Saint Nicholas, Bishop (Optional Memorial)
We bless you from the house of the Lord. (Psalm 118:26)
For many children, today is a special day. On the eve of the feast of St. Nicholas, they put their shoes outside their bedroom door before they go to bed, and in the morning they find treats inside them. St. Nick has made a visit!
The real St. Nicholas was born in 270 of wealthy parents who died in an epidemic while he was young. Raised by an uncle who was a monk, Nicholas was eventually ordained a priest. He spent years as a pilgrim in the Holy Land, and when he returned, he was consecrated the bishop of Myra, a city in southwestern Turkey. A bold defender of the divinity of Christ during the Council of Nicaea, Nicholas died on December 6, 343.
Countless stories have come down through the centuries of Nicholas’ remarkable generosity. According to one famous story, Nicholas helped a poor man who had no money for a dowry for his three daughters. Without a dowry, they would remain unmarried and possibly end up having to support themselves as prostitutes. So Nicholas threw a bag of gold into the man’s window one night, and did it again as each of the other two daughters came of age. (Thus began the tradition of St. Nick secretly giving children gifts.)
How can we be a blessing to other people as St. Nicholas was? By being as generous as we can. By imitating Nicholas’ habit of giving ourselves to other people through acts of love, compassion, and kindness. Every day, God gives us opportunities to bless people by giving of ourselves, just as he does. Every day, he invites us to share in the joy he has in pouring himself out for his children.
God has been generous to you in so many ways. Today, in response to that generosity, ask God to open your eyes to the needs around you. Ask him to show you too how deeply he has blessed you. Then let your love and gratitude for these blessings flow out of you to help lift up the distressed, the poor, the lost, and the needy. As you become a blessing to others, you will be blessed as well!
“Lord, show me how I can be more generous to the people around me this Advent season.”
Matthew 7:21, 24-27
Isaiah 26:1-6
Saint John of the Cross (1542-1591)
Carmelite, Doctor of the Church
Maxims and Counsels (copyright ICS pubs.)
Hear and put into practice
The Father spoke one Word, which was his Son, and this Word he always speaks in eternal silence, and in silence must it be heard by the soul.
Speak little and do not meddle in matters about which you are not asked.
Do not complain about anyone, nor ask for anything; and if it is necessary for you to ask, let it be with few words.
Do not contradict; in no manner speak words that are not pure.
Let your speech be such that no one may be offended, and let it concern things which would not cause you regret were all to know of them.
Keep spiritually tranquil in a loving attentiveness to God, and when it is necessary to speak, let it be with the same calm and peace.
Be silent concerning what God may have given you and recall that saying of the bride: “My secret for myself” (Is 24,16)...
To advance in virtue it is important that you be silent and act, since by talking we become distracted whereas in keeping silence and working we become recollected.
As soon as you have learnt from someone what is necessary to advance spiritually, you should not ask him to say anything further about it nor continue talking but set yourself to work earnestly and in silence, with zeal and humility, with charity and self-contempt.
Before anything else, it is necessary and fitting to serve God in the silencing of one's disordered habits, as of the tongue, so that nothing may be heard but words of love.