Art and Beauty Tuesday--St. Nicholas

I'm excited to bring you a fascinating St. Nicholas Day edition of Art and Beauty Tuesday!

The Saint Nicholas Center reports that the real St. Nicholas may have looked very much like many of the icons of the saint.  When the remains of the saint were removed while the basilica in which they were kept was being renovated, the Vatican requested that a forensic anthropologist reconstruct what St. Nicholas may have looked like based on his remains.  The picture in the middle of the top row is the result.  The others are icons of St. Nicholas.

I think the fact that they do look strikingly close to the real thing is no accident.  Icons are passed down throughout the generations and change very little over the centuries.

Happy Saint Nicholas Day from Dymphna's Well!

Art and Beauty Tuesday--St. Nicholas

I'm excited to bring you a fascinating St. Nicholas Day edition of Art and Beauty Tuesday!

The Saint Nicholas Center reports that the real St. Nicholas may have looked very much like many of the icons of the saint.  When the remains of the saint were removed while the basilica in which they were kept was being renovated, the Vatican requested that a forensic anthropologist reconstruct what St. Nicholas may have looked like based on his remains.  The picture in the middle of the top row is the result.  The others are icons of St. Nicholas.

I think the fact that they do look strikingly close to the real thing is no accident.  Icons are passed down throughout the generations and change very little over the centuries.

Happy Saint Nicholas Day from Dymphna's Well!

Happy Saint Nicholas Day!

St. Nicholas Day is a wonderfully Catholic way to celebrate the true meaning of Christmas. Many cultures put out their shoes the night before to be filled with candy and sweets.

Some parents like to use St. Nicholas day as an opportunity to help kids focus on the true meaning of Christmas by "filling their shoes" with a Christian book, coloring book, or DVD related to Christ's birth. One I always found particularly helpful was Nicholas: The Boy Who Became Santa. It tells the story of St. Nicholas and how he grew up to become the bishop who's generosity has grown into the legend of Santa Claus.

It is important, in my opinion, to teach children that Christmas is not about getting presents and not even about Santa. From a religious, historical and cultural standpoint, Christmas, even the "Santa aspect" of Christmas is decidedly Catholic and religious and, therefore, points to Christ through His Church.

Today, our priest blessed candy canes (mentioning in the prayer that the shape is that of St. Nicholas' bishop's crook or staff) and gave them out to the children after Mass.

The Feast of St. Nicholas is one of the many beautiful feasts of the Church that ties in beautifully with the celebration of Christmas.

May his spirit remain in our hearts throughout the year.

Happy Saint Nicholas Day!

St. Nicholas Day is a wonderfully Catholic way to celebrate the true meaning of Christmas. Many cultures put out their shoes the night before to be filled with candy and sweets.

Some parents like to use St. Nicholas day as an opportunity to help kids focus on the true meaning of Christmas by "filling their shoes" with a Christian book, coloring book, or DVD related to Christ's birth. One I always found particularly helpful was Nicholas: The Boy Who Became Santa. It tells the story of St. Nicholas and how he grew up to become the bishop who's generosity has grown into the legend of Santa Claus.

It is important, in my opinion, to teach children that Christmas is not about getting presents and not even about Santa. From a religious, historical and cultural standpoint, Christmas, even the "Santa aspect" of Christmas is decidedly Catholic and religious and, therefore, points to Christ through His Church.

Today, our priest blessed candy canes (mentioning in the prayer that the shape is that of St. Nicholas' bishop's crook or staff) and gave them out to the children after Mass.

The Feast of St. Nicholas is one of the many beautiful feasts of the Church that ties in beautifully with the celebration of Christmas.

May his spirit remain in our hearts throughout the year.

Happy Saint Nicholas Day!

St. Nicholas was a bishop of Myra in the third century. He was born of wealthy parents and used his inheritance to give to the poor.

In many countries, St. Nicholas Day is the day to exchange gifts, Christmas Day being strictly a spiritual occasion.

The tradition of leaving a gift in one's shoe (as well as hanging stockings) comes from the story that St. Nicholas anonymously gave money to a poor man (throwing it through the window and having it land in their shoes or their stockings hanging to dry) so his daughters would not be sold into slavery, but could marry.

St. Nicholas, Pray for us!

Happy Saint Nicholas Day!

St. Nicholas was a bishop of Myra in the third century. He was born of wealthy parents and used his inheritance to give to the poor.

In many countries, St. Nicholas Day is the day to exchange gifts, Christmas Day being strictly a spiritual occasion.

The tradition of leaving a gift in one's shoe (as well as hanging stockings) comes from the story that St. Nicholas anonymously gave money to a poor man (throwing it through the window and having it land in their shoes or their stockings hanging to dry) so his daughters would not be sold into slavery, but could marry.

St. Nicholas, Pray for us!

Happy Saint Nicholas Day!!

Happy Saint Nicholas Day to everyone!! Celebrating Saint Nicholas Day is almost as diverse as Christmas itself, with traditions in no less than 33 different countries, from Aruba, to Greece to Turkey.

St. Nicholas was born in what is now Demre, Turkey between 260 and 280. Two sources corroborate the story that Nicholas was nominated by popular acclaim to be bishop of Myra, in Turkey, while still a layman.

Three ancient accounts tell of his providing dowries for girls too poor to marry who were destined to be sold into slavery. The most ancient and reliable story of Nicholas involves him going to the port of Andriaki to settle some unrest there. On the way back, townspeople stopped him and told him of three innocent men condemned to die via beheading. Nicholas went to the place of execution, grabbed the sword away and freed the men.

Saint Nicholas was a great example of an early Christian living out the life of peace, justice and mercy as taught by Our Lord in a world of confusion and violence. He is a great example for us who strive to live the Gospel today.

Happy Saint Nicholas Day!!

Happy Saint Nicholas Day to everyone!! Celebrating Saint Nicholas Day is almost as diverse as Christmas itself, with traditions in no less than 33 different countries, from Aruba, to Greece to Turkey.

St. Nicholas was born in what is now Demre, Turkey between 260 and 280. Two sources corroborate the story that Nicholas was nominated by popular acclaim to be bishop of Myra, in Turkey, while still a layman.

Three ancient accounts tell of his providing dowries for girls too poor to marry who were destined to be sold into slavery. The most ancient and reliable story of Nicholas involves him going to the port of Andriaki to settle some unrest there. On the way back, townspeople stopped him and told him of three innocent men condemned to die via beheading. Nicholas went to the place of execution, grabbed the sword away and freed the men.

Saint Nicholas was a great example of an early Christian living out the life of peace, justice and mercy as taught by Our Lord in a world of confusion and violence. He is a great example for us who strive to live the Gospel today.

Happy Saint Nicholas Day!!!

Tomorrow is December 6, the Feast of Saint Nicholas. Nicholas was born in the 200's in what is now the southern coast of Turkey. Orphaned when he was still young, he donated all his money to help the needy, sick and suffering.

He was made Bishop of Myra while still young, and was imprisoned by the Emperor Diocletian. He was released, and attended the Council of Nicaea (from which we get the Nicean Creed).

He died on December 6, 343. After his death, water formed in his grave that had healing powers. This happened when his grave was in Myra, and it continued to occur after his grave was transferred to Bari, Italy. Local artists in Italy paint bottles with images of the saint in which to collect the water, which is extracted from the site every May 9, on the Feast of the Translation of the relics from Myra to Bari.

There are many stories of Saint Nicholas' generosity and protection. One story tells of Nicholas putting bags of money into the stockings (or shoes) of the daughters of a poor man, so that the young women could marry and not be sold into prostitution. Legend says that this is why we hang stockings on Christmas eve.

In some countries, children put out their shoes the night before the feast (that would be tonight!) for St. Nicholas to fill them. Bags of gold chocolate coins are sometimes put in the shoes to commemorate St. Nicholas saving these three young women.

Another way to celebrate St. Nicholas day is to give your children religiously oriented gifts--perhaps gifts to help them remember the real meaning of Christmas, that can get overlooked in the seasonal excitement.

Check out the Saint Nicholas Center for information about Saint Nicholas and the traditions of his feast day.

Happy Saint Nicholas Day!!!

Tomorrow is December 6, the Feast of Saint Nicholas. Nicholas was born in the 200's in what is now the southern coast of Turkey. Orphaned when he was still young, he donated all his money to help the needy, sick and suffering.

He was made Bishop of Myra while still young, and was imprisoned by the Emperor Diocletian. He was released, and attended the Council of Nicaea (from which we get the Nicean Creed).

He died on December 6, 343. After his death, water formed in his grave that had healing powers. This happened when his grave was in Myra, and it continued to occur after his grave was transferred to Bari, Italy. Local artists in Italy paint bottles with images of the saint in which to collect the water, which is extracted from the site every May 9, on the Feast of the Translation of the relics from Myra to Bari.

There are many stories of Saint Nicholas' generosity and protection. One story tells of Nicholas putting bags of money into the stockings (or shoes) of the daughters of a poor man, so that the young women could marry and not be sold into prostitution. Legend says that this is why we hang stockings on Christmas eve.

In some countries, children put out their shoes the night before the feast (that would be tonight!) for St. Nicholas to fill them. Bags of gold chocolate coins are sometimes put in the shoes to commemorate St. Nicholas saving these three young women.

Another way to celebrate St. Nicholas day is to give your children religiously oriented gifts--perhaps gifts to help them remember the real meaning of Christmas, that can get overlooked in the seasonal excitement.

Check out the Saint Nicholas Center for information about Saint Nicholas and the traditions of his feast day.

Happy Saint Nicholas Day!

Today is Saint Nicholas Day! Here is some basic info on Saint Nicholas from MyCatholic.com:

St. Nicholas of Myra
Nicholas was a priest, an abbot, and a bishop of Myra. Once, he helped a poor family by dropping bags of gold coins in a window, landing in a stocking hung up to dry. Thus, the story of Santa Claus was born. He was known for his holiness, zeal, and astonishing miracles–even raising people from the dead.

Check out the Saint Nicholas Center website today. It is a wealth of information about today's saint and the origin of Santa Claus. For many cultures and in many times, Saint Nicholas Day was the gift giving day and Christmas day was a holy day only.

I like to use Saint Nicholas Day as a day to focus on the Christian meaning of the holidays. I often would buy a holy card or something similar to go along with the candy that Saint Nicholas bought. One year, Saint Nicholas even brought a gold fish in a gold fish bowl!

An appropriate children's video to watch on Saint Nicholas Day is called, Nicholas, the Boy Who Became Santa. Its a good explanation of Santa Claus with a Christian perspective.

There are some churches who like to have someone dress up as Saint Nicholas for the children--I think its a great way to take back the Christmas message from the total secularization of the world.

Saint Nicholas, help us all to be generous and loving, and to keep the true spirit of Christmas in our hearts all year long!

Happy Saint Nicholas Day!

Today is Saint Nicholas Day! Here is some basic info on Saint Nicholas from MyCatholic.com:

St. Nicholas of Myra
Nicholas was a priest, an abbot, and a bishop of Myra. Once, he helped a poor family by dropping bags of gold coins in a window, landing in a stocking hung up to dry. Thus, the story of Santa Claus was born. He was known for his holiness, zeal, and astonishing miracles–even raising people from the dead.

Check out the Saint Nicholas Center website today. It is a wealth of information about today's saint and the origin of Santa Claus. For many cultures and in many times, Saint Nicholas Day was the gift giving day and Christmas day was a holy day only.

I like to use Saint Nicholas Day as a day to focus on the Christian meaning of the holidays. I often would buy a holy card or something similar to go along with the candy that Saint Nicholas bought. One year, Saint Nicholas even brought a gold fish in a gold fish bowl!

An appropriate children's video to watch on Saint Nicholas Day is called, Nicholas, the Boy Who Became Santa. Its a good explanation of Santa Claus with a Christian perspective.

There are some churches who like to have someone dress up as Saint Nicholas for the children--I think its a great way to take back the Christmas message from the total secularization of the world.

Saint Nicholas, help us all to be generous and loving, and to keep the true spirit of Christmas in our hearts all year long!