This saint is NOT Santa Claus

            December 6 -- St. Nicholas

Saint Nicholas was born about 300 AD.  As Bishop of Myra, his
virtues gained him popularity throughout the Christian world. During times of famine , he miraculously produced wheat to feed his flock. 

During times of heresy, he defended the Church; even going so far as to slap Arias for the heresy which took his name.  Upon returning home after being imprisoned by Diocletian, Nicholas found many idol shrines which harbored demons of all sorts.

By the power of God, he set out with great force to destroy them. 
He was so successful that the largest pagan temple was totally destroyed in a way that the foundation stones were on top and the pinnacle was driven into the ground.

St. Nicholas also was very kind hearted.  He gave gifts to those of good social level who became poor.  A noted case is that of the father who had three daughters without dowries.  So as not to embarrass the family, St. Nicholas would just leave bags of gold by the door of the house.

This provided a means for the father to provide for his daughters to marry well.  From this type of charitable action, St. Nicholas fame spread as a legend whereby he came to bring gifts to children who were trying to be good while at the same time it nourished their innocence. 

However, the enemies of the Church invented a secular substitute to divert the good influence of this Catholic Bishop.  It was Father Christmas who carried on the same actions of St. Nicholas without the reflection of Catholic charity and sanctity.  It was philanthropy without a religious foundation, without a higher cause.

Now, the religious legend became profane and secular.

Finally, other enemies of the Church substituted the legend of St.
Nicholas or St. Claus with the legend of a Nordic magician.  They mixed the characteristics of this magician -- sleigh and reindeer with the secular aspects of the life of St. Nicholas to deviate the admiration of the children from a religious figure to a fantasy.  No longer now did St. Nicholas have a primarily religious effect.

WE must pray to be able to discern how evil works against Catholic traditions even if the details seem insignificant.  With vigilance we will be able to define evil and oppose  it.