feast of saint
Genesis, Chapter 28,
Verse 17
He was afraid and said, 'How awe-inspiring this
place is! This is nothing less than the abode of God, and this is the gate of
heaven!'
This
verse is about Jacob, who was the grandson of Abraham and he was on a journey
to the ancestral home of Abraham, Haran.
During this journey he had a dream while sleeping in the desert that put
him in a Holy fear. Almost all fear
is destructive but holy fear is the beginning of wisdom and prepares one to do
the will of God. A holy fear helps us to have a great respect for life in all
its stages from the child that goes in the mother’s womb to the elderly that
are approaching their end of life. Holy fear also encompasses a great respect
for the earth and all its creatures. The earth in its grandeur reminds us of
the awe of our God. Make plans to go out to some awe-inspiring place to experience
heavens gates. Holy fear compels us
to protect others and nature; realizing that the earth and each life in it are
sacred and deserving of protection.
From the ninth century in the East and the eleventh century in the
West, Nicholas has been one of the most popular saints in Christendom and in
Christian art and is the patron of many countries, dioceses, churches, and
cities. He was a Greek bishop of Myra in Lycia (now Turkey). According to
folklore, he may have saved three girls from prostitution, restored to life
three children who had been killed, and saved three unjustly condemned men from
death. While some sources say that he may have been imprisoned during the
Diocletian persecution, there is no historical certainty that he suffered
persecution for his faith. Likewise, while some sources place him at the
Council of Nicaea in 325, it is uncertain if he attended. His charity to the
poor is commemorated in modern times by those who follow the tradition of
stuffing a boot or a stocking with gifts on his feast day. “Santa Claus” comes
from the Dutch form of his name, “Sinterklaas.” He is the patron saint of
sailors, merchants, and children.
Things
to Do[2]
·
Today is a good day to teach your children the
difference between Santa Claus and St. Nicholas. This story of the origin of Santa Claus will help you. Also learn all you can
about St.
Nicholas.
·
Choose some of the recommended activities — a
puppet show, a party, a visit from "St. Nicholas." Make sure to
include in all the activities the story of St. Nicholas, virtues to imitate,
and his significance in the Advent season. Read how different countries Celebrate the Feast of St. Nicholas.
·
To enhance your feasting, purchase a copy of the
CD by the Anonymous 4 Legends of St.
Nicholas. This is medieval music, all in honor of St. Nicholas, done
by four female vocalists.
·
There are numerous recipes to enhance this
feast, anything from a soup to dessert, so have fun in the kitchen trying
different ones.
·
St. Nicholas did his charitable works secretly.
Suggest that your children do one hidden act of kindness in imitation of the
saint.
·
From the Netherlands we have the most popular
recipe, speculaas (or St. Nicholas Cookies; Speculaus; Speculatius; Kris
Kringle Cookies; Dutch spice cookies). You can find tips for using special speculaas
cookie molds by Gene Wilson. Try these sites for St. Nicholas Cookie
cutters or molds: House
on the Hill, HOBI Picture Cookie
Molds, Rycraft,
and St. Nicholas Center.
You could also use Nativity Cookie Cutters, like these from Cookie
Craft.
There are three stages of man: 1st you believe in Santa Claus;
2nd you don’t believe in Santa Claus and 3rd you become
Santa Claus!
It should always be remembered that like Lent, Advent is a
period of penitence and sacrifice. Prior to the 1917 Code of Canon Law,
in fact, the Roman church observed a fast (albeit one much less demanding than
the Lenten fast), and prior to Vatican II it continued to require fasting
during the Advent Embertide. It is therefore a salubrious custom to practice
some kind of abstinence (e.g. giving up a favorite food) during Advent as a
sober reminder of the season. Yet
because it anticipates the Nativity, Advent cannot help but be suffused with joy as well. Traditional treats,
especially on St. Nicholas Day (December 6) and during the "Golden Nights"
(December 16 to 24), have long been a part of Advent observance. These hints of
celebration have nothing to do with the ungodly bacchanalia of the annual
Christmas party at the office or on the block and can therefore be made part of
a holy preparation for the Lord.
Cookies: traditional treat during Advent, especially on
St. Nicholas Day and during the octave before Christmas. Springerles or Peppernuts (Pfeffernusse)
are popular in Germany, Diples ("folds,"
for the infant Jesus' swaddling clothes) in Greece, and Speculaas cookies (on St. Nicholas Day) in the Netherlands.
Drinks: there are special holiday drinks to toast the
imminent arrival of the Christ Child. Eggnog
and Rum pots are especially
popular during the Octave before Christmas or the Golden Nights (see Customs),
while Swedish mulled wine or Bishop's wine is drunk on St. Nicholas
Day (December 6).
Fruitcake: alcoholic content and heavy texture,
fruitcakes are the preferred winter treat for many adults. Again, the kind of
fruitcake will various according to nationality. Do not use this as a
frienemy gift!
Advent is an
excellent time to reflect and believe and reflect on the promises of God!
1. “Call on me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you,
and you shall glorify me.”-Ps 50:15
2. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not
rely on your own insight. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make
straight your paths.”-Proverbs 3:5-6
3. “For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the
Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope.”-Jer
29:11
4. “Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying
heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from
me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your
souls.”-Matt 11:28-29
5. “He gives power to the faint, and strengthens the
powerless. Even youths will faint and be weary, and the young will fall
exhausted; but those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength, they
shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they
shall walk and not faint.”
-Is 40:29-31
-Is 40:29-31
6. “God will fully satisfy every need of yours according
to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”-Phil 4:19
7. “Therefore, do not worry, saying, ‘What will we eat?’
or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’ For it is the Gentiles who
strive for all these things; and indeed your heavenly Father knows that you
need all these things. But strive first for the kingdom of God and his
righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”-Matt 6:31-33
8. “Those who listen to me will be secure and will live
at ease, without dread of disaster.”-Proverbs 1:33
9. “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do
not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do
not let them be afraid.”-John 14:27
10. “If you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and
believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”-Rom
10:9
11. “So, if the Son makes you free, you will be free
indeed.”
-John 8:36
-John 8:36
12. “No testing has overtaken you that is not common to
everyone. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tested beyond your
strength, but with the testing he will also provide the way out so that you may
be able to endure it.”-1 Cor 10:13
13. “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil,
and he will flee from you.”-James 4:7
14. “When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears, and
rescues them from all their troubles.”-Ps 34:17
15. “Do not fear, for I am with you, do not be afraid, for
I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with
my victorious right hand.”-Is 41:10
16. “Honor your father and your mother, so that your days
may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.”
-Ex 20:12
-Ex 20:12
17. “The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to
keep still.”
-Ex 14:14
-Ex 14:14
18. “Train children in the right way, and when old, they
will not stray.”-Proverbs 22:6
19. “Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear
no evil; for you are with me; your rod and your staff comfort me.”
-Ps 23:4
-Ps 23:4
20. “So I say to you, Ask, and it will be given you;
search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. For
everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone
who knocks, the door will be opened. Is there anyone among you who, if your
child asks for a fish, will give a snake instead of a fish? Or if the child
asks for an egg, will give a scorpion? If you then, who are evil, know how to
give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give
the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”
-Luke 11:9-13
-Luke 11:9-13
21. “For the mountains may depart and the hills be
removed, but my steadfast love shall not depart from you, and my covenant of
peace shall not be removed, says the Lord, who has compassion on you.”-Is 54:10
22. “I hereby command you: Be strong and courageous; do
not be frightened or dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you
go.”-Josh 1:9
23. “I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the
Father may be glorified in the Son. If in my name you ask me for anything, I
will do it. If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the
Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever.”-John
14:13-16
24. “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has
come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and
Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
-Acts 1:8
-Acts 1:8
25. “I will instruct you and teach you the way you should
go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you.” -Ps 32:8
26. “If any of you is lacking in wisdom, ask God, who
gives to all generously and ungrudgingly, and it will be given you.”
-James 1:5
-James 1:5
27. “And this is the boldness we have in him, that if we
ask anything according to his will, he hears us.”-1 John 5:14
28. “Are any among you sick? They should call for the
elders of the church and have them pray over them, anointing them with oil in
the name of the Lord. The prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will
raise them up; and anyone who has committed sins will be forgiven.”-James
5:14-15
29. “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son,
so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.”-John
3:16
30. “For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor
angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor
height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate
us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”-Romans 8:38-39
31. “Be strong and bold; have no fear or dread of them,
because it is the Lord your God who goes with you; he will not fail you or
forsake you.”-Deut 31:6
32. “Everything that the Father gives me will come to me,
and anyone who comes to me I will never drive away”
-John 6:37
-John 6:37
33. “I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe
in me, even though they die, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in
me will never die. Do you believe this?”
– John 11:25-26
– John 11:25-26
34. “For the Lord God is a sun and shield; he bestows
favor and honor. No good thing does the Lord withhold from those who walk
uprightly.”-Ps 84:11
35. “Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the
desires of your heart.”-Ps 37:4
As we begin the Advent season let us take up the nature of God by
reflecting on these traits that make us a model for our children and our
sisters and brothers in Christ. Today reflect on:
Decisiveness vs. Double-mindedness
The ability to finalize difficult decisions based on the will and ways of God (James 1:5)
1723
The
beatitude we are promised confronts us with decisive
moral choices. It invites us to purify our hearts of bad instincts and to
seek the love of God above all else. It teaches us that true happiness is not
found in riches or well-being, in human fame or power, or in any human
achievement - however beneficial it may be - such as science, technology, and
art, or indeed in any creature, but in God alone, the source of every good and
of all love:
All bow down
before wealth. Wealth is that to which the multitude of men pay an instinctive
homage. They measure happiness by wealth; and by wealth they measure
respectability. . . . It is a homage resulting from a profound faith. . .
that with wealth he may do all things. Wealth is one idol of the day and
notoriety is a second. . . . Notoriety, or the making of a noise in
the world - it may be called "newspaper fame" - has come to be
considered a great good in itself, and a ground of veneration.
1728 the beatitudes confront us with decisive choices
concerning earthly goods; they purify our hearts in order to teach us to love
god above all things.
1970
The
Law of the Gospel requires us to make the decisive
choice between "the two ways" and to put into practice the words
of the Lord. It is summed up in the Golden Rule, "Whatever you wish
that men would do to you, do so to them; this is the law and the prophets."
The entire Law of the Gospel is contained
in the "new commandment" of Jesus, to love one another as he
has loved us.
"Read
these counsels slowly. Pause to meditate on these thoughts. They are things
that I whisper in your ear-confiding them-as a friend, as a brother, as a father.
And they are being heard by God. I won't tell you anything new. I will only
stir your memory, so that some thought will arise and strike you; and so you
will better your life and set out along ways of prayer and of Love. And in the
end you will be a more worthy soul."
Tell me: is that... a friendship, or is it a fetter?
Daily Devotions
·
St.
Nicholas was known for his abundant generosity to the poor, pray for an end to global poverty.
·
Is
there a Giving Tree or an Angel Tree at your church or office? Consider purchasing
gifts for the less fortunate in your community this season. Make it a family
adventure with a special shopping trip for those less fortunate than your
family. Consider visiting fair trade shops in your shopping travels.
[5]http://graceonlinelibrary.org/home-family/christian-parenting/49-godly-character-qualities/
[6]http://www.escrivaworks.org/book/the_way-point-1.htm
No comments:
Post a Comment