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BRECKSVILLE, Ohio — A fourth-century bishop, who is also the patron saint of Byzantine Catholics, has inspired Christians and non-believers for the past 17 centuries, said Father Joseph Marquis, founder and director of the St. Nicholas Institute in Detroit.
Father Marquis, who also serves as pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in Livonia, Michigan, was the main speaker at St. Joseph Parish Nov. 10, at the most recent session of the regional Adult Catholic Education (ACE) series.
The first part of the presentation highlighted key aspects of the saint’s life. St. Nicholas, aka Santa Claus, was an only child born in Patara (in modern-day Turkey) in 270 A.D., to a wealthy Christian family and studied under the aristocracy.
When he was 19 years of age, a sickness swept the city and claimed the lives of many residents, including his parents. He inherited all of his parents’ wealth and pondered the Gospel story of the rich young man (Mk 10:17-31).
Nicholas became a Christian philanthropist and designated his money for specific needs. He became a priest and later, as a bishop, was imprisoned by Emperor Diocletian.
In prison, he was tortured and had his nose broken, which later analysis of his body confirmed. He was released from prison by Constantine.
He is the patron saint of children, widows and the marginalized. He died at the age of 75 in 345 A.D. His feast day is Dec. 6. The remains of his body are in both Venice and Bari, Italy.
The second part of the presentation discussed how his remains ooze manna, that is, pure water, still today. Each year, on May 9, 500,000 people gather in Bari and watch as manna from his remains are drawn out after the liturgy.
Father Marquis screened a video of this event from this past year, at which he was present. They also saw a vial of this manna and venerated a relic of St. Nicholas.
The third part of the presentation included a moving account of Father Marquis’ conversion at the age of five. Both his mother and father were seriously ill before Christmas and his aunt was taking care of both him and his identical twin. His aunt encouraged the twins to pray, because “God listens to the prayers of little children.” As they prayed, they felt infused with the Holy Spirit.
His aunt also told them that if you trust in God you get everything you need, not necessarily everything you want. After a difficult pregnancy his little brother was born on Christmas Day of that year.
Father Marquis also encouraged the participants to reflect on the statement, “God could not bear a world without you in it.”
He concluded by saying that Christmas is not a feeling; the Christmas spirit is the third Person of the Trinity. The greatest gift given to him was the gift of faith.
Learn more about the St. Nicholas Institute at www.stnicholasinstitute.org.
Caption: Father Joseph Marquis, pastor of Sacred Heart Parish and founder of the St. Nicholas Institute, delivered a presentation on St. Nicholas the Wonderworker at the Nov. 10 ACE evening at St. Joseph church in Brecksville, Ohio. (Photo: Photo: Elaine Wise)
As published in Horizons, Dec. 2, 2018.
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