St. Nino

St. Nino – December 15th

Nino was a Christian maiden who was captured and carried off to Iberia as a slave. In that pagan country, her goodness and purity made a great impression on the people. Noticing how much she prayed, they asked her about her religion. The simple answer she gave them was that she adored Jesus Christ as God.

God chose this pure, devout slave-girl to bring Christianity to Iberia. One day, a mother brought her sick child to Nino, asking her to suggest a cure. The Saint wrapped the baby in her old cloak and told the mother that Jesus Christ can cure the worst cases of sickness. Then she handed the child back and the mother saw that it was completely cured.

The Queen of Iberia learned of this miracle, and since she herself was sick, she went to the Saint. When she, too, was healed, she tried to thank the Christian girl, but Nino said: “It is Christ’s work, not mine. And He is the Son of God who made the world.”

The Queen let the King know the whole story of her cure, and she repeated what the slave-girl had said about Jesus Christ. Shortly after this, the King got lost in a fog while out hunting. Then he remembered what his wife had told him and he said that if Jesus Christ would lead him safely home, he would believe in Him. At once, the fog lifted, and the King was true to his promise.

St. Nino taught the King and Queen the truths of Christianity, and she was given permission to teach people. Meanwhile the King began building a Christian Church. Then he sent messengers to the Christian Emperor Constantine to tell him of his conversion and to ask for bishops and priests.

So it was that a poor slave brought a whole country into the Church.

If we are humble, God will use us to do much good.

St. Nicholas

St. Nicholas - Patron of Children, of Russia and Greece - December 6th

Nicholas is the great patron of children and of Christmas giving. The word “Santa Claus” is a short form of “Saint Nicholas.” He was born in Asia Minor, and after his parents died, he gave all his money to charity. Once a certain poor man was about to abandon his daughters to a life of sin because they did not have the money for a dowry. St. Nicholas heard about his problem, so at night, he threw a bag of gold in the man’s window. This was for the second daughter, and the grateful father kept watch to find out who was being so good to him. When St. Nicholas came a third time, the man recognized him and thanked him over and over again.

Later St. Nicholas became Bishop. He had great love for justice, and once he saved three men who had been falsely condemned to death. He then turned to their accuser and made him admit that he had been offered money to get rid of the three men.

St. Nicholas died in Myra, and a great basilica was built over his tomb. Many churches were dedicated in his name, and when his relics were brought to Bari in Italy, this city became a favorite shrine for pilgrims from all over Europe. He is also the patron of sailors, of prisoners, and with St. Andrew, the Patron of Russia.

To enter Heaven we must keep our soul without sin, or have washed clean again by sorrow and confession.

St. Nilus the Elder

St. Nilus the Elder – November 12th

Nilus was an important official in the great city of Constantinople. From St. John Chrysostom, he learned to love God so much that he wanted to serve Him. Nilus was married and had two children, yet he felt that God wanted him to become a monk. His good wife agreed that they should separate so as to serve the Lord with their whole hearts. Nilus took his son Theodulus and went to live with the monks of Mt. Sinai.

A few years passed in peace and happiness. Then a troupe of cruel raiders swept down upon the monastery and killed many of the monks. When they rode off, they carried Theodulus with them. His poor father, St. Nilus, followed them, hoping to be able to buy his son back from the raiders. He had many terrible experiences trying to find his son, but at last he found him living with a bishop. This bishop had bought the boy from the raiders in order to save him and Theodulus was working in the service of the Church. Before Nilus and his son left, the good bishop ordained them priests, since they were both ready.

St. Nilus was so wise that many people asked his advice. He wrote many, many letters in reply to priests, monks and high officials, and from these letters we know how holy St. Nilus was.

To a man who had decided to live on a pillar just to make people think he was holy, St. Nilus wrote: “Every man who exalts himself will be humbled!”

This Saint had to undergo many troubles and temptations in his life, but with prayer, he was always victorious. That is why he knew how to help so many other people overcome temptations and live good lives.

Even though people of the world can become saints, they have many dangers to overcome. If God calls me closer to Him, I will leave all my dear ones to follow Him generously.

St. Narcissus

St. Narcissus - October 29th

Narcissus was an old man when he was made Bishop of Jerusalem, but he was still an excellent Bishop. Everyone admired his virtues-everyone except the wicked. Three of these enemies of the Saint accused him of a terrible crime. One said: "May I die by fire if it is not true!" The second said: "May I be wasted away by leprosy if it is not true." The thrid said: "May I be struck blind if it is not true." Yet no one believed their lie. The people had seen Narcissus' virtues crowned with miracles too many times to believe he could have committed such a terrible sin.

Although no once believed the wicked story, St. Narcissus used it as an excuse to go off to live in the desert. His whole trust was in God, whom he had served so lovingly. And God saw to it that the story of those three men was shown to be absolutely false! Narcissus returned to be Bishop of Jerusalem, to the immense joy of his people. Although he was even older, he seemed more zealous than ever. In fact, he seemed stronger than ever, too, for a few years. Then he became too old to carry on, and begged God to send him a Bishop to help out. Our Lord sent him another Saint, Alexander of Cappadocia. In great love and zeal, they ruled together, and Narcissus lived to be one hundred sixteen years old.

God never abandons those who trust in Him. When He permits me to go through some trouble, I will not despair. I will pray, instead, and keep calm. He has His ways to defend me.

St. Notburga

St. Notburga – September 14th

This little kitchen maid is very famous in her own country, high in the Alps mountains. She was the daughter of a peasant and went to work for a Count when she was eighteen. All the food she could save after each meal she gave to the many poor people who came to the side door of the castle. She even gave them much of what she was supposed to have for her own meals. The Countess was a mean woman, however, and she gave orders that Notburga was to give the left over food to the pigs, as had been done before the holy maid came.

For a while, the Saint obeyed, although she still gave the poor part of her own food. Then, she felt so sorry for those hungry people that she began again to give them food from the table. The Countess caught her and fired her at once. Next Notburga went to work for a farmer, and here, too, she was not afraid to do what she thought was right.

One Saturday afternoon, she stopped work when the Church bells rang, because Saturday evening was considered part of Sunday and no more work was done. Her employer, however, told her to keep working. Notburga answered that no good Christian kept working unless bad weather seemed about to spoil the crops. “The weather might change,” said the farmer. “We shall see about that,” answered the Saint. Then she threw her sickle up in the air, and there it stayed in the sky, looking like the harvest moon, the sign of good weather to come!

Meantime, the selfish Countless died, and the Count was having so many troubles that people said it was all a punishment for the Countless’ meanness to the poor and to St. Notburga. So when the Count married again, he made our Saint the housekeeper of the castle, and there she spent the rest of her holy life. Just before she died, she begged the Count not to forget to take care of the poor people she loved so much.

Whoever is charitable, will receive charity. Let us be charitable then, to those who are in need, with a little offering, or a helping hand.

St. Bartholomew, the Apostle

St. Bartholomew, the Apostle - Patron of Plasterers - August 24th

“Bartholomew” was one of the first followers of Jesus. This apostle’s other name was Nathanael. He became a disciple of Jesus when his friend Philip invited him to come and meet Our Lord. Nathanael received high praise from Jesus, who said, as soon as He saw him: “Here is a man in whom there is no guile”. Jesus meant that Nathanael was an honest, sincere man who would never deceive anyone. His one desire was to know the truth.

Nathanael was very surprised to hear those words from Our Lord. “How do You know me?” he asked. “Before Philip called you,” Jesus answered, “I saw you under the fig-tree.” That was a favorite praying-place, and Nathanael must have realized then that Jesus had read his heart as he prayed. “Master!” he cried, “You are the Son of God, the King of Israel.” And Nathanael became one of Our Lord’s faithful apostles.

Like the other apostles, Nathanael, or Bartholomew, preached the Gospel of Jesus at the risk of his life. He went to India, Armenia and other lands, preaching with great zeal, until he gave his life for the Faith. And so, to the reward of an Apostle, St. Bartholomew added the martyr’s crown.

Jesus likes people who are honest, like St. Bartholomew. Even though Bartholomew had his opinions, he was not stubborn at all. So Jesus praised him, gave him the grace of faith and the vocation to be an apostle.

St. Norbert

St. Norbert - June 6th

Norbert was a German who was good while a boy and young man. Then at the court of the Emperor, Henry V, he spent nearly all his time in the pleasures of the world, and he thought only of honors, feasts and parties. One day, however, frightened by a flash of lightning, his horse threw him and he was knocked unconscious. When he came to his senses, he was touched by the grace of God, and he made up his mind to lead a better life. Moreover he went back to the idea he once had had-to become a priest, and he did.

Then he worked hard to make others turn from their worldly ways and gave good example by selling all he had to give the money to the poor. St. Norbert also became the founder of a new Congregation for the spreading of the Faith.

Later, he was chosen bishop of the city of Magdeburg. He entered the city wearing very poor clothes and no shoes. The porter at the door of the bishop’s house did not know him and refused to let him in. He told him to go join the other beggars! “But he is our bishop!” shouted those who knew the Saint. The porter was amazed and very sorry. “Never mind, dear brother,’ said St. Norbert kindly, “you judge me more correctly than those who brought me here.”

St. Norbert had to combat a heresy which denied that Jesus is really present in the Holy Eucharist. His beautiful words about Our Lord’s presence in the Blessed Sacrament brought the people back to their holy Faith.

Let us go to receive Jesus in Holy Communion often-at least once a week. If we feel little love for the things of God, Jesus will make us warm with devotion. If we feel weak in spirit, He will make us strong. If we feel sad, he will console us.

Sts. Nereus, Achilleus, Domitilla, and Pancreas

Sts. Nereus, Achilleus, Domitilla, and Pancreas - May 12th

Nereus and Achilleus were Roman soldiers. Out of fear, they carried the cruel commands of the Emperor, until suddenly they gave up this way of life. They were converted to the Christian Faith and left behind them their shields and bloody arrows forever. St. Peter baptized these two new followers of Jesus, who were soon accused of being Christians. Nereus and Achilleus both professed their Faith and again, but they absolutely refused to sacrifice to the false gods of the Romans. For this, they were at last beheaded.

Domitilla was a rich Roman girl who had made up her mind to belong only to Jesus. The young man who had hoped to marry her was furious at her decision. He accused her of being a Christian, and she was put in prison. There she suffered much. When she still would not give up her Faith, she was burned to death.

Pancras was a fourteen-year-old boy who left his rich home to go to Rome. There he was baptized by the Pope himself. Not long after that, he was arrested for being a Christian, but he refused to give up his Faith. In fact, with all the courage of a hero, he offered his head to the executioner to be cut off.

These four young martyrs could have had all the pleasures money can buy. Yet they did not hesitate to give up the joys of the world in order to win the happiness of Heaven, which is much greater and lasts forever.

Let us often think of the happiness which is waiting for us in Heaven. This thought will make it easier to keep God’s law all the time.