Minute Meditations - St. Nicholas

Home

Catholic News

Daily Features

St. Anthony Messenger

Books

Catholic e-Greetings

Parish Newsletters/Services

Minute Meditations

St. Nicholas

The critical eye of modern history makes us take a deeper look at the legends surrounding Saint Nicholas. But perhaps we can utilize the lesson taught by his legendary charity, look deeper at our approach to material goods in the Christmas season and seek ways to extend our sharing to those in real need.

— from Saint of the Day

Thursday, December 06, 2012

Minute Meditation for 12/5/2012

Minute Meditation for 12/7/2012

		Subscribe to the Minute Meditations e-newsletter.
		Subscribe to Minute Meditations at Twitter.com.
		Subscribe to this RSS feed. How?

Paid Advertisement

Ads contrary to Catholic teachings should be reported to our webmaster. Include ad link.

Bernardine of Siena: Most of the saints suffer great personal opposition, even persecution. Bernardine, by contrast, seems more like a human dynamo who simply took on the needs of the world.
<p>He was the greatest preacher of his time, journeying across Italy, calming strife-torn cities, attacking the paganism he found rampant, attracting crowds of 30,000, following St. Francis of Assisi’s admonition to preach about “vice and virtue, punishment and glory.” </p><p>Compared with St. Paul by the pope, Bernardine had a keen intuition of the needs of the time, along with solid holiness and boundless energy and joy. He accomplished all this despite having a very weak and hoarse voice, miraculously improved later because of his devotion to Mary. </p><p>When he was 20, the plague was at its height in his hometown, Siena. Sometimes as many as 20 people died in one day at the hospital. Bernardine offered to run the hospital and, with the help of other young men, nursed patients there for four months. He escaped the plague but was so exhausted that a fever confined him for several months. He spent another year caring for a beloved aunt (her parents had died when he was a child) and at her death began to fast and pray to know God’s will for him. </p><p>At 22, he entered the Franciscan Order and was ordained two years later. For almost a dozen years he lived in solitude and prayer, but his gifts ultimately caused him to be sent to preach. He always traveled on foot, sometimes speaking for hours in one place, then doing the same in another town. </p><p>Especially known for his devotion to the Holy Name of Jesus, Bernardine devised a symbol—IHS, the first three letters of the name of Jesus in Greek, in Gothic letters on a blazing sun. This was to displace the superstitious symbols of the day, as well as the insignia of factions (for example, Guelphs and Ghibellines). The devotion spread, and the symbol began to appear in churches, homes and public buildings. Opposition arose from those who thought it a dangerous innovation. Three attempts were made to have the pope take action against him, but Bernardine’s holiness, orthodoxy and intelligence were evidence of his faithfulness. </p><p>General of a branch of the Franciscan Order, the Friars of the Strict Observance, he strongly emphasized scholarship and further study of theology and canon law. When he started there were 300 friars in the community; when he died there were 4,000. He returned to preaching the last two years of his life, dying while traveling.</p>

Unfaithfulness to God causes us to be vulnerable to the influence of the darkness. Only through the sacraments are we able to return to his heavenly light and goodness.

PICKS OF THE WEEK

	The Little Way of Advent
	New! Meditations for Advent in the spirit of St. Thérèse of Lisieux.

	A Catholic Family Advent
	New! Celebrate Advent as a family with these prayers and activities.

	Sharing the Word
	New! Scriptural reflections to guide you through the season of Advent.

	New book!
	Get a fascinating look inside Catholic apologetics from Patrick Madrid.

	Hope and Help
	Guidance and inspiration for living with illness.

CATHOLIC GREETINGS

	St. Nicholas
	Let’s not forget the real St. Nicholas. Send an e-card for his feast today.

	Advent
	Send an e-card today to celebrate the first week of Advent.

	Birthday
	The day of your birth is an anniversary of life: celebrate!

	St. Francis Xavier
	This 16^th-century Jesuit missionary spent much of his life bringing the Gospel to the peoples of Asia.

	First Sunday of Advent
	Before dinner this evening gather your family to bless the Advent wreath and light one purple candle.

Come find us at:

American Catholic is for Catholics, all Christians and seekers. Find Roman Catholic Saints, Minute Meditations, Catholic Church Questions and Catholic News. Post Prayer Requests and send Catholic e-cards. Discover Catholic Books, Catholic Audio Books, Catholic Videos, and a leading Catholic Magazine.