St. Nicholas B. C

Charity in comforting and relieving the distressed seemed the characteristical virtue of St. Nicholas. Amongst many other instances, it is related, that when three virgins were exposed through distress to the danger of falling into vicious courses, he, conveyed to them by night through the window a competent sum of money for a fortune for each of them, so that they were all portioned, and afterward happily married. — The metropolitan Church of Myra falling vacant, the holy Abbot Nicholas was chosen Archbishop, and in that exalted station became famous by his extraordinary piety and zeal, and an incredible number of stupendous miracles. — He suffered imprisonment for the faith, and made glorious confession in the latter part of the persecution raised by Diocletian. He was present at the great Council of Nice, and there condemned Arianism. He died at Myra, and was buried in his own cathedral.

St. Nicholas is esteemed a patron of children, because he was from his infancy a model of innocence and virtue, and to form that tender age to sincere piety was always his first care and delight. To impress the minds of children with perfect sentiments of devotion, religion, and all virtue, with an earnestness in all duties, is a task often as delicate as it is important. Instructions must be made intelligible and adapted by similes, parables, and examples to the weakness of their capacities. Above all, they are to be enforced by the conduct of those with whom children converse. Precepts and exhortations lose their force when contradicted by example. — «Rescue the poor, and deliver the needy out of the hand of the sinner.» Ps. LXXXI. 4. — «Do not forget to do good and to impart.» Hebr. XIII. 16.

O God, who by innumerable miracles hast honoured the blessed Nicholas thy Bishop: grant, we beseech thee, that by his merits and intercession we may be delivered from eternal flames. Thro’.