St. Nicholas belongs in any reclamation of Christmas

courierpress.com ^ | December 6, 2003 | Terry Mattingly

[Destro]

Dude, next time you post a link to back up your claim, make sure you read it to see if it does or not-in this case it does not...Sloppy.

Whether or not there ever was an historic Bishop Nicholas of Myra (Jones thinks that there may well have been)

[longjack]

My kids faithfully put out their shoes on the eve of December 5th

Kids?

The shoes I put out last night were were stuffed this morning, too.

longjack

[Oztrich Boy]

Yeah, I saw that. and Whatever! Jones can think whatever he likes.

whether or not there was a historical bishop, all "accounts of his life" reek of myth. "The Power of Three" Three maidens, three condemmed innocents, three murdered boys, three generals, three sailors.

[Destro]

I am more than willing to leave miracles to "mythology" as a historian who is very comfortable in explaining the super natural with human insight it is clear he existed as a real person with real historical weight that later generations thought was worthy of myth linkage.

All myths are based on facts. You were just sloppy in your assertion that St. Nicholas did not exist and you link as your proof a source which says he probably did.

[Clintonfatigued]

That's a terriffic idea.

[Salvation]

Advent Reflections for All -- 2003

The Advent Calendar

The Advent Wreath

The Jesse Tree

[Romulus]

Merry Christmas!

[Salvation]

BTTT on 12-06-04!

[SuziQ]

At our kids' old Catholic School, the Christmas Bazaar features "Pictures with St. Nicholas". We don't do 'Santa Claus'.

[Pyro7480]

BTTT on the Feast of St. Nicholas, 6 December 2005.

[Salvation]

American Catholic’s Saint of the Day

December 6, 2005

St. Nicholas

(d. 350?)

The absence of the “hard facts” of history is not necessarily an obstacle to the popularity of saints, as the devotion to St. Nicholas shows. Both the Eastern and Western Churches honor him, and it is claimed that, after the Blessed Virgin, he is the saint most pictured by Christian artists. And yet, historically, we can pinpoint only the fact that Nicholas was the fourth-century bishop of Myra, a city in Lycia, a province of Asia Minor.

As with many of the saints, however, we are able to capture the relationship which Nicholas had with God through the admiration which Christians have had for him—an admiration expressed in the colorful stories which have been told and retold through the centuries.

Perhaps the best-known story about Nicholas concerns his charity toward a poor man who was unable to provide dowries for his three daughters of marriageable age. Rather than see them forced into prostitution, Nicholas secretly tossed a bag of gold through the poor man’s window on three separate occasions, thus enabling the daughters to be married. Over the centuries, this particular legend evolved into the custom of gift-giving on the saint’s feast. In the English-speaking countries, St. Nicholas became, by a twist of the tongue, Santa Claus—further expanding the example of generosity portrayed by this holy bishop.

Comment:

The critical eye of modern history makes us take a deeper look at the legends surrounding St. Nicholas. But perhaps we can utilize the lesson taught by his legendary charity, look deeper at our approach to material goods in the Christmas season and seek ways to extend our sharing to those in real need.

Quote:

“In order to be able to consult more suitably the welfare of the faithful according to the condition of each one, a bishop should strive to become duly acquainted with their needs in the social circumstances in which they live.... He should manifest his concern for all, no matter what their age, condition, or nationality, be they natives, strangers, or foreigners” (Decree on the Bishops' Pastoral Office, 16).

American Catholic’s Saint of the Day

December 6, 2005

St. Nicholas

(d. 350?)

The absence of the “hard facts” of history is not necessarily an obstacle to the popularity of saints, as the devotion to St. Nicholas shows. Both the Eastern and Western Churches honor him, and it is claimed that, after the Blessed Virgin, he is the saint most pictured by Christian artists. And yet, historically, we can pinpoint only the fact that Nicholas was the fourth-century bishop of Myra, a city in Lycia, a province of Asia Minor.

As with many of the saints, however, we are able to capture the relationship which Nicholas had with God through the admiration which Christians have had for him—an admiration expressed in the colorful stories which have been told and retold through the centuries.

Perhaps the best-known story about Nicholas concerns his charity toward a poor man who was unable to provide dowries for his three daughters of marriageable age. Rather than see them forced into prostitution, Nicholas secretly tossed a bag of gold through the poor man’s window on three separate occasions, thus enabling the daughters to be married. Over the centuries, this particular legend evolved into the custom of gift-giving on the saint’s feast. In the English-speaking countries, St. Nicholas became, by a twist of the tongue, Santa Claus—further expanding the example of generosity portrayed by this holy bishop.

Comment:

The critical eye of modern history makes us take a deeper look at the legends surrounding St. Nicholas. But perhaps we can utilize the lesson taught by his legendary charity, look deeper at our approach to material goods in the Christmas season and seek ways to extend our sharing to those in real need.

Quote:

“In order to be able to consult more suitably the welfare of the faithful according to the condition of each one, a bishop should strive to become duly acquainted with their needs in the social circumstances in which they live.... He should manifest his concern for all, no matter what their age, condition, or nationality, be they natives, strangers, or foreigners” (Decree on the Bishops' Pastoral Office, 16).

[Salvation]

BTTT on the Optional Memorial of St. Nicholas, December 6, 2006!