“Almighty God, in your love you gave your servant Nicholas of Myra a perpetual name for deeds of kindness both on land and sea: Grant, we pray, that your Church may never cease to work for the happiness of children, the safety of sailors, the relief of the poor, and the help of those tossed by tempests of doubt or grief; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen” Lesser Feasts and Fasts (Church Publishing, 2006), p. 97.
If you have been reading this blog for several years, you have probably heard about St. Nikolas on this his feast day on the sixth of December. I apologize right now because you are going to hear about him now for the third time. I am powerless when it comes to St. Nikolas. He has just been a too important figure in my life. You might say that in December, I develop an addiction for St. Nikolas!
Very little is known of the life of Nicholas, bishop of Myra who lived in Asia Minor around 342. He is the patron of seafarers, sailors and more especially of children. As a bearer of gifts to children, his name was brought to America by the Dutch colonists in New York where he soon became known as Santa Claus.
The feast day of St. Nicholas has been celebrated in our family as a major holiday. We have a big family meal together. My husband dresses up as Bishop Nicholas with a beard, a miter, and crozier and long red stole and comes to visit our grandchildren after dinner. He speaks Greek to the children and the adults. Speaking Greek is my husband’s favorite pastime, and of course you know that Nikolas was Greek. Nike the Greek! Then our grandchildren go into the bedrooms and leave their shoes outside the doors and Bishop Nicholas leaves chocolate coins and presents in their shoes. I won’t bore you with our pictures of this family event, but they are stunning.
Why am I sharing with you our family story? I remember so many years on this feast day as I would sit and watch this pageant. I am still filled with tremendous gratitude, as my recovery date is close to the feast day of St. Nicholas. Each year I know that if someone had not led me to a recovery program, I would not be alive tonight. I would not have witnessed this wonderful blessing of seeing and remembering my children and grandchildren giggle with glee as they try to respond to a beautiful old man with a fake beard speaking Greek to them and secretly giving them candy in their shoes. For me it is a yearly reminder to keep working a program of recovery so I can be around for another feast day of St. Nicholas.
This is just a suggestion. Look at the calendar of saints. Find one close to a date where some great change took place in your life. Learn about that saint. Observe that saint’s day in your home, in your life. You may even consider that saint as your patron saint. This is just one more way to remember how your life has been transformed. Spend that saint’s day giving thanks for those before you who loved you before you were born with a love that only comes from the love of the God of our understanding.
Joanna joannaseibert.com
