The Real St. Nicholas

Saturday, December 6th Readings Reflection: Optional Memorial of Saint Nicholas, Bishop

Today is the Feast of St. Nicholas, the fourth century Bishop of Myra (now Demre in Turkey) whose veneration has resulted in the modern-day legend of Santa Claus. St. Nicholas was born in Asia Minor to devoutly religious parents who died while he was still young, leaving him a large inheritance. St. Nicholas was then raised by his uncle, who was himself a bishop and later ordained his nephew to the priesthood. Eagerly giving his life to God and the Church, St. Nicholas used his wealth to help the poor.

A famous story surrounds St. Nicholas and his works of charity. He learned of a poor man whose three daughters were unable to marry due to their lack of a dowry. Three times, St. Nicholas took a bag of gold to the man’s house at night and threw it in an open window. The third time he did so, the father caught him and thanked him profusely for his generosity. As a result of this event, St. Nicholas is the patron saint of pawnbrokers and is often represented in sacred art with three purses or bags of money.

After St. Nicholas was made Bishop of Myra, he was tortured and thrown into prison along with other Christians, as a new wave of persecution spread throughout the Roman Empire. He was later released from prison when Constantine became emperor. Resuming his episcopal ministry, St. Nicholas firmly resisted the errors of Arianism, and St. Methodius credits him for single-handedly keeping the heresy out of the region of Myra. Some traditions hold that St. Nicholas was present at the Council of Nicaea in 325, the anniversary of which our Holy Father just commemorated by visiting Turkey and Lebanon. Other traditions, however, do not mention the saint at Nicaea, so that detail is unclear (Catholic Online).

Another famous story about St. Nicholas involves three imperial officers who were unjustly imprisoned while on route to their assignment and condemned to death on false charges. Their fellow officers implored God to spare the lives of the three imprisoned men through the merits of St. Nicholas. That night, St. Nicholas appeared in dreams to Emperor Constantine and the man who had imprisoned the officers, commanding them to release the prisoners in order to avoid future suffering. Emperor Constantine released the men and sent them to the saint, who was still alive at the time.

In today’s Gospel, Our Lord sends forth the seventy-two disciples like sheep among wolves. This aptly summarizes the life of St. Nicholas, whom St. Thomas Aquinas describes as an example of the virtue of mercy. The mercy and charity of St. Nicholas continue to inspire traditions throughout the world each December, and today’s feast gives us the opportunity to remember the real saint behind these traditions, whose charity and steadfast devotion to the truth have led countless souls to Christ throughout the past two millennia.

Saint Nicholas, ora pro nobis!

St. Nicholas, by Titian. Public domain.