The True Saint Nicholas

 ⬇️ Deutsche Version siehe unten ⬇️

Little children are restless on the eve of Saint Nicholas Day. “When will he finally arrive?” Little boots are polished until they shine, a wish list is written to the Christ Child and tucked inside so that Saint Nicholas can pass it on.

Saint Nicholas, Bishop of Myra, lived in Asia Minor in the 4th century. He is known for his secret acts of charity towards the poor. The legend of the three virgins who were unable to marry due to their bitter poverty is truly magical. (1) When the bishop heard of this, he went to their house on three consecutive nights and threw a bag of gold coins through the window. Thanks to his generosity, their misery came to an end and all three were able to walk down the aisle.

This story is also the origin of the custom of secretly bringing gifts to children on the night before the saint's feast day in his name. Over the centuries, St. Nicholas has increasingly become “Santa Claus,” particularly due to the commercial abuse of this tradition.

“Is that the real one?” children often ask with justified suspicion when they encounter men (or even women!) in red suits and white bushy beards in the city. This question should make us sit up and take notice.

As Catholics, we do not want to turn the holy helper and benefactor into a business. “Ho-ho-ho, I am Saint Nicholas” – no! We honor the saints, and that is why we should oppose such abuse in a friendly but firm manner.

When we celebrate the tradition of St. Nicholas, the actor dresses up as a bishop, with dignity and in honor of the saint. And please, not as “Santa Claus.” This is beautifully depicted in the booklet “Sankt Nikolaus” by Ida Bohatta. It is a good and beautiful tradition in honor of the saint. It goes without saying that children should not be lied to. If they ask honestly, it should be explained to them: it is a tradition, a game—in the name of the saint.

For other, however reprehensible reasons, Martin Luther resolutely fought against this Catholic tradition: the veneration of saints was a thorn in his side, so he unceremoniously moved the gift-giving to Christmas Eve and made the Christ Child the bringer of gifts. He abolished the feast day of Saint Nicholas. (2)

One more thought: perhaps this could also encourage us to celebrate the tradition of gift-giving during Advent in the original Catholic manner and not turn Christmas Eve into a materialistic battle. Isn't it contradictory that the poor baby Jesus in the manger is supposed to bring so many material gifts—instead of the secret benefactor St. Nicholas—and is usually completely forgotten on Christmas Eve under the mountain of presents? If it has to be at Christmas, it would make more sense for the gift-giving to take place on the feast day of the Three Kings... and then in favor of the poor...

The Child Jesus is the most beautiful gift of all, filling the soul completely. 

This was a small impulse to reflect and consider whether the tradition of gift-giving during Advent should perhaps be “put right” again—in a truly Catholic manner.

Carrying The Cross With Love – A Constructive Approach to Suffering

⬇️ Deutsche Version siehe unten ⬇️

Introduction

“How can God allow this?” some people ask themselves when faced with illness, pain, and death. 

“How can you still believe in a loving God?” when you see innocent children suffering.

“How can I still pray?” when you are confined to bed for years by an illness, when the pain sometimes becomes almost unbearable and the days and nights seem endless, when every moment is torture...

“When, oh when will this finally end?” you ask yourself.

We are all called to take up our own cross day after day and carry it together with Our Lord Jesus Christ out of love for Him. In the series “Carrying the Cross with Love,” I would like to present concrete ideas for everyday life on how to accept suffering and transform it into a sacrifice of love. 

In particular, I dedicate these posts to all people who have a heavy cross to bear and to those who stand by them.

1.    Jesus carries the cross with me

When I suffer, I am never alone. Jesus carries my cross with me. 

Jesus, our Lord and God, came here to earth, became human for me, left the glory of heaven—yes, why? Because He loves me infinitely. He wanted to become human for me, poor, small, despised by all. Jesus became human in order to die for me on the cross. He suffered terribly, more than any human being ever before or since.

He suffered terribly, more than any human being ever before or since. 

He did this voluntarily because He loves me. For me.

He knew what was coming—and out of love for me, He said “yes” to it.

Yes, He died on the cross out of love for me. There is no greater proof of love. Golgotha is the pinnacle of love.

Look, He is stretching out His holy hands to us! He shows us the deep wounds of the nails in His hands, His feet, His pierced heart... His whole holy body is torn by the blows of the scourging, His head crowned with thorns, His shoulder torn open under the weight of the crossbeam.

Yet His gaze is full of infinite love. No reproach, only this infinite love shines from His eyes. He looks at me. “Do you love me?” This question is not only for Peter, but also for me, for each one of us. 

“Do you love me? Will you help me carry My cross? Out of love?”

Yes, Lord, Thy will be done. I know that Thou lovest me infinitely and that everything Thou wantest is for my good. Thou art love. I have no doubt about that. Yes, I firmly believe that Thou lovest me. I surrender myself to Thee, full of trust, care for me, Thy will be done. 

Yes, even if I have to suffer, I accept it from Your hands. From Your good hands, which were nailed to the cross for me. I accept my suffering out of love for You (specifically: the illness, pain, depression, weakness, loneliness, the disappointments... and say “yes” to them).

Yes, I want to love You and grow in my love for You. Do with me as You will, my Jesus. I love You. Fiat voluntas Tua, Domine. Amen.

One, two, three...get started! - The Mini-Rosary for Beginners

⬇️Deutsche Version siehe unten⬇️

   Sister Lucia remembered: "We had been advised to pray the rosary after our evening meal, but because we felt we had too little time to play, we had found a good way to finish quickly: we let the beads slide through our fingers, saying only: Hail Mary, Hail Mary, Hail Mary! When we reached the end of the mystery, we paused for a long moment and said the simple words: Our Father. And so we had prayed our rosary in no time at all." (1)

   So, also the shepherd children of Fatima also started small...A shortened version of the rosary is particularly suitable for children and beginners. There are two options for this:

1. Pray only one section of the rosary, e.g. the introduction and/or one mystery. Then gradually expand and add one more mystery at a time.

2. Pray the entire rosary, but reduce the number of ‘Hail Marys’ (e.g. only 3 ‘Hail Marys’ for each mystery, later 5, then 7 and finally all 10).

One, two, three…let´s pray together!

   Whether in the parish or in the family, with friends, on the radio, with a CD or podcast – together it is twice as beautiful! Each person says only part of the prayer, then listens to the others. Listen and pray...Depending on your preference, you can lead the prayer or follow along, or take turns. 

   A wonderful example is the children´s rosary on Radio Horeb where even the youngest children participate with great enthusiasm. I discovered this programme quite by chance when I spontaneously turned on the radio on a Saturday evening. To be honest, I had tears in my eyes when a little four-year-old repeated each ‘Hail Mary’ with such enthusiasm and verve! – yes, truly, the kingdom of heaven belongs to people like this! Perhaps we can learn best from children how to pray (and not the other way around).

Book Recommendations - Good Food for the Soul

Die folgende Liste wird beständig aktualisiert. Es sind meine Lieblingsbücher. Viel Freude beim Lesen. - Wir freuen uns ebenso über Ihre Empfehlungen! :)

Hl. Louis-Marie Grignion: "Der heilige Rosenkranz – Das wunderbare Geheimnis der Bekehrung und des Heiles", Lins-Verlag, Feldkirch 2014. 

 -> Auf unserem YouTube-Kanal finden Sie Auszüge aus dem Buch: den Rosenkranz auf Latein mit den Betrachtungen des hl. Louis-Marie Grignion de Montfort:

https://www.youtube.com/@trad.catholiclife/playlists

Hl. Anna Katharina Emmerich: 

    "Das bittere Leiden unseres Herrn Jesus Christus"

    "Geheimnisse des Alten und des Neuen Bundes"

    "Das Leben der heiligen Jungfrau Maria"

    "Das erste Lehrjahr Jesu"

    "Das zweite Lehrjahr Jesu"

    "Das dritte Lehrjahr Jesu"

    

Clemens Brentano schrieb diese sechs Bände auf Grundlage der Visionen der hl. Anna Katharina Emmerich nieder. 

Hl. Louis-Marie Grignion: "Das Goldene Buch".

Pater Martin Ramm (FSSP): "Die Logik der Liebe".

Hl. Josémaria Escrivá: "Rosenkranz".

Papst Leo XIII.: "Die Übung der Demut".

Freundeskreis Maria Goretti: "Selig die reinen Herzens sind"

Bonaventura Pihan (Hrsg.): "Kreuzeslob: Katholisches Gebet- und Gesangbuch zum Leiden Christi." Fe-Medienverlag.

Practical Tips for the Rosary Prayer

  Deutsche Fassung siehe unten 

- Use a rosary made of a material that you enjoy holding in your hand, e.g. slightly larger wooden beads. As a daily companion, you can take it with you everywhere, in your pocket or around your neck – and at night on your bedpost. There are also rosary rings or bracelets with only one bead. Your ten fingers can also be used as a counting aid.

- You can pray each mystery with a specific intention: for the Holy Father, priests and consecrated persons, your own family, the sick, the unborn, sinners, souls in purgatory... perhaps even each individual ‘Hail Mary’ for a specific person or a specific intention.

 - Routine: set aside a fixed time in your daily schedule for the daily Rosary prayer, e.g. after lunch or before going to bed.

Of course, we should not pray the Rosary to fall asleep... but still. It is simply excellent for calming down. It helps me wonderfully against insomnia and also against brooding thoughts, so I prefer to pray it right before going to bed.

- For shorter sections of the Rosary, it is also pleasant to combine words and breath.

Here's how it works:

As you exhale, pray only a single word or the smallest section of meaning, e.g. ‘Ave Maria... gratia plena... Dominus... tecum...’

Inhale slowly. Take your time and linger on each word. This method noticeably deepens the prayer; you meditate.

here are also rosary rings or This method noticeably deepens prayer; you meditate on the individual words with great attention.

- If you want a little more momentum and movement, you can also pray the rosary on a walk through the quiet countryside or on the way to church or a Marian grotto. Perhaps together with your spouse...?

- Pray each decade for a specific intention, for the Holy Father, priests and consecrated persons, your family, the sick, the unborn, sinners, souls in purgatory... perhaps even each individual ‘Hail Mary’ for a specific person or a specific intention.

Tipps für die Rosenkranz-Praxis

- Nutzen Sie fürs Gebet einen Rosenkranz aus einem Material, das Sie gerne in der Hand halten, z. B. etwas größere Holzperlen. Als täglichen Begleiter können Sie ihn überall mit hinnehmen, in der Tasche oder um den Hals – und nachts an ihrem Bettpfosten. Es gibt auch Rosenkranz-Ringe oder -Armbänder mit nur einem Gesetz. Auch die zehn Finger können als Zählhilfe genutzt werden.

- Mann kann jedes Geheimnis in einer bestimmte Intention beten: für den Heiligen Vater, die Priester und Gottgeweihten, Ihre eigene Familie, die Kranken, die Ungeborenen, die Sünder, die Seelen im Purgatorium, …vielleicht auch jedes einzelne „Ave Maria“ für eine ganz bestimmte Person, ein konkretes Anliegen.

 - Routine: planen Sie für das tägliche Rosenkranzgebet eine feste Zeit in Ihrem Tagesablauf ein, z. B. nach dem Mittagessen oder vor dem Zubettgehen.

Klar, wir sollen den Rosenkranz nicht beten, um einzuschlafen…aber trotzdem. Er eignet sich einfach hervorragend, um zur Ruhe zu kommen. Mir hilft er wunderbar gegen Schlafstörungen und auch bei Grübelgedanken und bete ihn darum am liebsten direkt vor dem Schlafengehen.

- Angenehm ist für kleinere Abschnitte des Rosenkranzes auch die Verbindung von Wort und Atem.

Das geht so:

Beim Ausatmen nur ein einziges Wort oder der kleinsten Sinnabschnitt beten, z. B. „Ave Maria….gratia plena…Dominus…tecum…“

Langsam einatmen. Lassen Sie sich Zeit und verweilen Sie bei jedem Wort. Diese Methode vertieft das Gebet spürbar; man meditiert die einzelnen Worte mit großer Aufmerksamkeit.

- Wenn Sie etwas mehr Schwung und Bewegung wünschen, können Sie den Rosenkranz auch auf einem Spaziergang durch die stille Natur beten oder auf dem Weg zur Kirche oder Mariengrotte. Vielleicht zusammen mit Ihrem Ehepartner…?

- Beten Sie jedes Gesetz für eine bestimmte Intention, für den heiligen Vater, die Priester und Gottgeweihten, Ihre Familie, die Kranken, die Ungeborenen, die Sünder, die Seelen im Purgatorium, …vielleicht auch jedes einzelne „Ave Maria“ für eine ganz bestimmte Person, ein konkretes Anliegen. 

Living the Mysteries

  Deutsche Version siehe unten 

I try to understand the meaning of the mysteries for my own life: what I can learn from them for my everyday life.

Let's take a mystery from the Sorrowful Rosary as an example: 1st Mystery: Our Lord Jesus Christ takes the cross upon His shoulders...

- Why does He do that? Why does He do this for me? We are all called to take up our cross daily and follow Him...

- What is my cross? Do I have an illness that burdens me, or worries, difficulties at work, or am I unemployed? Do I accept my cross with love? Do I carry it with Him out of love for Jesus? - How does our Saviour carry the cross? What can I learn from this for my own little Way of the Cross, i.e. when I suffer, when I am ill, in pain, sad...? How should I carry my cross? Quietly and humbly, without complaining, and looking to Him who suffered so much more – voluntarily! – for me.

- Jesus carried this cross for me as atonement for my sins and for the salvation of my soul, so that I may one day be with Him in heaven in eternal life. I too may offer my suffering as a sacrifice for myself and others, in atonement for our sins and for the salvation of souls, as a voluntary sacrifice of love.

Jesus stretches out His hands towards the cross; He does not try to run away, no. His love compels Him to stretch out His hands towards the cross, knowing full well what is coming... He knows that His suffering has meaning, that it brings salvation and comfort to us, whom He loves so much... And my suffering also has meaning; it is very precious in the eyes of God. All the more so when I bear it in love and learn from our Saviour...

I am invited to carry the cross with Him, to learn from Him how love is preserved in suffering...

 

Or in the fourth mystery: ‘Simon of Cyrene helps Jesus carry the cross...’ Where do I place a cross on others?

Where do others carry a cross for me, perhaps voluntarily, out of love? How can I help others in this? After my reflection, I write down the thoughts and resolutions I have formed. I endeavour to put them into practice as soon as possible.

It is very important that, in addition to prayer, we also do something and change something in our lives and for others, in word and deed. The next time I pray the Rosary, I will examine myself to see if I have kept my resolutions and come a little closer to Our Lord through His grace.

Yes, Lord Jesus Christ, I want to grow in love for You! Please help me to do so! Amen.

Und was hat das mit mir zu tun...?

 

Dann versuche ich, die Bedeutung der Geheimnisse für mein eigenes Leben zu verstehen: was ich daraus für meinen Alltag lernen kann. Nehmen wir als Beispiel ein Geheimnis des schmerzreichen Rosenkranzes:

 

1.    Geheimnis: Unser Herr Jesus Christus nimmt das Kreuz auf Seine Schultern…

-         Warum tut Er das? Warum tut Er das für mich?

-         Wir alle sind dazu aufgerufen, täglich unser Kreuz auf uns zu nehmen und Ihm nachzufolgen…

Was ist mein Kreuz? Habe ich eine Krankheit, die mich belastet oder Sorgen, Schwierigkeiten am Arbeitsplatz oder bin ich arbeitslos?

Nehme ich mein Kreuz in Liebe an? Trage ich es aus Liebe zu Jesus mit Ihm?

-         Wie trägt Unser Heiland das Kreuz? Was darf ich konkret daraus lernen für meinen eigenen kleinen Kreuzweg, d. h. wenn ich leide, wenn ich krank bin, Schmerzen habe, traurig bin…? Wie soll ich mein Kreuz tragen? - Still und demütig, ohne Jammern, und auf Ihn blicken, der so viel mehr – freiwillig! – für mich gelitten hat.

-         Jesus hat für mich dieses Kreuz getragen als Sühne für meine Sünden und für die Rettung meiner Seele, damit ich einst im ewigen Leben bei Ihm im Himmel sein darf.

-         Auch ich darf für mich und andere mein Leiden als Opfer darbringen, zur Sühne für unsere Sünden und das Heil der Seelen, als freiwilliges Opfer der Liebe

-         Jesus streckt die Hände aus nach dem Kreuz, Er versucht nicht fortzulaufen, nein. Seine Liebe drängt Ihn, die Hände dem Kreuz entgegenzustrecken, wohlwissend, was kommt…

-         Er weiß, dass Sein Leiden einen Sinn hat, dass es Erlösung und Trost bringt für uns, die Er so sehr liebt…

-         Und auch mein Leiden hat einen Sinn, ist sehr wertvoll in den Augen Gottes. Umso mehr, wenn ich es in Liebe trage und von Unserem Heiland lerne…

-         Ich bin eingeladen, das Kreuz mit Ihm zu tragen, von Ihm zu lernen, wie im Leiden die Liebe bewahrt

…

Oder im vierten Geheimnis: „Simon von Cyrene hilft Jesus, das Kreuz zu tragen…“

-         Wo lege ich anderen ein Kreuz auf? Wo tragen andere ein Kreuz für mich, vielleicht freiwillig, aus Liebe?

-         Wie kann ich anderen dabei helfen?

 

Nach der Betrachtung schreibe ich mir die Gedanken und Vorsätze auf, die ich dabei gefasst habe. Ich bemühe mich, sie sobald als möglich in die Tat umzusetzen. Es ist sehr wichtig, dass wir – neben dem Gebet - auch etwas tun und ändern in unserem Leben und für andere, in Wort und Tat.

 

Wenn ich das nächste Mal den Rosenkranz bete, werde ich mich prüfen, ob ich meine Vorsätze gehalten und Unserem Herrn durch Seine Gnade ein klein wenig nähergekommen bin.

Ja, Herr Jesus Christus, ich will wachsen in der Liebe zu Dir! Bitte, hilf mir dabei! Amen.

Picture: Raphael: "Christ falling on the Way to Calvaria", Museo del Prado.

Contemplative Prayer – Catholic Daydreaming

 Deutsche Version siehe unten 

Contemplative prayer – Catholic daydreaming

So, what exactly is “contemplation”? For me, it means lovingly dwelling on the mysteries. Perhaps one could also call it “meditation”.

I imagine the scene vividly, in every detail, as if I wanted to paint a picture of it. Like a film, I let the events pass before my inner eye... I imagine really being there – in a way, I am, in prayer. Sometimes I close my eyes, sometimes I look at a picture in a book. Among others, the works of art by Albrecht Dürer are famous. I also try to imagine the voices and words, the surroundings...

As I pray, I reflect on the meaning of the events and the individual people who are present: first, of course, Jesus Christ and His virgin mother Mary, but also Saint Joseph, the Archangel Gabriel... later Simon of Cyrene or Veronica... Mary Magdalene and the apostles... What might they have felt and thought?

Yes, why did all this happen? ... for me, for you ... because we are such miserable sinners. And because the Lord loves us so infinitely. Again and again, I am overwhelmed by this completely pure, selfless love of God, which I do not deserve in the slightest. Yes, on the contrary! How often do I offend Him with my lukewarmness, with all my sins! And... oh, how I wish I could love Him and the Blessed Virgin more, much more...!

A famous example is the meditations of Saint Josemaría Escrivá, which are freely available on the internet and also in print.

Picture: Francois Boucher, "The Adoration of the Shepherds", Metroploitan Museum of Art, New York.

Recommended reading:

https://escriva.org/de/santo-rosario/19/

_________________________________________________________________

Kontemplation - betrachten und staunen

Ja, was ist eigentlich „Betrachten“? Für mich bedeutet es ein liebevolles Verweilen bei den Geheimnissen. Vielleicht könnte man es auch „Meditation“ nennen.

Ich stelle mir die jeweilige Szene ganz lebhaft vor, in allen Details, als wollte ich ein Bild davon malen. Wie einen Film lasse ich das Geschehen vor meinem inneren Auge vorüberziehen… stelle mir vor, wirklich dabei zu sein – in gewisser Weise bin ich das ja auch im Gebet. Manchmal schließe ich die Augen, manchmal betrachte ich ein Bild in einem Buch dabei. Berühmt sind unter anderem die Kunstwerke Albrecht Dürers. Auch die Stimmen und Worte versuche ich mir vorzustellen, die Umgebung…

Betend denke ich nach über die Bedeutung des Geschehens und die einzelnen Personen, die dabei sind: zuerst natürlich Jesus Christus und Seine jungfräuliche Mutter Maria, aber auch der heilige Joseph, der Erzengel Gabriel…später Simon von Cyrene oder Veronika…Maria Madgalena und die Apostel…Was mochten sie dabei empfunden und gedacht haben?

Ja, warum ist das alles geschehen?…für mich, für dich…weil wir so erbärmliche Sünder sind. Und weil der Herr uns so unendlich liebt. Immer aufs neue überwältigt mich diese vollkommen reine, selbstlose Liebe Gottes, die ich kein bisschen verdient habe. Ja, im Gegenteil! Wie oft beleidige ich Ihn mit meiner Lauheit, mit all meinen Sünden! Und…oh, wie sehr wünsche ich mir, Ihn und die hl. Jungfrau mehr, viel mehr zu lieben…!

Ein berühmtes Beispiel sind die Betrachtungen des heiligen Josémaria Escrivá, die sowohl im Internet frei zugänglich, als auch in Druckversion erhältlich sind.

Literaturempfehlungen:

https://escriva.org/de/santo-rosario/19/