Prayer is something that we learn and it is also a gift from God. It is a combination of our own personal effort and the work of God within us. It establish-es a real communion with God that forms into the relationship intended by him for each one of us.

what is saint nino the patron saint of

The modern-day mythical character of Santa Claus is well known for being a secret gift-giver. This is due in part to a popular story surrounding the 4th-century bishop, St. Nicholas of Myra.

Many Catholic families celebrate St. Nicholas with great enthusiasm, especially as a reminder that Christmas itself, and even Santa Claus, are eminently religious celebrations.

Nevertheless, to focus only on St. Nicholas’ gift-giving might allow us to forget that he is a saint and a powerful intercessor.

This beautiful prayer, part of a Little Office of St. Nicholas, reminds us that the holy bishop can do much more for us than leave chocolate coins (or oranges) in our shoes!

St Nicolas of Myre statue

Read more:
Blessing of oranges for St. Nicholas’ feast day

Prayer to Saint Nicholas

O good Saint Nicholas, you who are the joy of the children, put in my heart the spirit of childhood, of which the Gospel speaks, and teach me to seed happiness around me.

You, whose feast prepares us for Christmas, open my faith to the mystery of God made man.

You, good bishop and shepherd, help me to find my place in the Church and inspire the Church to be faithful to the gospel.

O good Saint Nicholas, patron of children, sailors, and the helpless, watch over those who pray to Jesus, your Lord and theirs, as well as over those who humble themselves before you.

Bring us all in reverence to the Holy Child of Bethlehem, where true joy and peace are found.

Amen.

During Advent

Good St Nicholas,

Help us prepare for the miracle of the coming of Jesus.

Help us not to be blind to the gifts of getting ready.

Help us be sincere in the greetings we send and receive, with love and prayer.

Kind St. Nicholas, protect us from shoppers’ fatigue, stress, overspending, yet help us to be kind and generous of heart to all, especially those who are alone, financially poor and fearful.

May our celebration of your feast lead others to see the true meaning of giving and receiving and to guide all people to

the greatest of all gifts, even Jesus Christ, prince of peace and child of Mary, Our Lord and only savior.

Amen

St. Nicholas was born toward the end of the third century. His uncle, the Archbishop of Myra in Lycia, ordained him a priest, and appointed him abbot of a monastery. On the death of the Archbishop, he was elected Bishop of the vacant See.
Throughout his life he retained the bright manners of his early years and showed himself the special protector of the innocent and the wronged. Nicholas once heard that a person who had fallen into poverty intended to abandon his three daughters to a life of sin. Determined, if possible, to save their innocence, the Saint went out by night, and, taking with him a bag of gold, flung it into the window of the sleeping father and hurried off.
He, on awaking, deemed the gift of godsend, and with it dowered his eldest child. The Saint, overjoyed at his success, did the same for the second daughter; but the third time, as he stole away, the father, who was watching, overtook him and kissed his feet, saying: “Nicholas, why do you conceal yourself from me? You are my helper, and the one who has delivered my soul and my daughters’ from hell.”

St. Nicholas is usually represented by the side of a barrel, where a certain man had concealed the bodies of his three children who he had killed, but who were restored to life by the Saint.
St. Nicholas died A.D. 342. His relics were transferred in 1807 to Bari, Italy, and there, after fifteen centuries, “the manna of St. Nicholas” still flows from his bones and heals all kinds of sicknesses.

Novena Begins: November 28
Feast Day: December 6
Name Meaning: “The Victorious People”
Patron Saint of: Children, Fishermen, Merchants, Sailors, Bakers, Dock Workers

Day 1 – St. Nicholas of Myra Novena

Let us begin, In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Almighty God, who in thy love didst give to thy servant Nicholas of Myra a perpetual name for deeds of kindness on land and sea: Grant, we pray thee, that thy Church may never cease to work for the happiness of children, the safety of sailors, the relief of the poor, and the help of those tossed by tempests of doubt or grief; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

Amen

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Saint Nicholas of Myra, pray for us