The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1920-01-24

people who wantonly abused
the children of France and Belgium. When we
call ST. Nicholas Santa Claus" we merely
saying il OLE own way san Nicolaas," the peo
pie of Holland say it. For the Hollanders who
settled in New York and New Jersey 800 years
ago at the very beginning of our country, brought
San Nicolaas with them, and it not long be-
core Americans were saying Santa Claus"
Why, ST. Nicholas belongs to all the world.
Hundreds of churches in England bear his name.
Thee are more than hundred ST. Nicholas
churches i'll Belgium Thousands Of such churches
iir" scattered all over Europe.
he queer thin. about it is that St. Nicholas
" really born in Asia Minor, in PantheFa, in the
lF'Fince of Lycia. in the sixth century ST. Nicho-
II Bari he is oftenest called by Europeans,fbut
y the bones OF ST. Nicholas reposing for eight
lturies in the crypt Of handsome cathedral at
J Fri. Italy, have given him that title He never
iived In Bari. Italian traders, who worshiped
aim as their especial protector, stole his body
IRON It's resting place in Ayra in the twelfth CEN
fury and brought it to the italian seaport Since
that time the celebration held there in the saints
honor is unique.
The eastern world knew and loved him first. but
1t is from western Europe that we learn of many
of the quaint customs connected with the ceebra-
fion OF his birth. In Lycia he lived to good old
age Iiling his days even In childhood by doing
good deeds and giving lavishly to the poor of the
fortune he Inherited. 1t Christlike to give,
SO. as steward OF God. his wealth belonged to
Gods children, Nicholas believed Finally he was
made bishop of Myra, where he went to live after
pilgrimage to the Holy Land.
it was not strange that after such a life of
charity he should become saint of the common
people, even as St George was a saint of knie,,t.
hood lie was invoked by the laborer toiling for
MS daily bread, by mariners, by merchants He
was protector OF the weak against the strong the
poor against the rich, the captive the prisoner,
the slave. He was especial guardian of madens
scfooiboys, the orphan poor. Throughout most Of
Europe children are taught to reverence him. and
to believe If they docile and attentive to their
duties he will fill the cap or stocking with d;,in-
tles II they are naughty idle, he certainly has
rod IN pickle to bring along for them.
Here is wlxat the Encyclopedia Britannica has
to say about st. Nicholas:
ST. Nicholas bishop of Myra, in Lycia, saint
honored by the Greeks and the Latins on the
sixth OF December. His cult is as celebrated as
his history is obscure. All the accounts that have
come down to us are of purely legendary char
acter ana it Is impossible to find any single in
cident confirmed historically. The main facts of
his life are usually given as follows:
He was bishop of Myra at the time of the
emperor Diocietian, was prosecuted, tortured for
the faith. and kept in prison until the more toll
Grant reign of Constantine and was present at
the council of Nicaea. It should be observed that
tnis last circumstance is ignored by all histor-
ians and that st Athanasius, who knew all the
notable bishops of the period, never mentions
Nicholas, bishop OF Ayra. The Oldest known
monument of the cult of St Nicholas seems to be
the Church of Sts Phiscus and Nicholas built at
Constantinople by the Emperor Justinian In the
West, the name of st. Nicholas appears in the
ninth century martyrologies, and churches dedi-
Gated to him are to be found at the beginning of
the eleventh century
1t is more especially however. from the time
of The removal of his body to Bari in Apulia that
his cult became popular. The inhabitants of Rari
organized an expedition seized his remains by
means OF a ruse, and transported them to Bari.
where they We're received in triumph on the ninth
of May. 1857 and where the foundations were laid
of a new basilica in his honor This was the
origin OF a famous and still popular pilgrimage
There are nearly 400 churches In England dedi
Gated TO st. Nicholas. He is the patron saint of
Russia; the special protector of children schol-
ars, merchants and sailors: and is invoked by
travellers ngainstSrobbers. In art St Nicholas IS
represented with various attributes being most
commonly depicted with three children standing
In a tub by his side. OF the various interpreta-
tions of this none Is absolutely certain. One ex.
piunation has been sought In the legend of ST
Nicholas mraculously restoring to life three rich
youths, who had been murdered, cut up and con-
cealed in sailing tub by thievish innkeeper
or butcher, In whose house they had taken lodg-
Ing