St. Nicholas

The limelight given to Santa Claus whose ever-expanding entourage of Mrs. Claus, elves, reindeer, etc. clouds the vision of the real man behind the legend, St. Nicholas. Even at that, we know little about him who has his own series of stories and legends. We do know that he was the son of wealthy parents and was born in the third century in Patara, which is now part of southern Turkey. It was part of Greece during his lifetime. When his parents died, he gave away his legacy to the poor, and noted for his kindness, was made a bishop, even as a young man. His generosity continued during his life as bishop of Myra, leading to the stories in which he devotes much of his attention to the well-being and protection of children, particularly the poor.
One story tells of three bags of gold being thrown through the window of a father of three daughters too poor to provide dowries for them, and thus facing the possibility of having to sell them into slavery. The bags of gold landed on the shoes and stockings of the girls which were drying by the fire, thus saving them from slavery. Hence, today, the custom of hanging stockings on the mantle. Other stories describe miraculous rescues of children from marauders and returning them to their parents.
In our preparation for Christmas, we might keep in mind the type of generosity which blesses children with care, kindness, and love, rather than with bundles of material things whose attraction soon fades away.
Bro. Rene