Also
known as Klaus Mikulas ,Nicholas of Bari ,Nicolaas ,Nicolas, Niklas ,Santa Claus
Memorial 6 December Profile
Priest. Abbot. Bishop of Myra, Lycia (modern Turkey). Generous to the poor, and
special protector of the innocent and wronged. Many stories grew up around him
prior to his becoming Santa Claus. Some examples Upon hearing that a local man
had fallen on such hard times that he was planning to sell his daughters into
prostitution, Nicholas went by night to the house and threw three bags of gold
in through the window, saving the girls from an evil life. These three bags, gold
generously given in time of trouble, became the three golden balls that indicate
a pawn broker's shop. He raised to life three young boys who had been murdered
and pickled in a barrel of brine to hide the crime. These stories led to his patronage
of children in general, and of barrel-makers besides. Induced some thieves to
return their plunder. This explains his protection against theft and robbery,
and his patronage of them - he's not helping them steal, but to repent and change.
In the past, thieves have been known as Saint Nicholas' clerks or Knights of Saint
Nicholas. During a voyage to the Holy Lands, a fierce storm
blew up, threatening the ship. He prayed over it, and the storm calmed - hence
the patronage of sailors and those like dockworkers who work on the sea. Died
c.346 at Myra, Lycia (in modern Turkey) of natural causes; relics believed to
be at Bari, Italy Canonized Pre-Congregation Patronage
against imprisonment ,against robberies, against robbers, apothecaries ,barrel
makers ,boatmen, brewers, brides, ,captives ,children, coopers ,dock workers,
,fishermen, ,grooms ,judges, lawsuits lost unjustly,maidens ,mariners ,newlyweds,
old maids, parish clerks, paupers, pawnbrokers, perfumeries, perfumers ,pharmacists,
pilgrims, poor people, Portsmouth, England , sailors ,scholars, schoolchildren,
shoe shiners, spinsters ,students, thieves, travellers,unmarried girls, watermen
Representation anchor ,bishop calming a storm ,bishop
holding three bags of gold, bishop holding three balls, bishop with three children,
bishop with three children in a tub at his feet ,purse ship three bags of gold
,three balls three golden balls on a book Back
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