The Truth About Santa Claus...Sort of

Ho Ho Ho!! We all love Santa Claus, don't we? After all, he's the giver of Christmas gifts who distributes them throughout the world from a sleigh pulled by flying reindeer. How cool is that? Yes, indeed, a true miracle worker. But he's also a remarkably joyful one. We all remember how Clement Moore described him:

His eyes — how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow;

The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath;
He had a broad face and a little round belly,
That shook, when he laughed like a bowlful of jelly.

Moore, of course, was a product of the 19th century, when a "round belly" and a pipe signaled prosperity and amiability. Since then things have certainly changed. My doctor, for example, a 21st-century man of science, would be all over poor Santa: 

"You, my not so little friend, are obese. First of all, stop eating all the cookies those enablers leave for you. And cut out that whole milk.

"No? Well, since you seem to have little self-control, a lifestyle change is in order. Get out of that sleigh and show me 10,000 steps every day. Stop this foolish gift-giving and all your problems will go away. 

"And your smoking! Don't you realize it's killing you? If you don't care about your own health, just think of the effects of second-hand smoke on all those children. 

"It's really quite simple: diet, exercise, healthy lifestyle choices...the keys to a long life. How old are you, anyway?" 

How old? Well, the real St. Nicholas was born in the late third century, which would make him about 1,750 years old. Sadly, though, he died at the age of 73 in the year 343, on December 6, the day we celebrate as St. Nicholas Day.

As the Bishop of Myra (now Demre in modern Turkey), Nicholas was known for his love for the poor and his generosity, particularly his secret gift giving. This is likely the source of the Santa Claus legend with which he is associated. Other Nicholas legends abound. He calmed storms at sea, saved soldiers from unjust execution, and even resurrected three children who had been murdered. There is no evidence, though, that he was either chubby or a smoker. (Indeed, smoking was unknown in Europe at the time and we can thank the tribes of the Americas for passing along that vice to Europeans.)

According to some early writers, Nicholas had been imprisoned during the persecutions under Diocletian but was freed after Emperor Constantine issued the Edict of Milan (313) and allowed Christianity to flourish. 

Many of these same sources describe a very un-Santa-like event that apparently took place during the Church's first ecumenical council at Nicaea in 325. Arius, a priest from Alexandria who had been spreading heretical doctrine on the nature of Jesus Christ, was invited to the council to defend his teachings. As Bishop Nicholas listened to Arius, he became increasingly agitated by the heretical attacks on the truth about his Lord and Savior. Unable to stomach it any longer, Nicholas rose to his feeet, approached Arius, and slapped his face. 

St. Nicholas adds Arius to his Naughty List

Personally, I have no problem with this, but the Emperor and Nicholas' fellow bishops thought it was grossly impolite behavior, even though delivered to a heretic. Nicholas was stripped of his bishop's vestments, put in chains, and tossed into prison. The bishops decided they would deal with him when the council concluded. 

In his prison cell, Nicholas asked God for forgiveness but didn't waver in his belief about the dangers of Arius' heretical teachings. (He was certainly right about that, since Arianism went on to divide the Christian world for centuries.) That night, Jesus and the Virgin Mary both appeared to Nicholas. They presented him with a bishop's stole and the Book of the Gospels, which he read for the rest of the night. In the morning the jailer found him unchained, dressed as a bishop, and peacefully reading the Gospels. Learning of this, Constantine freed Nicholas and reinstated him as Bishop of Myra. The Council of Nicaea went on to condemn Arius' heretical teachings and gave us the gift of the Nicene Creed, which we confess together every week at Sunday Mass.

How much of the St. Nicholas story is true? We really don't know, but I prefer to believe it all. 

Next December, when you and the kids (or grandkids) encounter Santa at the local mall, why not take a moment to thank him for slapping down heresy at Nicaea? Who knows? He just might be the real St. Nicholas.

Homily: Dedication of the Lateran Basilica in Rome

Readings: Ez 47:1-2,8-9,12; Ps 46; 1 Cor 3:9-11,16-17; Jn 2:13-22

Most people think of St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome as the pope’s primary church, his cathedral, but it’s not. That honor belongs to the Basilica of St. John Lateran, for it is the pope’s church, the cathedral of the Diocese of Rome where the Bishop of Rome presides. And today we celebrate its dedication.

Interior of St. John Lateran (I took this photo in 2008)

The Ancient Church of Rome was persecuted until the Edict of Milan and the conversion of the emperor Constantine in the year 313. That was when the patrician Laterani family gave the land to the emperor for the construction of a church – hence the name, Lateran. With the building of the first Lateran church the Christians of Rome could finally enter into the Lord’s house on the Lateran Hill and worship openly in peace and joy. How wonderful it must have been for them to be able to come to a holy place and worship together.

That first Lateran church and its successors suffered fire, earthquake and the ravages of war, but remained the church where popes were consecrated. All this changed in the 14th century when the popes returned after 70 years of exile in Avignon to find the church and the adjoining palace in ruins. Up until that time to say “the Lateran” was the same as saying “the Vatican” today.

Facade of St. John Lateran (2008)

Gradually the rebuilt Lateran was overseen by the cardinal vicar who governed the Pope’s diocese in his name so the Pope could devote more time to the universal Church. The Lateran Palace became the “chancery” of Rome, housing the papal vicar along with his household and offices. But because it’s the pope’s cathedral the Lateran church or basilica is the mother church of all Catholic churches.

It was actually dedicated under the title of the “Most Holy Savior” as well as that of St. John the Baptist. Although it’s known more by this second title of St. John, its full proper name is the Patriarchal Basilica of the Most Holy Savior and Saint John the Baptist at the Lateran. Quite a mouthful for any parishioner to remember.

The Lateran is a truly imposing church, though, and one cannot help but be impressed by its towering facade crowned with 15 huge statues of Christ, John the Baptist, John the Evangelist and 12 doctors of the Church. Beneath its high altar are the remains of a small wooden table which tradition tells us was the altar used by St. Peter himself to celebrate Mass.

St. John Lateran Baptistry

Another striking feature is the baptistry, a large circular building behind the Church. It’s large because when people were baptized, whether infants or adults, the entire parish gathered for the celebration. The entrance of a new Christian into the faith was a central focus of the Church. Baptism was never considered a private ceremony.  It was and should remain a community celebration. This is why here at St. Vincent de Paul we generally celebrate baptisms at Sunday Mass.

Unlike the commemorations of other Roman churches, today’s anniversary isn’t a simple memorial; rather it’s a feast – a feast reminding us of our union with the pope, the Bishop of Rome. For the papacy is a gift from the Lord who appointed Peter and his successors to continue His presence over the other apostles and bishops as his Rock, his Vicar on earth.

Peter, the Rock, receives the keys on which Christ will build His Church

(facade of St. Peter's)

The Pope is often referred to as the Supreme Pontiff or bridge builder between God and man. Every Pope has particular gifts as well as particular human failings.  What really matters is not the individual but the charism given to the individual when he is consecrated Bishop of Rome.  It is, therefore, important to remember that our regard for the papacy shouldn’t be colored by the individual who happens to be pope at a particular time. We’ve been blessed with wonderful, dynamic leaders in Popes John Paul II and Benedict XVI. But the papacy is far greater than either man.

The union of all the Dioceses of the world with the Diocese of Rome, of all the Bishops of the Church in communion with and under the authority of the pope, the Bishop of Rome, is our assurance that we remain the Church that Jesus Christ founded on the Rock of Peter. It is only through the union of the universal Church with the Chair of Peter that the fundamentals of our faith, our liturgy, and our morality have remained the same throughout the world and through the ages.

In today’s Gospel we see Jesus cleansing the temple of defilement, showing us the importance of doing the same to His Church whenever the need arises. And so today, as we worship together in freedom to celebrate the Dedication of St. John Lateran, we thank God for our union with the Church in Rome and pray that our pope, our bishops, and all God’s people will, like Jesus, be consumed by zeal for His House.