Saint Nicholas—a true hero for all times

  • By Shelly Webb of The Holmes County Journal
  • December 24, 2009
  • 974
                        
Over the years many stories and legends have evolved regarding the jolly guy in the red suit, but the true story of Santa Claus actually begins where many festivals begin…in the Catholic faith. This story begins with a bishop full of generosity and love known to the world as Nicholas. “Much of what we know about Nicholas is shrouded in legend,” said Father Ron Aubry, of St. Peter Catholic Church in Millersburg. “We know that Nicholas lived a very long time ago and was a very faithful man. We also know that he became the Bishop of Myra and that he was especially generous and had a great mission for the poor and sick. He cared immensely about others and wanted to see their needs met.” According to Aubry, Nicholas was born sometime during the third century in the village of Patara (Lycia Asian Minor). At the time the area was occupied by the Greek, but today it’s located on the southern coast of Turkey. Nicholas had very wealthy parents, who raised him to be a devout Christian. However, they died when Nicholas was very young. When Nicholas became an adult, according to historical accounts, he knew that God had called him to serve others. He became a bishop and was known for his strong belief in the words that Jesus spoke to “sell what you own and give the money to the poor.” He actually used his entire inheritance to help the needy and the sick. He was imprisoned at one point under the Roman emperor Diocletian during A.D. 300 when Christians were being persecuted. Nicholas was released and continued serving in the church. He died at an old age, on Dec. 6, AD 343, in Myra, and was buried in his cathedral church. As his popularity spread during the middle ages, he became the patron saint of Apulia (Italy), Sicily, Greece, and (France), and many cities in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, Russia, Belgium, and the Netherlands. He remains a saint today on the Catholic calendar, although his feast is optional. Today, more than 2,000 churches are named after Nicholas. “There are many legends of him selling books and giving the money to the poor and giving bags of gold to girls that didn’t have dowries,” Aubry said. “Some of the legends say he threw the gold down the chimneys and it fell in the girl’s socks that were hanging by the fire to dry. Many of the Santa Claus customs come from legendary accounts of his own actions although we’re not 100 percent certain if these accounts are all true.” Aubry thinks that separating the fact from the fiction where St. Nicholas is concerned isn’t as important as recognizing the ideals and philosophies represented by the saint. “I think it’s fascinating that in every culture there is this figure of St. Nicholas,” he said. “In Spain he is known as San Nicolas, in Italy he is called San Nicola, in the Netherlands he is Sinter Klaas and right here in the United States he is Santa. St. Nicholas Day is celebrated all over the world as a time of giving and sharing with others. It is a very kind and generous time in our world when St. Nicholas is remembered and celebrated and I think it is a great honor to such a giving man that lived so long ago.” Unfortunately, St. Nicholas and his more modern persona, Santa Claus, has gotten connected to materialism and commercialism over the years. Aubry thinks this is particularly sad, especially since the saint was so unselfish and so focused on meeting the needs of others. “I think materialism has tried to kidnap St. Nicholas,” Aubry explained. “Much of our society today uses the holiday and Christmas season to push their products and make money. But we should not allow that to hinder our image of St. Nicholas or our belief in what he represents. I know, because of the commercialism and other factors, that many parents have issues with telling the story of Santa Claus to their children. If you don’t want to tell about Santa Claus that’s fine, but the story of St. Nicholas is worth telling in my opinion. I believe the man, St. Nicholas, represents the gift and presence of God to mankind. What the legend teaches, for example, about St. Nicholas going around the entire world in one night making his presence known is what God does every single day of the year. The real story of St. Nicholas and what he still represents today glorifies God because it is based in helping others and giving selflessly.” Aubry believes that the glory of God is reflected in his saints and what we all see and admire in St. Nicholas, and Santa Claus, is in fact the glory of God alive and well in humanity today. So when your kids are excited about what Santa may bring this year, stop and remind them of his saintly origin and then remind them to be thankful for the greatest gift God blessed mankind with…the miraculous birth of a Savior for all of us.


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