Ss. Cyril and Methodius @ St. Cyril Bannister

HOMILY - SS. CYRIL AND METHODIUS

FEBRUARY 14, 2021

Today is the feast day of Ss. Cyril and Methodius. 

The two holy brothers were missionaries in the 9th century, and are considered to be the Apostles to the Slavic people.

The eastern church calls them “Equal to the Apostles,” and they are credited with creating an alphabet, called Glagolitic, which was used to transcribe the ancient language of the area now known as Old Church Slavonic.

They were born Constantine and Michael, and took the names Cyril and Methodius on being received into the monastic life.

I also read somewhere that in earlier centuries, French monks went to eastern Europe hoping to convert the Slavs, but were thwarted by their own limitations. Much to the monks’ frustrations, nobody else spoke French or Latin. 

After confusing everybody they came across during their very unsuccessful missionary efforts, most of them turned around went back to France.

In their own time, the holy brothers came across the remnants of those French monks, who gave the two of them a hard time. The brothers went to Rome, and argued for the use of a language other than Hebrew, Greek, or Latin in prayer and liturgy. It was on this trip that Cyril died in Rome, while Methodius returned after being named archbishop.

He continued on alone, oftentimes coming into conflict with French and German bishops, and always taking his case to Rome. He died 18 years after his brother, and is buried in the cathedral church of Great Moravia.

One thousand years later, in 1880, Pope Leo XIII introduced the feast of Cyril and Methodius into the General Roman Calendar on July 5, and then seven years later, it was moved to July 7. It stayed there for over 80 years until the reform of the liturgy in 1969, where it was moved to February 14 – today. 

In 1980, Pope St. John Paul II named the brothers as co-patrons of Europe – along with St. Benedict of Nursia.

Our Lady of the Rosary @ St. Apollinaris School

HOMILY - OUR LADY OF THE ROSARY (VOTIVE)

OCTOBER 5, 2017

11:00 AM ORDINARY FORM (ENGLISH) MASS (ALL SCHOOL)

Today we're celebrating Our Lady of the Rosary as a votive Mass. The real feast day is on Saturday, October 7. But even better: the entire month of October is dedicated to the Rosary. So, this month is a good opportunity to get into a more regular practice of praying the Rosary.

Technically, the word "Rosary" means a crown of roses, or a wreath of roses. Rosaries usually come in five sets of ten beads with an additional separate bead in-between. These groupings of 10 are called "decades" – like in history where a decade is 10 years, a decade is 10 beads, or 10 prayers. Traditionally, there are 3 sets of 5 mysteries, and each mystery gets a decade. 3 times 5 times 10 equals 150 - which is the same as the number of psalms in the Bible. So, sometimes, the Rosary is called "Mary's Psalter" because there would be 150 Hail Mary's.

The sets of mysteries are traditionally Joyful, Sorrowful, and Glorious. St. John Paul II added another set, called the Luminous mysteries. The mysteries are from Jesus' childhood, His Passion, or from the Gospels or the Acts of the Apostles. 

The mysteries are as follows:

JOYFUL MYSTERIES

The Annunciation. Fruit of the Mystery: HumilityThe Visitation. Fruit of the Mystery: Love of NeighbourThe Nativity. Fruit of the Mystery: Detachment from the things of the worldfThe Presentation of Jesus at the Temple. Fruit of the Mystery: ObedienceThe Finding of Jesus in the Temple. Fruit of the Mystery: Piety

SORROWFUL MYSTERIES

The Agony in the Garden. Fruit of the Mystery: Sorrow for SinThe Scourging at the Pillar. Fruit of the Mystery: PurityThe Crowning with Thorns. Fruit of the Mystery: Moral CourageThe Carrying of the Cross. Fruit of the Mystery: PatienceThe Crucifixion and Death of our Lord. Fruit of the Mystery: Perseverance

GLORIOUS MYSTERIES

The Resurrection. Fruit of the Mystery: FaithThe Ascension. Fruit of the Mystery: HopeThe Descent of the Holy Spirit. Fruit of the Mystery: Love of God,The Assumption of Mary. Fruit of the Mystery: True Devotion towards MaryThe Coronation of the Virgin. Fruit of the Mystery: Trust in Mary's Intercession

LUMINOUS MYSTERIES

The Baptism of Jesus in the Jordan. Fruit of the Mystery: Docility to the Holy SpiritThe Wedding at Cana. Fruit of the Mystery: To Jesus through MaryJesus' Proclamation of the Kingdom of God. Fruit of the Mystery: Call to ConversionThe Transfiguration. Fruit of the Mystery: Desire for Holiness.The Institution of the Eucharist. Fruit of the Mystery: Adoration

Finally, the prayers are:

The Creed, wherein we proclaim our basic Christian beliefsThe Hail Mary, wherein we echo the words of the Angel at the Incarnation in St. LukeThe Our Father, wherein we pray the prayer Jesus taught His disciplesThe Glory Be, wherein we give glory to the Most Holy Trinity – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit

Ss. Cosmas and Damien @ St. Apollinaris School

HOMILY - SAINTS COSMAS AND DAMIEN
SEPTEMBER 26, 2017
8:45 AM ORDINARY FORM (ENGLISH) MASS (3RD GRADE)



Today is the memorial of Ss. Cosmas and Damien. They were twin brothers who were born in the Roman province of Syria. They were both doctors, and as part of their Christian vocation – decided to provide their help free of charge. They saw in every sick and suffering individual the image of the suffering Jesus. Because of their reputation, they were called "the silverless" (i.e. they didn't make any money off of being doctors,) and "the unmercenaries" (i.e. they were not for hire.)

They were martyred in the year 287, and are pictured in icons carrying boxes of medicine and spoons for giving medicine. They are mentioned in the long list of saints in the Roman Canon (Eucharistic Prayer 1.)

St. Joan of Arc @ St. Apollinaris School

HOMILY - MONDAY 7TH WEEK OF EASTER
MAY 29, 2017
10:30 AM ORDINARY FORM (ENGLISH) MASS



St. Joan of Arc, also known as the "Maid(en) of Orleans" was born in 1412, 75 years into the 100 Years' War. During that time, France was split three ways between the British, the Burgundians, and the French. In 1425, St. Joan of Arc had visions of St. Michael, St. Margaret, and St. Catherine telling her that the Dauphin (prince) had to be crowned King, and the French would be victorious. In 1429, the King was crowned, and France began to win the battles. In 1430, St. Joan of Arc was captured by the Burgundians who turned her over to the British in 1431. The British held a mock trial and determined she was a witch, so they burned her at the stake. The Pope held a new trial in 1456, and ruled that she was not a witch, but had lived a holy life. She was beatified in 1909, and canonized a saint in 1920.

Tuesday 5th Week of Easter @ St. Apollinaris School

HOMILY - TUESDAY 5TH WEEK OF EASTER
MAY 16, 2017
8:45 AM ORDINARY FORM MASS (4TH GRADE)



Today is the feast day of St. Brendan, an Irish saint. He was born in 484 AD, in Ireland, County Kerry, in the town of Tralee. He was ordained a priest in 510 AD, and about two years later began traveling to spread the Gospel.

We know that he travelled to Wales, Scotland, and England. But it is also thought that he may have travelled to Iceland, Greenland, Canada, the Azores, and the Canary Islands. Much of his travels are the stuff of legend, and it's difficult to sift the facts.

He sailed in a ship made of wood and leather, and in 1976, an Irish explorer made a replica ship out of ox hides and set sail. His adventure is told in the book The Brendan Voyage.



St. Brendan built monasteries and churches where he went, and that is how we know for sure some of his journeys. He set out with twelve companions, and evangelized the British Isles (and possibly more places than that!)

He died in 577 AD, and is the patron saint of boatmen; divers; mariners; sailors; travellers; whales; the Diocese of Clonfert, Ireland; and the Diocese of Kerry, Ireland.

He is known as Brendan the Navigator, Brendan the Voyager, Brendan the Anchorite (a hermit), and Brendan the Bold.

The Brendan Voyage (Part I) The 1976 recreation of the voyages of St. Brendan.

The Brendan Voyage (Part II) The 1976 recreation of the voyages of St. Brendan.

Tuesday 4th Week of Easter @ St. Apollinaris School

HOMILY - TUESDAY 4TH WEEK OF EASTER
MAY 9, 2017
8:45 AM ORDINARY FORM MASS (4TH GRADE)



In the Acts of the Apostles, we hear that in Antioch the followers of Jesus were first called Christians.

The last two weeks, we heard about the Church in Alexandria founded by St. Mark, who was succeeded a few centuries later by St. Athanasius. This week we hear of the Christians in Antioch.

Of the other ancient Christian cities, there are also Jerusalem and Rome – which you may already know about. But the fifth is Constantinople.

The word Christians comes from the word Christ (in Greek) which means Messiah (in Hebrew) which means "Anointed One."

We are also anointed. There are three oils for anointing: the Oil of the Sick, the Oil of Catechumens, and Sacred Chrism. The one named Sacred Chrism gets its name from the same word in Greek meaning anointed.

Sacred Chrism is also used in Baptism, Confirmation, and in Holy Orders (for the ordination of priests and bishops.) Sacred Chrism is also used in consecrating churches, altars, chalices, and patens.

Which brings us to the big question. If the followers of Jesus in Antioch were known as "Christians," do you live, think, speak, and act in a way that would identify you as a Christian.

St. Athanasius @ St. Apollinaris School

HOMILY - MEMORIAL OF SAINT ATHANASIUS, BISHOP AND DOCTOR
MAY 2, 2017
8:45 AM ORDINARY FORM MASS (4TH GRADE)



St. Athanasius was born in 296 in the town of Alexandria. (Does anyone remember who was the first bishop of Alexandria? Last week's Feast Day was St. Mark, the first bishop of Alexandria!)

When he was a boy, he was playing at the beach, and he was playing at baptizing his friends. The bishop of Alexandria noticed this, and called the boys over. He assured them that water was the proper matter for baptism, and saying "I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen." Was the proper form for baptism. So, that, indeed they were baptized!

The bishop then provided for their education and catechesis in the Faith.

In 319, Athanasius was ordained a deacon and in 325 attended the Council of Nicea. The heresy or error of that time was that people didn't want to believe that Jesus was God. Certain emperors, kings, and authorities thought this way, and many bishops and priests went along with the politicians just because it was easier.

Athanasius taught against this error, and at the Council of Nicaea pressed for the Apostolic teaching of the Faith, namely, that Jesus was indeed God and man. The word we use in the Nicene Creed (i.e. the Creed we use on Sundays and Solemnities) "consubstantial" was used by Athanasius (or at least the Greek equivalent "homousius.") The Arians pretended to approve the Creed, but started leaving out the "N" saying "co-substantial" (or in Greek, they added a letter, "homoiusius") to promulgate their error while lying that they believed what the Council of Nicaea taught.

Athanasius continued to teach against the errors of the Arians, and in 328 was made bishop and patriarch of Alexandria.

The Arians still had political friends, and they made us lies about Athanasius (one being that he was going to interfere with grain shipments and trade to the Imperial capital); and so over the next several years, he was exiled five times by his enemies within the Emperor's court.

He was exiled first to Germany (where it's cold), then to Rome, then to "upper" Egypt (which is in the southern desert, but it's "upstream" on the Nile River), then outside of his own town of Alexandria, and finally back to upper Egypt. Everywhere he was exiled to, he was welcomed as a defender of the true Faith, and allowed to teach and perform the duties of a bishop. Sending letters to the people in Alexandria encouraging them to persevere in the truths of the Catholic Faith.

He died in 373, having been restored to his diocese in Alexandria, at the age of 77.

St. Mark the Evangelist @ St. Apollinaris School

HOMILY - FEAST OF SAINT MARK, EVANGELIST
APRIL 25, 2017
8:45 AM ORDINARY FORM MASS (4TH GRADE)

St. Mark is the writer of the 2nd Gospel, and the companion of St. Peter.

In the icon of St. Mark, there is a lion at his feet. 

Each of the Gospels has an "animal" associated with it.

These come from the first chapter of the Prophet Ezekiel where he describes a vision of angels at the throne of God. Each of these "creatures" had four heads. The head of a man, a lion, an ox, and an eagle. 

These are associated with the Gospels as:

St. Matthew: a winged man; because it deals with Jesus' humanity and lineage.

St. Mark: a winged lion; because Jesus is the lion of Judah, and lions were thought to be born dead, and were resurrected by their fathers.

St. Luke: a winged ox; because the story-telling is slow and methodical, and also deals with Jesus and His sacrifice – and oxen were sacrificial animals

St. John: an eagle; because John's theology and ideas soar beyond the other Gospels.

Back to St. Mark, whose feast is today.

He founded the Church in Alexandria, Egypt, and was martyred in the year 68 AD. He is the patron saint of Egypt, Venice (Italy), and of Lawyers.

St. Peter Damian @ St. Apollinaris Church

HOMILY - SEVENTH SUNDAY OF ORDINARY TIME (YEAR A)
FEBRUARY 21, 2017
9:45 AM ORDINARY FORM (ENGLISH) MASS


St. Peter Damian was born in 1007 AD in the town of Ravenna – the same town where our own parish patron saint, St. Apollinaris, was bishop ... only several hundred years later.

He study Theology and Canon (Church) Law, and did so well in school that by the age of 25, he was teaching in Universities in Europe. He chose, at the age of 28, to live as a Hermit – embracing a life of prayer and penance. He so excelled at this, that he was teaching other hermits how to persevere and live holy lives.

He lived through the reigns of 18 pope, many of whom asked him to assist in various reform movements to fight corruption in the Church.

At the age of 50, he was made a Cardinal and was a staunch reformer – dealing with many of the issues that plague the Church even in our own time. He worked endlessly against corruption and scandal.

He died in 1073 at the age of 66.

Ss. Cyril & Methodius @ St. Apollinaris School

HOMILY - MEMORIAL OF SS. CYRIL AND METHODIUS
FEBRUARY 14, 2017
7:00 AM, 8:45 AM ORDINARY FORM MASSES

Today is the Memorial of Saints Cyril and Methodius. They lived in the 9th Century, and are known for evangelizing Eastern Europ. They have many titles: "Apostles to the Slavs," "Equal to the Apostles," and "Co-patrons of Europe." They were born in Greece, in the city of Thessalonica. Before going to Eastern Europe, they went to the Abissad Caliphate to try to convert the Muslims, to Khazar to convince the leaders to become Christian, and finally they went to the Slavs. The Slavs are the people in the areas we know now as Poland, Czech Republic, Slovaki, Slovenia, Ukraine, and Russia. In fact, the languages have much overlap. But in the 9th Century, the two saints developed a writing system (there wasn't already an alphabet for the Slavic language), a legal system (the law at the time was "might makes right"), and after that translated the Bible and the Liturgy to evangelize the Slavs. The written script they developed is called Galgolitic, and it evolved into Cyrillic – the script used to write Russian today. They have many feast days, owing to their popularity in Eastern Europe and other factors in choosing feasts for saints. Just prior to 1970, their feast was July 5, but it was returned to February 14 in 1970.

What we learn from today's saints is that it takes a foundation to properly know the Faith. They had to create an alphabet and civil infrastructure first. For us, it would mean learning to read, going to Mass, praying every day, and reading Scripture. Without a foundation, we run the risk of having a distorted understanding of our Faith.

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Mother of God @ St. Apollinaris Church

HOMILY - THE SOLEMNITY OF MARY, THE MOTHER OF GOD  

DECEMBER 31, 2016; JANUARY 1, 2017

SATURDAY 4:30 PM, SUNDAY 7:30 AM, 5:30 PM ORDINARY FORM MASSES

Today we celebrate the Octave Day of Christmas, the Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God.
The Church teaches four Marian dogma; two of ancient origin, and two of more modern origin. They are:

1. Mary’s Perpetual Virginity

2. Mary’s Maternity

3. Mary’s Immaculate Conception

4. Mary’s Assumption into Heaven (at the end of her life)

Just 24 days ago, we celebrated the Solemnity of Mary’s Immaculate Conception. That dogma is one of the two modern dogma, having been promulgated in 1850 by Blessed Pope Pius IX (the ninth.) It was the resolution of a 400 year old theological argument between the Dominicans and the Franciscans. One that heated up so much in its first 200 years, that Pope Gregory XV imposed absolute silence on the until the Holy See should rule on the matter.
The result was the first of the modern Marian dogma held by the Church.
The second modern dogma, was declared in 1950 by Venerable Pope Pius XII. That dogma is celebrated with solemnity on August 15.
The first ancient Marian dogma is Her Perpetual Virginity. This was widely supported by the early Church Fathers, and affirmed by many Ecumenical Councils by the 7th century. And even the early reformers held this until recent time.
And today, we commemorate the second ancient Marian dogma - Our Lady under the title of “Mother of God.”
Why all this talk about Mary? The reason being that all good theology about Mary is good theology about Jesus.
In fact, Her role as “Mother of God” was contested in a situation which brought into question who Jesus was.
In the 5th century, the new patriarch of Constantinople, Nestorius – recently come from Antioch – was denying that Mary was “Mother of God,” and asserting that she was merely the “Mother of Christ.”
Nestorius also asserted that God could not become human, that Jesus could not be con-substantial with God the Father, and held that Christ was in a sense “possessed” by God the Son and was sort-of God and sort-of Man.
You may recognize in these words above a contortion of the Creed which we profess at every Mass. The Creed that was formulated in 325 at the Council of Nicea. We profess every time we recite the Creed that Jesus is “True God and true man” … “consubstantial with the Father” … “God from God, . . . True God from True God.”
The fathers of the Council of Ephesus in 431 recognized that by chipping away at what the Church would teach about Mary, Nestorius was putting the belief of all Christians at risk. That is, by going after the Mother, he was also attacking the Son.
Nestorius’ teaching was declared heresy – that is, is was seen as an opinion at odds with the ancient teachings of the Church. Nestorius never recanted his teaching, but he retired to a monastery where he lived out the rest of his days.
And so, today, we celebrate Mary’s Motherhood – the Greek title for this is “Theotokos” or “God-bearer.” We will affirm in a few moments in the Creed Jesus’ relationship to God and to us.


HOMILY GRAPHICS - 10:30 AM (ALL SCHOOL) ORDINARY FORM MASS

On a side note, the Catholic Church and the Nestorian Church of the East – in 1994 – signed a document affirming Mary’s title as Mother of God, and Mother of Christ. Ending a more than 1500 (fifteen hundred) year dispute.
Indeed, the Faith we hold is always Universal – a proposition of “both-and” and very rarely a proposition of “either-or.”
As we approach this altar to receive the Sacred Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ, let us give thanks to Almighty God for the Faith we all hold – ever ancient, ever new. Let us also close out this Octave of Christmas, knowing that Christ has indeed come . . . and is with us . . . Emmanuel . . . our Savior . . . the Newborn King.


DUE TO THE DOGMATIC NATURE OF THIS HOMILY, 
AND RECTORY CANINE'S INTEREST IN ALL THINGS "DOG," 
TOBY "THE WONDER DOG" IMPARTS HIS "WOOF" OF APPROVAL. 

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St. Lucy @ St. Apollinaris School

HOMILY GRAPHICS - MEMORIAL OF SAINT LUCY  
DECEMBER 13, 2016  
8:45 AM ORDINARY FORM MASS (4TH GRADE)  



St. Lucy was born in 283 in Syracuse on the Island of Sicily.

She was known for going into the catacombs with food to feed the Christians hiding from persecution.

She wanted to live her life for Christ as a consecrated virgin, and give her dowry to the poor.

Her fiance turned her in to the Roman authorities who tried to sell her into slavery. But the chains didn't hold her, and 50 men and horses couldn't move her.

So they tried to burn her alive, but the fire wouldn't stay lit.

They cut out her eyes in a terrible act of cruelty, but immediately her eyes were restored!

God is more powerful than any other worldly power.

They finally killed her with a sword, and she died in 304 at the age of 21.

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Immaculate Conception @ Justin-Siena High School

HOMILY PROPS / NOTES - SOLEMNITY OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION BVM
DECEMBER 8, 2016
10:20 AM ORDINARY FORM MASS  

The "math" behind the Immaculate Conception:
There are 4 Marian Dogma.
2 Ancient: Perpetual Virginity, Mother of God (Theotokos).
2 Modern: Immaculate Conception, Assumption.

The "science" behind the Immaculate Conception:
At Baptism, we are filled with grace. Through sin, we separate ourselves from God's grace. Through Reconciliation (Confession) we are restored to the life of grace. In the Eucharist, we receive countless graces through this Most Blessed Sacrament. This is the ordinary way to remain filled with grace available to Catholic Christians.

In the Immaculate Conception, Mary was created full of grace. By this special gift of God, she never sinned, and remained full of grace throughout her entire life. This was the extraordinary way that God allowed Mary to share in the graces of the Sacraments before Christ's Sacrifice, and before Jesus established the Sacraments of the Church.

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Immaculate Conception @ St. Apollinaris Church

HOMILY - SOLEMNITY OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION BVM
DECEMBER 8, 2016
7:00 AM, 8:45 AM ORDINARY FORM MASSES

Today is the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of Mary.

Our Lady, under this title, is the patroness of the United States; and as such, the National Basilica in Washington, D.C., is dedicated to the Immaculate Conception.

The feast was celebrated in the Eastern Church from the 6th century. It came into the Western Church by was of southern Italy in the 9th century, and England in the 11th century. From there, it spread to France in the 12th century, and Germany in the 13th century.

While there was no dispute regarding the sinlessness of the Blessed Mother – rather, there was dispute on just how it happened. Did it happen at her conception or at a later point before she was born?

A Franciscan theologian in the 14th century, William of Ware, stated it in this way:
"What [God] could do, / it was fitting that He should do so / and from this it follows that He did do it; / for the Son should honor the Mother"

His student, the theologian John Duns Scotus, built on this teaching. Scotus argued the same premise, but from the side of God’s sovereignty:
"grace is the equivalent to [righteousness], so . . . original sin does not reside in a soul that has grace. God could have conferred as much grace on her in the first moment of her soul's existence as He does on another soul at . . . baptism . . . then, the soul would not have had original sin, as it would not have [sin after baptism].
In other words, God supplied the supernatural graces of Baptism to Our Lady – before there ever was Christian Baptism."

So, which came first? the chicken or the egg? That is, how can Mary be redeemed before Jesus’ sacrifice on the Cross?

An explanation would be that God, who exists outside of time and dwells in Eternity, can apply the merits of Christ outside of time as He sees fit.

Pope Pius IX (the ninth) declared on December 8, 1854,
"that the Blessed Virgin Mary, at the first instant of her conception, by a singular privilege and grace of . . . Omnipotent God, in virtue of the merits of Jesus Christ, the Savior of [the world], was preserved immaculate from all stain of original sin."

We share in these graces through Baptism – whether we receive them as an infant or later in life. Our Lady was granted these graces from the moment she existed.

This is played out in the word translated in the Gospel as “full of grace.” The Greek word is κεχαριτωμένη (ke-char-i-tō-me-nē).

This word exists only once in the entire Bible. It’s what is known as a hapax legomenon – which means, in Greek, something said only once. In its unique form, it is a feminine present perfect passive voice participle of a verb.

This same verb – but in a different tense, number, person, aspect, mood, and voice – shows up throughout St. Paul’s letters where it always refers to the grace of God bestowed on us through Christ’s saving act on the Cross.

But the word used for Mary by the Angel Gabriel in Luke’s Gospel is unique. It could be translated as “she who has been made and endowed with saving grace.” And so it would seem that, even in Scripture, there is a particular word for this unique privilege, that privilege which we commemorate today in honoring the Immaculate Conception.

As we approach this altar to receive the Sacred Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ, let us pray to become more attuned to the saving graces we have all received through our Baptism. And may the Eucharist we receive today fill us with God’s saving grace, so that we might persevere in grace … the grace that pours forth from the One Sacrifice of Christ … which saves us all from sin.

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St. Nicholas @ St. Apollinaris School

HOMILY GRAPHICS - ST. NICHOLAS OF MYRA  
DECEMBER 6, 2016  
8:45 AM ORDINARY FORM MASS (4TH GRADERS)  


Hagiography comes from two Greek words meaning the study of the saints. 

Today's saint is St. Nicholas of Myra, a third century saint ... who is often considered to be where Santa Claus got his name.

He was born in 270 AD, when the Church was being persecuted. He was known for being holy and devout, and was made bishop of Myra on the southern coast of what is now Turkey.

He was imprisoned, beaten, and tortured in an effort to make him, the local bishop, renounce the Christian Faith. The thought, on the part of the authorities, was that if they got one of the leaders to give up Christianity, the flock would give it up, too.

In 313 AD, the persecutions of Christians stopped with the Edict of Milan. Christianity was now legal in the Roman Empire, but was only one of many religions.

In 325 AD, the Council of Nicea was convened to discuss the nature of Jesus Christ. Was He truly God and truly man? Part God and part man? Something completely different besides God or man? 

The Creed we use on Sundays and Solemnities is the Nicene Creed, and was formulated at this council.

During the discussion, St. Nicholas sat listening to a priest named Arius who was trying to convince the emperor, the bishops and the pope that Jesus was not God and was not man, but was some sort of demi-god or maybe an angel. St. Nicholas, who had suffered so much for the Faith, got frustrated, stood up, and smacked Arius to make him stop.

Hitting someone in the presence of the Emperor was illegal (like starting a fight in a court room would be now), so St. Nicholas was stripped of his bishop's garment (stole/omophorion/pallium) and his copy of the Bible, and put him in chains in prison.

That night, Mary and Jesus appeared to him. His chains fell off, and Mary handed him his bishop's clothes, and Jesus gave him back his book of the Gospels. When the guard came the next morning, he saw the bishop St. Nicholas reading the Bible and wearing his bishop's garment.

The emperor heard, and decided God wanted St. Nicholas to be a bishop and to be released from prison.

His life was filled with healings and good works. He is remembered for his generosity and miracles.

He died in 343 AD, and was buried in Turkey.

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