Saint Nicholas of Tolentino

Biography

Saint Nicholas of Tolentino, also known as Niccolò da Tolentino, Nicola da Tolentino, and Nicolás de Tolentino, is a beloved Catholic saint who is revered as the patron of Holy Souls. He was born in 1245 in the town of Sant'Angelo, in the March of Ancona, Italy, to his middle-aged parents, Compagnonus de Guarutti and Amata de Guidiani. The couple had been previously childless until they made a prayerful visit to a shrine of Saint Nicholas of Myra in Bari, Italy. In gratitude for the answered prayers, they named their son Nicholas. At the age of 18, Nicholas entered the religious life and became an Augustinian friar. He studied under Blessed Angelus de Scarpetti and was ordained a priest at the age of 25. He served as a canon at Saint Saviour's and received visions of angels reciting the phrase "to Tolentino." Taking this as a divine sign, he decided to move to the city of Tolentino in 1274, where he spent the rest of his life. One of Nicholas' notable contributions was his role as a peacemaker in a city torn apart by civil war. He preached daily and was renowned as a wonder-worker and healer. Nicholas dedicated much of his time to visiting prisoners and offering them solace and support. He always urged those he helped to keep his acts of charity a secret, saying, "Say nothing of this." Throughout his life, Nicholas experienced numerous visions, including images of Purgatory. His friends attributed these visions to his rigorous fasting practices. Recognizing the suffering of the souls in Purgatory, Nicholas developed a deep devotion to them, praying fervently for their release. He would often travel around his parish, praying for the souls in Purgatory, even late into the night. One significant event in Nicholas' life occurred when he fell severely ill. During his illness, he received a vision of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Augustine of Hippo, and Monica. They instructed him to eat a particular type of roll dipped in water, which resulted in his miraculous cure. Inspired by this experience, Nicholas began healing others by administering bread over which he recited Marian prayers. These rolls became known as Saint Nicholas Bread and are still distributed at his shrine to this day. Saint Nicholas of Tolentino is also credited with resurrecting over one hundred deceased children, some of whom had drowned together. A famous legend tells of the devil once beating Nicholas with a stick, which was subsequently displayed in his church as a testament to the saint's strength and faith. Nicholas was a vegetarian and, on one occasion, when served a roasted fowl, he made the sign of the cross over it, causing the bird to fly out of the window. Additionally, Saint Nicholas of Tolentino is known for his miracles at sea. When nine passengers on a ship facing imminent peril asked for his intercession, he appeared in the sky wearing the black Augustinian habit, radiating golden light, and holding a lily in his left hand. With his right hand, he calmed the storm and saved the passengers. Another remarkable story tells how an apparition of the saint saved the burning palace of the Doge of Venice by throwing a piece of blessed bread on the flames. After a long illness, Saint Nicholas of Tolentino passed away on September 10, 1305, in Tolentino, Italy. In 1926, his relics were re-discovered in Tolentino after having been previously known to exude blood during times of threat to the Church. He was canonized by Pope Eugene IV on June 5, 1446, with over 300 miracles recognized by the Congregation. Saint Nicholas of Tolentino is honored as the patron saint of various groups and individuals, including animals, babies (as he reportedly raised over a hundred children from the dead), boatmen, children, dying people, mariners, sailors, sick animals, souls in Purgatory, watermen, and more. His representations in art often show him as an Augustinian friar either giving bread to a sick person, holding a container of bread or money, holding a lily, or holding a crucifix garlanded with lilies. He may be depicted with a star above or on his breast, or with a basket of bread rolls. Saint Nicholas of Tolentino's devotion and intercession continue to inspire countless faithful believers worldwide.