St. Nicholas of Tolentino

Also known as
    Patron of Holy Souls

Memorial
    10 September

Profile
    His middle-aged parents, Compagnonus de Guarutti and Amata de Guidiani, were childless until a prayerful visit to a shrine of the original Saint Nicholas at Bari, Italy. In gratitude, they named their son Nicholas.

    Augustinian friar at age 18, and a student with Blessed Angelus de Scarpetti. Monk at Recanati and Macerata. Ordained at age 25. Canon of Saint Saviour's. Had visions of angels reciting "to Tolentino"; he took this as a sign to move to that city in 1274, where he lived the rest of his life.

    Worked as a peacemaker in a city torn by civil war. Preached every day, wonder-worker and healer, and visited prisoners. He always told those he helped, "Say nothing of this." Received visions, including images of Purgatory, which friends ascribed to his lengthy fasts. Had a great devotion to the recently dead, praying for the souls in Purgatory as he travelled around his parish, and often late into the night.

    Once, when severely ill, he had a vision of Mary, Augustine and Monica. They told him to eat a certain type of roll that had been dipped in water. Cured, he began healing others by administering bread over which he recited Marian prayers. The rolls became known as Saint Nicholas Bread, and are still distributed at his shrine.

    [Saint Nicholas of Tolentino] Reported to have resurrected over one hundred dead children, including several who had drowned together. Legend says that the devil once beat Nicholas with a stick; the stick was displayed for years in the his church. A vegetarian, Nicholas was once served a roasted fowl; he made the sign of the cross over it, and it flew out a window. Nine passengers on ship going down at sea once asked Nicholas' aid; he appeared in the sky, wearing the black Augustinian habit, radiating golden light, holding a lily in his left hand; with his right hand he quelled the storm. An apparition of the saint once saved the burning palace of the Doge of Venice by throwing a piece of blessed bread on the flames.

Born
    1245 at Sant'Angelo, March of Ancona, diocese of Fermo

Died
    10 September 1305 at Tolentino, Italy following a long illness
    relics rediscovered at Tolentino in 1926
    in previous times they were known exude blood when the Church was in danger

Canonized
    5 June (Pentecost) 1446 by Pope Eugene IV
    over 300 miracles were recognized by the Congregation

Patronage
    Albi, Italy
    animals
    babies
    boatmen
    Cabanatuan, Philippines. diocese of
    dying people
    Lambunao, Philippines
    mariners
    Mati, Philippines, diocese of
    sailors
    sick animals
    souls in purgatory
    Tandag, Philippines, diocese of
    watermen