St Nicholas, Bishop & Confessor

Not only is it the second Sunday of Advent, but it's the feast of St Nicholas, hence the best St Nicholas carol ever composed posted above.  ("Jolly Old St Nick", pfui.)

O, who loves Nicholas the saintly.

O, who serves Nicholas the saintly.

Him will Nicholas receive

And give help in time of need

Holy Father Nicholas!

O, who dwells in God's holy mansions

Is our help on the land and oceans

He will guard us from all ills

Keep us pure and free from sins

Holy Father Nicholas!

Holy saint, hearken to our prayer

Let not life drive us to despair

All our efforts shall not wane

Singing praises to thy name

Holy Father Nicholas!

The traditional collect for his feast day goes right to the point.  No beating around the bush with St Nicholas.  Herewith the old Stanbrook Abbey translation:

O God, who didst glorify the blessed Bishop Nicholas with numberless miracles ; grant we beseech Thee that by his merits and prayers we may be saved from the fires of hell.  Through our Lord Jesus Christ.  Amen. 

The Anglican Ordinariate translation gets the point across with "the fires of everlasting torment".  Alas, the poor old Bugninian rite can't bring itself to mention the place.