Far away, across a wide and stormy sea, there is a cold and beautiful land called Alaska. And long ago, a gentle monk named Herman came to live there.
Father Herman had sailed all the way from a faraway country, across the ocean, to tell the people of Alaska about Jesus. The journey took many months, but Father Herman was not afraid, because he loved God and he wanted to share that love.
When he arrived, he made his home on a tiny island covered with tall green trees. He built himself a small wooden hut, and there he prayed, and worked, and lived very simply. He did not want fine clothes or fancy food. He wore a plain old robe, and he grew his own vegetables in a little garden.
The people who lived in Alaska were called the Aleuts, and Father Herman loved them dearly. He learned their language and became their friend.
In those days, some traders treated the Aleut people unkindly. But Father Herman stood up for them. "These are God's children," he said. "You must treat them with kindness." He was gentle, but he was also brave, and he was never afraid to speak up for those who needed help.
The Aleut people loved Father Herman so much that they gave him a special name. They called him "Apa," which means "Grandfather." And he was just like a grandfather to everyone — always ready with a kind word, a warm meal, and a listening ear.
Father Herman especially loved the children.
When sickness came and some children were left without parents, Father Herman took care of them. He built a little school on his island and gathered the orphans there. He taught them about God, and he fed them, and he made sure they always knew they were loved.
The animals loved Father Herman, too. Birds would come and eat from his hand. Little ermines, shy as could be, would scurry right up to him. Even a great bear, it is said, would come gently to be fed. The wild creatures were not afraid of the kind old monk, because his heart was so full of peace.
Father Herman lived on his little island for many, many years, praying for the whole world.
Once, someone asked him his secret. He smiled and said, "From this day, from this hour, from this minute, let us love God above all." That was how he tried to live every single day.
When Father Herman went home to God at last, the people did not forget him. They kept loving him and praying with him. And the Church gave him a new title: Saint Herman of Alaska, the very first saint of his new homeland.
So whenever you want to do something beautiful for God, remember gentle Saint Herman, who showed that the greatest thing of all is simply this: to love God above everything, and to love every person — and every little creature — with a kind and gentle heart.
Saint Herman of Alaska, pray to God for us!
Saint Herman came to Alaska in 1794 and lived on Spruce Island. He is honored as the first saint of North America and is remembered on December 13th and August 9th.