Saint Nicholas

Do you know the real man behind Santa Claus? The real bishop? The real Saint Nicholas? Today the Church celebrates the Feast of Saint Nicholas. Here he is...

• a fourth-century bishop of Myra in Lycia (in present-day Turkey)
• known for his generosity and his love of children
• saved a poor family’s daughters from slavery by tossing into their window enough gold for a rich dowry, a present that landed in some shoes or stockings
• a delegate to the Council of Nicea in A.D. 325, which battled the heretics who denied the deity of Christ
• got so fed up with Arius (who taught that Jesus was just a man) during the aforementioned Council that he walked up and slapped him
• one of the authors of the Nicene Creed, which affirms that Jesus Christ is both true God and true man
• a staunch defender of Jesus Christ and the one true faith
• died on 6 December 342

Today we give thanks to the one true God for Saint Nicholas and his faithful confession of Jesus Christ!

Almighty God, You bestowed upon Your servant Nicholas of Myra the perpetual gift of charity. Grant Your Church the grace to deal in generosity and love with children and with all who are poor and distressed and to plead the cause of those who have no helper, especially those tossed by tempests of doubt or grief. We ask this for the sake of Him who gave His life for us, Your Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.