Catholic Saints – St. Nicholas

Podcast: Catholic Saints
Host: Mary (Augustine Institute)
Guest: Dr. Ariel Harms
Date: December 6, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode explores the life, legacy, and legends of St. Nicholas—the 4th-century bishop renowned for his generosity and charity, and who later became the inspiration for the modern-day figure of Santa Claus. Host Mary and guest Dr. Ariel Harms delve into both the historical facts and the enduring, colorful legends that surround St. Nicholas, reflecting on his relevance for Christians today and ways to live out his spirit of generosity.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Historical Background of St. Nicholas

• Origins:
  • Born in southern Turkey around 270 AD ([01:59]).
  • Raised in a wealthy Christian family but orphaned young.
  • Inherits substantial wealth and is moved by the Gospel's "rich young man" passage to give to the poor ([02:04]).
• Vocational Path:
  • Known for his charity early on.
  • Elected Bishop of Myra by the age of 30 ([04:12], [04:25]).
  • Exiled during the persecution of Diocletian around 303 AD.

2. St. Nicholas at the Council of Nicaea

• Role at Nicaea:
  • Attended the First Council of Nicaea in 325 AD ([04:37]).
  • Council addressed the Arian heresy, affirming the divinity of Christ.
• Legendary Passion:
  • According to legend, Nicholas punched Arius (the heretic) during the council ([05:17]-[05:21]).
  • “He was defending the divinity of Christ and that passion—for this is what I believe, that Jesus Christ was both God and man, not some lesser type of being.” – Dr. Harms ([12:16])
• Reflection on Creed:
  • “We also have him as one of the fathers of the Council of Nicaea to thank for the creed that we say every Sunday at Mass.” – Dr. Harms ([14:17])

3. Legends and Celebrated Stories

• Dowry for Three Sisters:

  • Nicholas secretly left dowries for three impoverished daughters to prevent them from being sold into prostitution ([07:26]).

    “At night, when everyone was asleep but no one could see him, would go and drop off the money necessary for the dowry.” – Dr. Harms ([07:48])

• Raising the Dead:

  • Legend of Nicholas resurrecting three murdered boys hidden by an innkeeper ([08:33]).

• Calming a Storm (Patron of Sailors):

  • Prayed during a perilous storm at sea, which then calmed—a story that makes him the patron of sailors ([16:02], [16:53]).

4. St. Nicholas and Santa Claus

• Transformation into Santa Claus:

  • “St. Nicholas is the precursor of our modern day Santa Claus, for sure.” – Dr. Harms ([06:53])
  • Emphasized as a model of anonymous, practical generosity.

• Shoe Tradition:

  • On December 5th (eve of his feast), children leave out shoes to be filled with gifts, drawing from his practice of secret giving ([09:42]-[11:17]).
  • Connection to the dowry legend—putting gifts in shoes as a symbolic act of anonymous charity.

5. Practical Implications for Today

• Living Out the Legacy:

  • Encourages families to celebrate St. Nicholas Day and model charity, e.g., placing gifts or coins in children’s shoes ([18:03]-[18:31]).

  • Suggests charitable giving to those in need during the season as honoring his spirit ([18:53]).

    “Even thinking of children in your neighborhood or how can you be generous to help take care of the needs of maybe children who are less fortunate than community?” – Mary ([18:42])

• Importance of Right Belief:

  • Discusses the impact of precise language in the Creed and why early councils' efforts matter ([14:25]-[15:04]).
  • “We can't love someone that we don't know.” – Dr. Harms ([14:59])

• Teaching Tools:

  • Recommends the Saints and Heroes video “Nicholas, the Boy Who Became Santa” for introducing his story to children and youth ([19:19]-[19:50]).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On Historiography:

• “We don't actually know a ton about St. Nicholas because he lived so long ago.” – Dr. Harms ([01:51])

On Arian Controversy:

• “Arius denied the divinity of Christ, saying that Jesus was as son of God, was not equal to God.” – Dr. Harms ([05:58])

On Zeal for the Faith:

• “St. Nicholas was zealous for the true faith and willing to defend it passionately, not just with words.” – Dr. Harms ([13:10])

On Connecting Traditions:

• “The real St. Nicholas has a lot more passion and character, as we can see from this story.” – Dr. Harms ([17:18])

Timestamps for Major Segments

• Background & Early Life: [01:51]-[03:00]
• Historical Reliability & Sources: [03:00]-[04:02]
• Becoming Bishop and Persecution: [04:12]-[04:25]
• Council of Nicaea & the Creed: [04:37]-[06:21], [14:17]-[15:30]
• Entering Legend Territory: [06:40]-[09:28]
  • The three dowries: [07:26]
  • Raising the dead: [08:33]
• Shoe Tradition / Santa Claus: [09:29]-[11:17], [06:53], [07:01]
• Legacy as Patron and Traditions: [16:02]-[16:59]
• Ideas for Parishes/Families: [17:18]-[18:53]
• Resources for Further Learning: [19:14]-[20:13]

Reflection on St. Nicholas’s Life & Influence

Dr. Harms closes by emphasizing the continued relevance of St. Nicholas:

• His example teaches “generosity without being recognized” ([07:01]).
• His legacy shapes both Christian doctrine (through the Creed) and cultural customs.
• His feast is a meaningful opportunity to blend faith, tradition, and service.

Final invocation:

“Thank you for this reflection and St Nicholas, pray for us.” – Mary ([20:56])

Further Resources

• FORMED (online Catholic content platform):
  • Saints and Heroes: Nicholas, the Boy Who Became Santa (kids’ video, recommended for all ages) ([19:22], [19:50])
• Books on Saints: Collections of saint biographies offer more on St. Nicholas, though details blend history and legend ([03:17]).

This episode is both an engaging introduction and a practical guide to understanding St. Nicholas, blending history, legend, faith, and family tradition in the true spirit of the “real Santa Claus.”