------------------------------ Prayer to Saint Nicholas O good Saint Nicholas, you who are the joy of the children, put in our hearts the spirit of childhood, which the Gospel speaks, and teach us to seed happiness around us. You, whose feast prepares us for Christmas, open our faith to the mystery of God made man (Jesus Christ our Lord). You, good bishop and shepherd, help us to find our place in the Church and inspire the church to be faithful to the gospel. O good Saint Nicholas, patron of children, patron of sailors and patron of the helpless, watch over those who pray to Jesus, your Lord and theirs, as well as watch over those who humble themselves before you. Bring us all in reverence to the Holy Child of Bethlehem, where true joy and peace are found, we ask through Christ our Lord. Amen Prayer to Saint Nicholas “during Advent” Good Saint Nicholas Help us prepare for the miracle of the coming of Jesus Help us not to be blind to the gifts of getting ready Help us to be sincere in the greetings we send and receive with love and prayer. Kind Saint Nicholas, protect us from shopper’s fatigue, stress, overspending, yet help us to be kind and generous of heart to all, especially those who are alone, financially poor and fearful May our celebration of your feast lead others to see the true meaning of giving and receiving and to guide all people to the greatest of all gifts, even Jesus Christ, prince of peace and child of the ever Blessed Virgin Mary, this is our humble prayer through Christ our Lord. Amen Glorious Nicholas, The Holy Preacher of Christ, you are the great and fervent protector of those in danger, those on land and sea, far off or near, for you are a most compassionate and mighty intercessor. Therefore as we assemble daily in this group and beyond this group, we cry aloud: Please pray to the Lord that we may be delivered from all danger, this is our humble prayer through Christ our Lord. Amen ------------------------------------------- Let us pray (Oremus): Eternal God, in your great love you gave your servant Nicholas a perpetual name for deeds of kindness on land and sea Grant that your Church may never cease to work for the happiness of children, the safety of sailors, the relief of the poor, and the help of those tossed by tempests of doubt or grief, we humbly ask through Jesus Christ our Lord, who reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit One God, forever and ever. Amen --------------------------------------- Let us pray that by the works, spiritual direction, spiritual maturity and intercession of Saint Nicholas, we may in this group find the spiritual motivation to win our souls for God. Amen Summary of the life history of Saint Nicholas can be viewed by clicking the photo of the Saint in our groups photo section. Saint of the day would be communicated to you as promptly and consistently as humanly possible, by Gods grace. May we all in this group and beyond this group, Christians and non Christians alike, Catholics and non Catholics alike, be saved from the fires of hell and lifted up into heaven after our stay here on this exile. Amen May our Lord Jesus Christ, through the intercession of Saint Nicholas and all other Saints before and after him, through Gods Divine Mercy strengthen our souls, open out the way for us all, and above all, intoxicate us with HIS love. Amen May Christ make us into blazing fires to enkindle the earth with the heavenly fire HE brought us. Amen Jesus we love you, all we have is yours, yours we are and yours we want to be, please do with us whatever you will. Amen Jesus, Mary we love you, please save our souls. Amen God bless you and grant your heart’s desire. Amen Saint Nicholas, pray for us. Amen. For a brief on our Saint of today, please click the link below https://youtube/watch?v=Gj38O48wO58
Posted on: Sat, 06 Dec 2014 10:45:55 +0000

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