DECEMBER 5: THE HOLY GEOLOGIST
Blessed Niels Stensen
Bishop
Died: 1686
---
He’s also known as Bl. Nicolas Steno. He was a Danish bishop. He was a physician and scientist. He went all over Europe to study the human body. He also studied the layers of rocks. His writings became the foundations of modern stratigraphy (the study of rock layers). He also studied crystals and how they are formed. He was also a very influential figure during that time when the Church was trying to cope with the effects of Protestantism.
Blessed Niels Stensen
Bishop
Died: 1686
---
He’s also known as Bl. Nicolas Steno. He was a Danish bishop. He was a physician and scientist. He went all over Europe to study the human body. He also studied the layers of rocks. His writings became the foundations of modern stratigraphy (the study of rock layers). He also studied crystals and how they are formed. He was also a very influential figure during that time when the Church was trying to cope with the effects of Protestantism.
👍25👏4
Forwarded from Christianists (Defunct)
non veni pacem
The man behind DRBO.ORG is in a health emergency and needs our help!
Crosspost from Ann. This man has done invaluable work, and I use his site all the time, if not daily. Please help if you can. Please also enjoin your prayers. Also, SuperNerd is doing background st…
🤔5🙏2
WHEN ST. NICHOLAS SLAPPED A PRIEST
---
Aside from being loving especially to children, St. Nicholas was also known for being a staunch defender of the divinity of Christ. When the First Council of Nicaea was convened to discuss Christ’s divinity, Nicholas attended. Arius, who started the heresy that Jesus was only human, was also there. During a heated debate, Nicholas stood-up, crossed the room, and slapped (or punched) Arius. The bishops were shocked. They removed his episcopal garments and jailed him. But one night, Jesus and Mary appeared to him. They gave him bishop’s clothes and the Gospels. The next morning, when the guards saw that he was wearing the bishop’s clothes again, the emperor had him reinstated as bishop.
---
Aside from being loving especially to children, St. Nicholas was also known for being a staunch defender of the divinity of Christ. When the First Council of Nicaea was convened to discuss Christ’s divinity, Nicholas attended. Arius, who started the heresy that Jesus was only human, was also there. During a heated debate, Nicholas stood-up, crossed the room, and slapped (or punched) Arius. The bishops were shocked. They removed his episcopal garments and jailed him. But one night, Jesus and Mary appeared to him. They gave him bishop’s clothes and the Gospels. The next morning, when the guards saw that he was wearing the bishop’s clothes again, the emperor had him reinstated as bishop.
🔥55👍3
DECEMBER 6: THE KNIGHT WHO SAW HELL
Saint Obizio of Niardo
Married Layperson and Oblate
Died: 1204
---
St. Obitius was a married layperson and oblate. He had four children. He was also a knight dedicated to the handling of weapons on horseback. During one battle, he fell into a river. He went unconscious and had a vision of hell. This experience led him to choose religious life. He distributed his possessions for the good of all. He became an oblate in a monastery. He will spend the last years of his life in this place, living a life of penance.
Saint Obizio of Niardo
Married Layperson and Oblate
Died: 1204
---
St. Obitius was a married layperson and oblate. He had four children. He was also a knight dedicated to the handling of weapons on horseback. During one battle, he fell into a river. He went unconscious and had a vision of hell. This experience led him to choose religious life. He distributed his possessions for the good of all. He became an oblate in a monastery. He will spend the last years of his life in this place, living a life of penance.
🔥26👍4
IS ST. NICHOLAS SANTA CLAUS?
---
Yes… and no. Yes, because the name “Santa Claus” was taken from “Sinterklaas” which is one of the Dutch equivalent of the name St. Nicholas. Hence, “Santa Claus” is a variation of the name “St. Nicholas.” So, by name, St. Nicholas is Santa Claus. However, the Santa Claus character we know now – the white-bearded, chubby, red-suited, sleigh-riding man from the North Pole – is not St. Nicholas. Santa Claus is a legendary figure made-up for children. St. Nicholas was an actual historical person, a bishop who lived during the 4th century. So, St. Nicholas is not the Santa Claus character.
---
Yes… and no. Yes, because the name “Santa Claus” was taken from “Sinterklaas” which is one of the Dutch equivalent of the name St. Nicholas. Hence, “Santa Claus” is a variation of the name “St. Nicholas.” So, by name, St. Nicholas is Santa Claus. However, the Santa Claus character we know now – the white-bearded, chubby, red-suited, sleigh-riding man from the North Pole – is not St. Nicholas. Santa Claus is a legendary figure made-up for children. St. Nicholas was an actual historical person, a bishop who lived during the 4th century. So, St. Nicholas is not the Santa Claus character.
👍34❤2
DECEMBER 7: THE SILENT SAINT
Saint Ioannes Hesychastes
Bishop
Died: 558
---
He was an Armenian bishop. He is called St. John the Silent because he loved recollection and silence. He possessed the gift of healing and driving evil spirits away. It is said he left his post as a bishop because of his disgust with politics and lived alone for many years. It is said that he took a vow a silence and walled himself up for four years and then lived as a hermit in the desert for nine years. It is said that he was protected by a lion.
Saint Ioannes Hesychastes
Bishop
Died: 558
---
He was an Armenian bishop. He is called St. John the Silent because he loved recollection and silence. He possessed the gift of healing and driving evil spirits away. It is said he left his post as a bishop because of his disgust with politics and lived alone for many years. It is said that he took a vow a silence and walled himself up for four years and then lived as a hermit in the desert for nine years. It is said that he was protected by a lion.
🙏24❤1
Did you know that Jimmy Durante, AKA the Schnozzola, is a practicing Roman Catholic?
He frequently joked about his large nose, but in reality he was a baptized Catholic and altar boy, even in his youth. He continued to live the faith until he died. He even went so far as making Catholic music and helping the priest greet parishioners at his local parish after Mass, even in the last few years of his 86-year life.
In those same years, he narrated one of his life's greatest hits: Frosty the Snowman, a Christmas classic, which came out today in 1969. At the time of its initial broadcast, Durante was 83.
He frequently joked about his large nose, but in reality he was a baptized Catholic and altar boy, even in his youth. He continued to live the faith until he died. He even went so far as making Catholic music and helping the priest greet parishioners at his local parish after Mass, even in the last few years of his 86-year life.
In those same years, he narrated one of his life's greatest hits: Frosty the Snowman, a Christmas classic, which came out today in 1969. At the time of its initial broadcast, Durante was 83.
❤53👍5
DECEMBER 7: HE CURED THE CHOPPER OF HIS HAND
Saints Sabinus of Spoleto
Bishop and Martyr
Died: 303
---
He was a bishop and martyr who suffered during the reign of the emperor Diocletian. As punishment for preaching the Gospel, his hands were amputated. The prison‘s executioner, who had chopped off his hands, suffered from an eye disease and went to see him while he was in jail. He healed the man and talked to him about Christianity. The other guards were so angry at what Sabinus did. They beat him to death.
Saints Sabinus of Spoleto
Bishop and Martyr
Died: 303
---
He was a bishop and martyr who suffered during the reign of the emperor Diocletian. As punishment for preaching the Gospel, his hands were amputated. The prison‘s executioner, who had chopped off his hands, suffered from an eye disease and went to see him while he was in jail. He healed the man and talked to him about Christianity. The other guards were so angry at what Sabinus did. They beat him to death.
❤12
IS ST. NICHOLAS SANTA CLAUS?
---
Yes… and no. Yes, because the name “Santa Claus” was taken from “Sinterklaas” which is one of the Dutch equivalent of the name St. Nicholas. Hence, “Santa Claus” is a variation of the name “St. Nicholas.” So, by name, St. Nicholas is Santa Claus. However, the Santa Claus character we know now – the white-bearded, chubby, red-suited, sleigh-riding man from the North Pole – is not St. Nicholas. Santa Claus is a legendary figure made-up for children. St. Nicholas was an actual historical person, a bishop who lived during the 4th century. So, St. Nicholas is not the Santa Claus character.
---
Yes… and no. Yes, because the name “Santa Claus” was taken from “Sinterklaas” which is one of the Dutch equivalent of the name St. Nicholas. Hence, “Santa Claus” is a variation of the name “St. Nicholas.” So, by name, St. Nicholas is Santa Claus. However, the Santa Claus character we know now – the white-bearded, chubby, red-suited, sleigh-riding man from the North Pole – is not St. Nicholas. Santa Claus is a legendary figure made-up for children. St. Nicholas was an actual historical person, a bishop who lived during the 4th century. So, St. Nicholas is not the Santa Claus character.
👍24