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Also known as: Mikulas;
Nicolas; Niklas; Klaus; Santa Claus; Nicholas of Bari; Nicolaas
Profile
Priest. Abbot. Bishop of Myra, Lycia (modern Turkey). Generous to the
poor, and special protector of the innocent and wronged. Many stories grew
up around him prior to his becoming Santa Claus. Some examples:
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Upon hearing that a local man
had fallen on such hard times that he was planning to sell his daughters
into prostitution, Nicholas went by night to the house and threw three
bags of gold in through the window, saving the girls from an evil life.
These three bags, gold generously given in time of trouble, became the
three golden balls that indicate a pawn broker's shop.
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He raised to life three young
boys who had been murdered and pickled in a barrel of brine to hide the
crime. These stories led to his patronage of children in general, and of
barrel-makers besides.
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Induced some thieves to return
their plunder. This explains his protection against theft and robbery, and
his patronage of them - he's not helping them steal, but to repent and
change. In the past, thieves have been known as Saint Nicholas' clerks or
Knights of Saint Nicholas.
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During a voyage to the Holy
Lands, a fierce storm blew up, threatening the ship. He prayed over it,
and the storm calmed - hence the patronage of sailors and those like
dockworkers who work on the sea.
Died: c.346 at Myra;
relics believed to be at Bari, Italy
Canonized: Pre-Congregation
Patronage: against imprisonment, against robberies, against robbers,
apothecaries, bakers, Bari, Italy, barrel makers, boatmen, boot blacks,
boys, brewers, brides, captives, children, coopers, dock workers,
druggists, fishermen, Greece, Greek Catholic Church in America, Greek
Catholic Union, grooms, judges, lawsuits lost unjustly, longshoremen,
Lorraine, maidens, mariners, merchants, murderers, newlyweds, old maids,
parish clerks, paupers, pawnbrokers, perfumeries, perfumers, pharmacists,
pilgrims, poor people, Portsmouth England, prisoners, Russia, sailors,
scholars, schoolchildren, shoe shiners, Sicily, spinsters, students,
thieves, travelers, unmarried girls, watermen
Representation: 3 balls; anchor; ship; bishop with 3 children in a
tub at his feet; 3 golden balls on a book; bishop calming a storm; 3 bags
of gold; bishop holding 3 balls; bishop holding 3 bags of gold; bishop
with 3 children
source:
http://www.catholic-forum.com/saints/saintn01.htm
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