"Santa Claus" ...the Catholic Saint! The Catholic Bishop!

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Interesting to see this thread, since I told this story to my daughters to begin the reveal of ‘Santa Clause’… I told them a 10 minute story about the life of this humble and kind Bishop without telling his name… then at the end told them what the man’s name was, and asked if they knew that man… That’s Santa Clause!!!.. They already have the true meaning of Christmas down, but I wanted to instill the true meaning of Santa Clause. They didn’t catch on like I thought they would:o (I was sure they already knew)… so I just reminded them to always remember that Santa isn’t about a man but about the spirit of kindness that St Nick represents… I hope they remember this when the time comes.

SD
 
If it were up to me, i’d rid Christmas of all this Santa Claus thing because it isn’t about Saint Nicolas but about materialism.
What about, instead of ''getting rid" we transform Christmas? What if we taught and demonstrated the Christ Centered approach of St. Nick? What if all of our materials were at the service of Christ, as his were?

We can, by the grace of God, transform our culture, but it must begin within our own hearts, and our own homes.
 
I know that part. I want to see where Jesus said it.

Surely he expressed at least the same idea, that all we must do is have faith alone in him.
I always like talking with you. I think that it is important to know that Paul specifically stated in his letter to the Romans that we are saved by grace through faith in Christ. Not faith+works, not the authority of the Apostles not anything but faith in Christ. Paul and Peter fully agreed that God’s patience is Salvation. I think that is a very important statement made in Scripture. Of course this is not to be misconstrued to take anything away from doing good works especially being as Christ himself preached about this.
 
I always like talking with you. I think that it is important to know that Paul specifically stated in his letter to the Romans that we are saved by grace through faith in Christ. Not faith+works, not the authority of the Apostles not anything but faith in Christ. Paul and Peter fully agreed that God’s patience is Salvation. I think that is a very important statement made in Scripture. Of course this is not to be misconstrued to take anything away from doing good works especially being as Christ himself preached about this.
Sia, Sia, Sia…what is it you don’t see? Look at the thread I started about Romans and what Paul states about faith plus works. Read St. James where he also says it. It is written so many times. What is it you can’t see? 🤷
 
I always like talking with you. I think that it is important to know that Paul specifically stated in his letter to the Romans that we are saved by grace through faith in Christ. Not faith+works, not the authority of the Apostles not anything but faith in Christ. Paul and Peter fully agreed that God’s patience is Salvation. I think that is a very important statement made in Scripture. Of course this is not to be misconstrued to take anything away from doing good works especially being as Christ himself preached about this.
I was hoping that you would shoot for John 3:16, where it does say that Whoever believes in him might have eternal life.

Because I was going to counter with John 3:36, where Jesus couples believing with obeying.

For a minute, and we are off thread, let us look at Romans. Paul is clearly saying that works will not save but faith. However, it should be noted that Paul shifts from Works meaning works of the Law to just plain works as the text goes on, so we cannot say with certainty that he means faith apart from works of the law (Very in line with Jesus) to faith alone with no other works (problematic with Jesus if misunderstood). Now, I see this text as explaining Christianity. When one looks at Judaism, there is only one required belief: that there is one God. IN fact, that may be ignored if other issues are delt with. So long as you keep the law, you are an orthodox Jew. There is even debate as to if you must even BELIEVE in God at all! Christianity is different. What we believe is paramount. However, we cannot say we believe and sit on our ever-widening behinds. Where Judaism is a faith of correct acts, Christianity is one of Correct Faith. We understand correct faith to be, as Jesus said, denying ourselves (act), taking up our cross (act), and following him (Faith and and act). Without the acts, as Jesus said, the world will not see the good that we do and give glory to God.

I enjoy discussing with you, too.

Merry Christmas!
 
Sia, Sia, Sia…what is it you don’t see? Look at the thread I started about Romans and what Paul states about faith plus works. Read St. James where he also says it. It is written so many times. What is it you can’t see? 🤷
Your problem seems to be interpretation or understanding. I didn’t say that faith and works don’t go together. I said that Paul clearly states that we are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. James says that faith without works is dead. The works always accompany a correct faith, but the faith is what brings the saving grace, not the works. Look at it this way, can you merit your own Salvation?? Jesus said, “do not hinder the children, for one must accept the Kingdom of Heaven as a child accepts a gift.” We probably agree here more than we disagree.
 
Sia, Sia, Sia…what is it you don’t see? Look at the thread I started about Romans and what Paul states about faith plus works. Read St. James where he also says it. It is written so many times. What is it you can’t see? 🤷
“Faith plus works” is a very poor formulation to use with most Protestants, who have already received the Catholic Teaching that we are justified by grace alone, through faith, not of ourselves.

In such situations, it is much more effective to describe it as “faith that works” or “faith working through love”. Otherwise, they get the wrong impression that we believe we are “working” our way into heaven.
 
Your problem seems to be interpretation or understanding. I didn’t say that faith and works don’t go together. I said that Paul clearly states that we are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. James says that faith without works is dead. The works always accompany a correct faith, but the faith is what brings the saving grace, not the works. Look at it this way, can you merit your own Salvation?? Jesus said, “do not hinder the children, for one must accept the Kingdom of Heaven as a child accepts a gift.” We probably agree here more than we disagree.
We cannot “earn” grace, it is a free gift. It is accessed through faith. Works, also emanating through faith also bring more grace. To the one that has, more will be given. Can anything but God’s grace cover sins? Yet, love covers a multitude of sins. This is because when faith works through love, grace abounds.
 
“Faith plus works” is a very poor formulation to use with most Protestants, who have already received the Catholic Teaching that we are justified by grace alone, through faith, not of ourselves.

In such situations, it is much more effective to describe it as “faith that works” or “faith working through love”. Otherwise, they get the wrong impression that we believe we are “working” our way into heaven.​

We cannot “earn” grace, it is a free gift. It is accessed through faith. Works, also emanating through faith also bring more grace. To the one that has, more will be given. Can anything but God’s grace cover sins? Yet, love covers a multitude of sins. This is because when faith works through love, grace abounds.
Guan,
With the single caveat that since works enamate from faith, we cannot claim merit for them as they are His good works through us, I agree completely with these two posts. Well said.

Jon
 
You know, I love how Jimmy keeps opening threads with such a condescending tone towards non-catholics and then leaves to create another one of the same caliber not to return to the previous threads to answer questions that have come up following the bait. :rolleyes: This is the third thread that I see he started a few days ago and hasn’t returned to though he has been online since…

As for the OP question, yep, I knew that. And?

Christmas IS the celebration of Christ, not the saint who dressed in red… So why the following quote from Jimmy in THIS thread?
The real meaning of Christmas, is a celebration of the Birth of Jesus Christ, when our Lord entered the world and began His journey here on earth, to save us all! Thank you Jesus!
🤷 I ask again, what is the purpose of this thread?
 
You know, I love how Jimmy keeps opening threads with such a condescending tone towards non-catholics and then leaves to create another one of the same caliber not to return to the previous threads to answer questions that have come up following the bait. :rolleyes: This is the third thread that I see he started a few days ago and hasn’t returned to though he has been online since…

As for the OP question, yep, I knew that. And?

Christmas IS the celebration of Christ, not the saint who dressed in red… So why the following quote from Jimmy in THIS thread?

🤷 I ask again, what is the purpose of this thread?
I don’t know about the other threads he started, but this one didn’t look condescending at all… Perhaps he was just bringing up a point that some may not have known… Who “Santa Clause” represents and what “Christmas” is (seperate things). If I remember correctly the feast day for St Nick was traditionaly held on the eve of Dec. 5th, but the spirit of his kindness has been added to the Christmas season, to join in with the kindness offered by the gifts offered at the birth of Jesus.

If you told me a story about your grandpa having a street named after him would that mean you were being condescending towards my grandpa? On this particular thread I just don’t see the harsh tone from Jimmy… By the way I don’t think Jimmy can respond while his account is under review.😉

SD
 
Hey JimmyB–

This year I introduced celebrating the feast day of Saint Nicolas on December 6th. I told the story of this Saint and how the children around the world were putting out there shoes or socks to have him fill with goodies. They had so much fun and learned so much.

My hope was that we could put all the focus on the Birth of Jesus by celebrating “Santa”'s feast day early on. It was a hit and we now have a new tradition in our home. It solves the “is Santa real?” question.

Our kids were wondering if we could celebrate all the saints feast days!
Could you imagine! That would be every day!My brother in law was stationed in Italy for three years he said fire works and parties seemed to go on everynight for a different saint.How wonderful!

I got some great ideas from this website…

stnicholascenter.org/Brix?pageID=38
 
You know, I love how Jimmy keeps opening threads with such a condescending tone towards non-catholics and then leaves to create another one of the same caliber not to return to the previous threads to answer questions that have come up following the bait. :rolleyes: This is the third thread that I see he started a few days ago and hasn’t returned to though he has been online since…

As for the OP question, yep, I knew that. And?

Christmas IS the celebration of Christ, not the saint who dressed in red… So why the following quote from Jimmy in THIS thread?

🤷 I ask again, what is the purpose of this thread?
I do agree with you about that provocative and condescending style that he uses, but in this case, I think he is just celebrating his discovery of the real identity of Santa Clause. Don’t be too hard on him, though, because I don’t think we can assume that a person is able to post when their account is under review.

Did you know that Santa Clause was a Catholic Saint?
 
On this particular thread I just don’t see the harsh tone from Jimmy… By the way I don’t think Jimmy can respond while his account is under review.😉

SD
If I may comment briefly, I am surprised that the OP’s tone has been perceived this way…

Jimmy B’s posts always seem very good-natured to me.
 
If I may comment briefly, I am surprised that the OP’s tone has been perceived this way…

Jimmy B’s posts always seem very good-natured to me.
Mostly I agree but then again I’m Catholic and I think Jimmy is just so proud to be Catholic that he likes to show it in his threads. Sometimes non-Catholics get upset with the way he starts threads… but his technique does seem to get a response

SD
 
Mostly I agree but then again I’m Catholic and I think Jimmy is just so proud to be Catholic that he likes to show it in his threads. Sometimes non-Catholics get upset with the way he starts threads… but his technique does seem to get a response

SD
Thank You!
 
If I may comment briefly, I am surprised that the OP’s tone has been perceived this way…

Jimmy B’s posts always seem very good-natured to me.
Thank You!

This thread was well-intended.
 
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