On Trending with Timmerie, Fr. Richard Hendrick, O.F.M. Cap., introduces the real St. Nicholas: a 4th‑century bishop of Myra in Turkey. As a young man he prayed with the Desert Fathers, and the Church honors him as a “thaumaturge,” a wonderworker whose life was, as Fr. Richard says, “suffused with miracles.”

Nicholas was born into a wealthy family around 270 A.D., but his riches were hidden acts of mercy. Hearing that three women were about to be sold into slavery because their father had no dowries, he slipped bags of gold to them by night. Another story tells of a butcher whose “pork” was really murdered Christian children; Nicholas prayed and blessed them, and the children were restored to life – which is why icons show him with a wooden barrel.

Over time, devotion to this miracle‑working bishop spread across the Christian world. In Holland, children put out shoes or stockings, trusting that “Sinterklaas” had visited with small gifts by morning. Dutch settlers carried that custom to America, where Sinterklaas became “Santa Claus” and his red‑and‑white look echoed the appearance of an Eastern bishop’s vestments.

As Timmerie sums up, St. Nicholas is not a myth but a saint who lives with Christ in Heaven and still powerfully intercedes for us – even as a patron of broadcasters. This year, when you see Santa everywhere, ask the real St. Nicholas to help you love the poor, defend the truth, and give generously and quietly for love of Jesus.

The best way to listen to the Best of the Week is on our #1 Free Catholic App. It’s free, and always will be! To get and share the Relevant Radio app, check it out here.

On Trending with Timmerie, Fr. Richard Hendrick, O.F.M. Cap., introduces the real St. Nicholas: a 4th‑century bishop of Myra in Turkey. As a young man he prayed with the Desert Fathers, and the Church honors him as a &ldquo;thaumaturge,&rdquo; a wonderworker whose life was, as Fr. Richard says, &ldquo;suffused with miracles.&rdquo;
Nicholas was born into a wealthy family around 270 A.D., but his riches were hidden acts of mercy. Hearing that three women were about to be sold into slavery because their father had no dowries, he slipped bags of gold to them by night. Another story tells of a butcher whose &ldquo;pork&rdquo; was really murdered Christian children; Nicholas prayed and blessed them, and the children were restored to life &ndash; which is why icons show him with a wooden barrel.
Over time, devotion to this miracle‑working bishop spread across the Christian world. In Holland, children put out shoes or stockings, trusting that &ldquo;Sinterklaas&rdquo; had visited with small gifts by morning. Dutch settlers carried that custom to America, where Sinterklaas became &ldquo;Santa Claus&rdquo; and his red‑and‑white look echoed the appearance of an Eastern bishop&rsquo;s vestments.
As Timmerie sums up, St. Nicholas is not a myth but a saint who lives with Christ in Heaven and still powerfully intercedes for us &ndash; even as a patron of broadcasters. This year, when you see Santa everywhere, ask the real St. Nicholas to help you love the poor, defend the truth, and give generously and quietly for love of Jesus.
<hr>
The best way to listen to the&nbsp;Best of the Week&nbsp;is on our #1 Free Catholic App. It&rsquo;s free, and always will be! To get and share the Relevant Radio app, check it out&nbsp;<a href="https://relevantradio.com/listen/get-the-app/">here</a>.

Life can get busy, and it's easy to miss out on the captivating moments from your favorite Relevant Radio shows. But now, we've got you covered! "The Best of the Week - Relevant Radio Podcast" brings you the crème de la crème of Relevant Radio's programming. We carefully curate and compile the most engaging and relevant content from the past week, just for you! Get ready to catch up on faith, culture, current events, and personal growth, all in one convenient and easily accessible podcast. It's like having a front-row seat to the most compelling moments from Relevant Radio's diverse range of shows. So, whether you're an active Relevant Radio listener or new to our programming, "The Best of the Week - Relevant Radio Podcast" is your passport to a world of knowledge, growth, and inspiration.

Life can get busy, and it's easy to miss out on the captivating moments from your favorite Relevant Radio shows. But now, we've got you covered! "The Best of the Week - Relevant Radio Podcast" brings you the crème de la crème of Relevant Radio's programming. We carefully curate and compile the most engaging and relevant content from the past week, just for you! Get ready to catch up on faith, culture, current events, and personal growth, all in one convenient and easily accessible podcast. It's like having a front-row seat to the most compelling moments from Relevant Radio's diverse range of shows. So, whether you're an active Relevant Radio listener or new to our programming, "The Best of the Week - Relevant Radio Podcast" is your passport to a world of knowledge, growth, and inspiration.

Advertisement