Entry# 1
Saint Nicholas is the patron saint of just about everything. He is the national saint of Russia and Greece and churches named after him number in the thousands - more than 400 in Great Britain alone. He is the patron saint of judges, murderers, pawnbrokers, thieves, merchants, paupers, scholars, sailors, bakers, travelers, maidens and poor children. Saint Nicholas was born in the Middle East about 350 miles northwest of Bethlehem in the fourth century. Perhaps the most famous story of all tells how he helped three unfortunate young sisters who all had suitors but had no dowries because their father, a poor nobleman, could not raise the money. So they could not marry. Now the bishop Nicholas was a shy man and did not like to give money directly, so he thought of a way to give it anonymously. When the first daughter was ready to marry, the good bishop tossed a bag of gold into the house at night. Later, when the second daughter and third daughter prepared to marry he did the same thing. But when the third daughter prepared to marry, the poor nobleman was determined to find out who had been so generous. So he kept watch and saw the bishop drop another bag of gold into the house. It has been said that Saint Nicholas climbed on the roof and dropped the third bag of gold down the chimney where it landed in a stocking hung to dry, giving us a reason to hang up Christmas stockings today. Nicholas begged him to keep the secret, but, of course, the news got out. From then on, whenever anyone received an unexpected gift, they thanked Nicholas. Six hundred years later, the Russian Emperor Vladimir visited Constantinople and heard all the wonderful stories about Bishop Nicholas and decided to make him the patron saint of Russia. The stories even spread to the Lapland’s - to the people of the reindeer sleds. Statutes and pictures had shown him holding the three bags and when taken as the patron saint of the merchants, the bags became gold balls, representing moneylenders and today, pawnbrokers in Italy. The anniversary of Nicholas' death, December 6th, either 345 A.D. or 352 A.D., is so close to Christmas that, in many countries, the two merged.
I think Saint Nicholas is the helper of all that lives; from criminals to babies. Anyone who needed help he would help.
Jay's Journal is an interesting book written by Jay. The story is about Jay and how he was led into witchcraft and the occult and using drugs by his girlfriend and others. The author tells how Jay was led into all of this, and it also tells how he got his two best friends into using the same stuff and into the occult also known as the O. The author describes how he learned that the human race was afraid of mind over matter techniques and learned how to use them himself. He was able to levitate small objects and see peoples auwa and aura. This is a great book because it helps some people that deal with the same problems to see what might happen if they choose to follow the same path. I really liked this book because it might help people deal with this type of stuff, it was written in a real person's journal and described what led to his death, and I like how it says what happened every day of his life.
Saint Christopher is my favorite saint for a multitude of reasons. Let's just get the easy one out of the way which is that both he and I share the same name. With that aside, Saint Christopher is also my favorite saint as he is the patron saint of transportation and travel. My family and I enjoy traveling and exploring and before every trip, I say a short prayer to Saint Christopher , and not once has our family gotten into any major issues traveling. The biggest reason Saint Christopher is my favorite saint is that I admire his eagerness to serve others. Before helping to carry people across the river, Saint Christopher searched for who he though was the most powerful person in the world, so that he could serve them. And after that event with the Christ-Child at the river, Saint Christopher was said to of gone to a town in Asia Minor called Lycia, where he ministered to the Christian population there until he was beheaded in the year 251. Regardless of whether his story is true or not, and whether he even existed, Saint Christopher is a good model to look up
... of saint because he had the strongest desire to do good for others. He exemplified great virtue and because of this a community was able to move forward.
Grigory Rasputin was born into a Russian Orthodox family and grew up in a mainly Russian Orthodox town named Pokrovskoye, Siberia. In the late 1890’s Rasputin went on a religious journey to the Verkhoturye Monastery in Siberia. At Verkhoturye Monastery, Rasputin was introduced to a fellow Russian monk who greatly influenced Rasputin’s ways and convinced Rasputin to stop drinking, smoking, and stop his carnivorous habits. After his visit to the monastery, Rasputin was officially considered a strannik, which is a Russian religious pilgrim. After returning home from Verkhoturye, Rasputin was noticed by his fellow peers and family as a changed man with holy and or mystical powers. Around 1898, Rasputin claimed to see Our Lady of Kazan (also called the Theotokos of Kazan) who is the Russian Orthodox version of the Virgin Mary whom is supposed to protect the city of Kazan, Tatarstan, Russia. Rasputin had supposedly witnessed a theophany of the Virgin Mary as the Russian Orthodox Church views the Virgin Mary as a holy being. After seeing Our Lady of Kazan, Rasputin then began his journey of religious mysticism.
Of all religious holidays that have been adopted by secularists, one of the most popular would be Christmas, originally meant to commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ. With the exact date of Jesus' birth unknown during ancient times, Christmas was initially assigned to January 6th, but was changed to December 25th under the influence of the winter solstice (Nothaft 903). Peculiarly however, is the universal celebration of Christmas al...
Most people know the story of Santa. While there are many different versions, the gist of it is the night before Christmas, while children are sleeping, a fat man slips down the chimney to distribute gifts to boys and girls that have been good all year. The story was meant to bring hope and joy to children. It was a tale of giving and of love. However, as time goes on characters change, sometimes for better, and sometimes they take a turn for the worst.
Saint Francis of Assis wasn’t a good young boy, but after the voice of God speaking to him, he changed, and his actions show. Saint Francis was a saint from Assis who was known to help the poor and animals. Saint Francis wasn’t a good boy in his youth, but after his calling from God, he changed for the good of all people. Many pray the Saint Francis, so that he may relieve their stress on the poor and sick.
Perhaps the most famous passages on caring for those in need is in Jesus' parable in the sheep and the goats. He says, “Then the king will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me ...I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me”[6] .Clearly, when we care for someone in need, we do the will of Christ.
...ch out only for themselves, we lose sight of what Christmas is truly about. Forgetting the being of Santa Claus only makes us slight the kindness on which this holiday is based. Not believe in Santa! You may as well not believe in the very gifts laid under the tree on Christmas morn. Without your faith, Santa Claus would be nonexistent. There would be no yearning in your soul to give of yourself to others, no example to follow. Thank God, Santa Claus exists and exists forever, lightening the heavy heart as the sight of the snow blankets the soul and defines the heart of childhood.
One might ask, where did the tradition Santa Claus come from? The answer to this question unfortunately is not quite as straight forward. Somehow this tradition wove itself into the holiday season during the 4th century from Turkey, where a wealthy bishop, by the name of Nicholas habitually gave gifts to children. Following the death of Nicholas, he was honored as a saint, Sinter Nikolass, and a holiday was established in honor of him on December 6th. Dutch people in the Netherlands later shortened the saint's name to Sinter Klaas, which eventually evolved into Santa Claus in the US following Dutch i...
St. Cecilia was believed to be born in 2nd century Rome. She was an only child in a wealthy Roman family, was well-educated, and had been a devout Christian from early in her childhood. Cecilia had vowed her virginity to God, but she was promised in marriage to a pagan man named Valerian. She wore sackcloth, fasted, and prayed to the saints and angels hoping to keep her promise to God. On their wedding night, Cecilia informed Valerian that an angel guarded her body and that Valerian must not disrespect her vow of virginity. Her prayers were answered, and Valerian was willing to take her as his wife without forcing her to break her vow. Her husband wanted to see the angel that guarded her, but Cecilia told him that he would need to be baptized in order to do so. Valerian went to be baptized by Pope Urban, and returned to Cecilia as a Christian. When he returned, he saw Cecilia praying in her bedroom. Next to her was an angel with flaming wings, and he was holding two crowns of rose and lilies. He crowned both and them, and then vanished.
Carols, snow, mistletoe, cookies and milk. These are all synonymous with the Christmas season. However, for many, the true staple of Christmas is Santa Claus. Every child has felt the joy of Christmas Eve, spending time with family, leaving treats out for Santa, tossing and turning in their beds in anticipation for old St. Nick’s arrival. Although what Santa does is well known, his origins are slightly less familiar to most. The man we identify with Christmas has developed over a long time and has encountered many changes. “The original St. Nicholas is for the most part a shadowy figure, lost in historical mists and religious myths. (Myers 318).
Also in the 4th century, a bishop in Turkey who came to be called St. Nicholas was known for good deeds involving children. St. Nicholas is illustrated in medieval and renaissance paintings as a tall, dignified and severe man. His feast day on December 6 was celebrated throughout Europe until about the 16th century. Afterwards, he continued to be known in Protestant Holland.
Race and equality debates have once again picked up speed in recent years. The Race of prominent figures in society has led to many disputes regarding historical facts and psychological tolls experienced by different types of people. Jesus and Santa Claus are prominent figures that play a crucial role in past and in our current society. Throughout time their true values and portrayals (appearances) have changed and debate has surfaced regarding their true ethnicity and race. Most of these heated debates associated the color of their skin to white supremacy. However, Jesus Christ and Santa Claus are not figures that represent inequality in the world today. They are not meant to represent hatred, spite, and an all powerful white race. However, they are meant to be Role Models and help unify people in certain times or worship. They are symbols of faith not hate. The true answers to this testy topic lie in the past.