General Description:

Father Francis Weiser

Christmas—all history revolves around that event which is central in liturgy as it is in life. History was changed forever because one night in a cattle shed, in a small town of a despised area dependent on the Imperial Province of Syria, a young girl gave birth to a boy Child. Christmas is the birthday of an era, the inauguration of a culture, the beginning of a creed, the fountainhead of man’s hope. This book recalls perfectly the origins and historical significance of the customs and ceremonies with which Christian men surrounded the birthday of their King. Once you have enjoyed reading this book, chances are you will find excuses to re-read it—even before next Christmas! The information is great, the writing superb and the beauty, meaning and importance of the subject enchanting. Just a few of the chapters covered are: Origin of the Feast; Christmas in the Middle ages; Midnight Mass; Hymns, Carols and Nativity plays; The Christmas Crib; Christmas Tree; Christmas Dinner; Saint Nicholas, Santa claus; Exchanging Presents; Cherished Customs; etc. This book will warm the heart and bring closer to all who read it the real significance and meaning of our Christmas customs. Laced with 22 illustrations by Robert Frankenberg, the book also includes Reference Notes and a very useful Index.

Smyth-sewn signatures, cream paper, 188 pages, hardcover.

St. Nicholas of Myra

Patron Of: Captives, Murderers, Apothecaries, Bakers, Boatmen, Children, Boys, Brewers, Brides, Mariners, Merchants, Pawn Brokers, Poor, Prisoners, Coopers, Druggists, Fishermen, Greece, Judges, Maidens, Russia, Scholars, School Children, Against Imprisonment, Against Robberies, Sicily, Students, Switzerland, Travelers, Unmarried Women Also known as     Klaus; Mikulas; Nicholas of Bari; Nicolaas; Nicolas; Niklas; Santa Claus Memorial     6 December 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:         * 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.         * 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.         * 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           .         * 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; Apulia, Italy; bakers; Bari, Italy; barrel makers; boatmen; boot blacks; boys; brewers; brides; captives; Cas Concos, Spain; children; coopers; dock workers; druggists; Duronia, Italy; fishermen; Fossalto, Italy; Greece; Greek Catholic Church in America; Greek Catholic Unionl grooms; judges; lawsuits lost unjustly; Lecco, Italy; Limerick, Ireland; Liptovský Mikulás, Slovakia; longshoremen; Lorraine; maidens; mariners; merchants; Miklavž na Dravskem polju, Slovenia; murderers; Naples, Italy; newlyweds; old maids; parish clerks; paupers; pawnbrokers; perfumeries; perfumers; pharmacists; pilgrims; poor people; Portsmouth, England; prisoners; Russia; sailors; Sassari, Italy; scholars; schoolchildren; shoe shiners; Sicily; spinsters; students; thieves; travellers; University of Paris; unmarried girls; watermen All information used with permission of the Patron Saint Index.

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