Our Holy Father Nicholas the Wonderworker, Archbishop of Myra in Lycia.
A day when the faithful are highly encouraged to participate in the Divine Liturgy. Nativity Fast. Abstention from meat and foods that contain meat.
Hebrews 13:17-21. Luke 6:17-23.
Read Hebrews 13:17-21
We commemorate one of the most beloved saints in Christian History. Here is an amazing human being who lived 1600 years ago and still touches the hearts of people all over the world even into the 21st century. We are blessed with many Fathers of the Church who left us deep theological orations and teachings, which defended and upheld Apostolic Christianity, but St. Nicholas—even though he was an ardent believer and defender of the Catholic Faith handed down to the Apostles from Jesus Christ Himself—did not leave us a written defence of the faith; however, he left us a living testament of the Faith expressed in a life of faith, holiness and charity.
His life of holiness has inspired believers, and even non-believers, to admire his virtue and emulate it. Not only does it please St. Nicholas when we emulate his charity, but it pleases the Lord even more. There are two parameters that St. Nicholas tried always to uphold: do all acts of charity in the name of Jesus Christ—for His glory— and therefore as much as possible do them in secret. Our Lord teaches “But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” (Matt 6:3). This is the path toward growth in grace and sanctification. Let us take up the challenge today of honouring St. Nicholas by going out of our way to practice charity: trying to do so in the name of Jesus Christ and in secret—to give glory to Christ and not to ourselves.