Born in 1245 in Ancona, Italy, Saint Nicholas of Tolentino was a cherished child, for his parents had longed for a child for many years. Their prayers and pilgrimage to the shrine of St. Nicholas of Bari were answered with his birth, and in gratitude, they named their son after the saint.

From an early age, Nicholas felt a strong pull towards the priesthood. Despite suggestions from family friends to pursue a prestigious and wealthy parish, Nicholas sought a more profound connection with God. His direction became clear one day when he overheard a passionate sermon by an Augustinian priest, Father Reginald, who spoke about the fleeting nature of worldly love. This sermon resonated deeply with Nicholas, leading him to join the Augustinian Friars, under the guidance of Father Reginald.

At the age of eighteen, Nicholas took his vows and continued his journey to become a priest. He was ordained around 1270 and dedicated himself to spreading God’s Word through preaching. A divine call during prayer led him to Tolentino, where he would spend the next thirty years of his life.

Tolentino was a town fraught with political turmoil, leading many away from the church. Recognizing the need to reach out, the Augustinian Friars initiated street-preaching, with Nicholas at the forefront. His heartfelt sermons in public spaces drew many back to the path of faith, leading to repentance and a renewed connection with God.

But Nicholas’s service wasn’t limited to preaching. In the impoverished areas, he provided solace to the lonely, administering sacraments to the sick, caring for children, and visiting prisoners. Miraculous events were often associated with him, including healing a sick child with a simple prayer.

After a year-long illness, Saint Nicholas of Tolentino passed away on September 10, 1305.

He was canonized as a saint in 1446 by Pope Eugene IV.

Photo credit: Public Domain via The Met
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16 COMMENTS

  2. St Nicholas please pray for George & intercede for us that the Lord will help heal George of his ailment. Help him to recover from the infection he has contracted. In Jesus name we pray .Amen

  4. St Nicolas it seems that every era in the Church’s history has it own problems of faith. Through your dedication to your vocation as a religious and priest you worked to help the people in your region to know God. Today we too need to discover the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ whom you served. Pray for us that we may persevere in our faith and not be put off by the evil we find in the world, ourselves and the institutional Church. You are now with God for eternity. Pray for us that we too may rise to the challenges that face us in our times without deviating from our faith.

  10. Saint Nicholas of Tolentino, pray for us. Thank you for your heroic works of mercy, both temporal and spiritual. May all who are the custody of Christ Crucified follow your lead. Amen.

  14. Dear Jesus,
    I move along in the Communion line at Mass,
    and I know I am not worthy for you to enter under the roof of my mouth—
    this sinful mouth that stretches the truth,
    fails to forgive or apologize,
    and too often ingests foods and drinks that aren’t good for me.
    And then the priest raises the host before me and says,
    “The body of Christ.”
    At that moment, I know your power will heal my mouth and my soul.
    And I answer boldly,
    “Amen.”

  15. Lord Jesus Christ, in your victory over sin and death on the cross and in your resurrection you give us the assurance of sharing in the eternal rest of heaven. Transform our hearts with your love that we may freely serve our neighbors for his good and find joy and refreshment in the celebration of Sunday as the Lord’s Day. Amen.

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