Saint Nicholas of Tolentino
Biography
Saint Nicholas of Tolentino Date of Birth, Country of Birth, Profession, Place of Work, Date of Death, Place of Death, Feast Day, Beatification Date, Canonization Date, Matrimony/Holy Orders, Monks who became Saints
Saint Nicholas of Tolentino Biography |
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| Date of Birth | 1246 |
|---|---|
| Country of Birth | Italy in Europe |
| Profession | Augustinian friar |
| Place of Work | Italy |
| Date of Death | 10 September 1305 |
| Place of Death | Tolentino, Italy |
| Feast Day | 10 September |
| Beatification | By Not Available |
| Canonization | By Pope Eugene IV on 5 June 1446 (Pentecost) |
| Patron Saint of | • Animals • Babies (reported to have raised more than 100 children from the dead) • Boatmen, mariners, sailors, watermen • Dying people • Sick animals • Souls in Purgatory • 4 cities • 3 dioceses |
Saint Nicholas of Tolentino Biography
His middle-aged parents, Compagnonus de Guarutti and Amata de Guidiani, were childless until a prayerful visit to a shrine of Saint Nicholas of Myra at Bari, Italy. In gratitude, the couple named their son Nicholas.
Nicholas became an Augustinian friar at age 18, and a student with Blessed Angelus de Scarpetti. Monk at Recanati and Macerata in Italy. Ordained at age 25. Canon of Saint Saviour’s. There he received visions of angels reciting the phrase “to Tolentino”; he took this as a sign to move to that city in 1274, and there 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. Nicholas 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 the Blessed Virgin Mary, Augustine of Hippo 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.
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 the bird, and it flew out a window. Nine passengers on ship going down at sea once asked for the aid of Saint Nicholas; 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.
San Nicolò da Tolentino in Venice, San Nicola da Tolentino agli Orti Sallustiani in Rome, Saint Nicholas of Tolentino in The Bronx, New York, and Saint Nicholas of Tolentino in Bristol, UK. All these churches are dedicated to him. In the 16th century was built in honor of Nicholas San Nicolas de Tolentino in the Philippines.
Today’s Catholic Quote:
A vegetarian, Saint Nicholas of Tolentino was once served a roasted fowl; he made the sign of the cross over the bird, and it flew out a window.
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