In fact, another story tells us that at the same Council (the
origin of the ‘Nicene Creed’ that Catholics recite at Mass) Nicholas became so
irate at the heresy of Arius that he punched Arius in the presence of the
Emperor Constantine and all assembled. In punishment, Nicholas was stripped of
his bishop’s garments, chained, and thrown into prison. Jesus and Mary were
said to have appeared to him in prison and given him the Book of the Gospels
and omophorion (Editor’s Note: In the Eastern
Orthodox and Eastern Catholic liturgical tradition, the omophor is
the distinguishing vestment of a bishop and the symbol of his spiritual and
ecclesiastical authority.)
At the Council of Nicea -the
origin of the ‘Nicene Creed’ that Catholics recite at Mass- Nicholas became so
irate at the heresy of Arius that he punched him in the presence of the Emperor
Constantine and all assembled.
When the prison guard checked on Nicholas in the morning, the
Saint was free of chains, dressed as a bishop and reading the Gospels. When
Constantine was told of this, Nicholas was released immediately.
During that same Council, sailors who were on their way to the
Holy Land encountered a storm and were in danger of being shipwrecked. They
called upon St. Nicholas to help them — as stories about his miracles spread
even during his lifetime. Nicholas appeared to the sailors and guided their
ship to land. When they gave thanks to him, he told them, “My children, give
honor to God. I am but a poor sinner.” He then told them of the numerous sins
they committed which had been the cause of the near-disaster they experienced
and urged them to repent.
It is especially interesting that these remarkable legends should
be so persistent, as we’re told that throughout his life Nicholas did most of
his good deeds in private, trying his best follow the command of Christ to “do
not do your justice before men” and “let your right hand not know what your
left hand is doing.”
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.