Saint Nicholas

[public domain]

St. Nicholas, by Titian, 1563

Prayer to Saint Nicholas

O good St. Nicholas, you who are the joy
of the children, put in my heart the spirit of childhood,
which the gospel speaks, and teach me to seed happiness around me.
You, whose feast prepares us for Christmas,
open my faith to the mystery of God made man.
You, good bishop and shepherd, help me to find my place in the Church
and inspire the Church to be faithful to the gospel.
O good St. Nicholas, patron of children, sailors and the helpless,
watch over those who pray to Jesus, your Lord and theirs,
as well as over those who humble themselves before you.
Bring us all in reverence to the Holy Child of Bethlehem,
when true joy and peace are found.
Amen.

Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord

[public domain]

Epiphany, by Francisco Herrera, 1653

“The star beckoned the three wise men out of their distant country and led them to recognize and adore the King of heaven and earth. The obedience of the star calls us to imitate its humble service to be servants, as best we can, of the grace that invites all men to find Christ.”

St. Leo the Great

1 John 4:9-10

In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.

Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

1 John 4:9-10