St Nicholas of Tolentino (1245-1305) Augustinian friar, patron of the souls in purgatory
Born
in answer to prayer, Nicholas became an Augustinian friar, gaining a
reputation for working miracles and making peace. Tolentino had a name
as a trouble town, but Nicholas brought it peace.
Nicholas was
born in the town of Fermo in the Marche region of eastern Italy on the
Adriatic. His parents were childless for six years. They prayed at the
shrine of St Nicholas of Bari and in thanksgiving christened their son
Nicholas.
St Nicholas' bread for the sick and poor
Nicholas joined
the Augustinian friars at eighteen. He often fasted and performed other
penances, spending long hours in prayer. Once, when severely ill, he
had a vision of Mary, Augustine and Monica telling him to eat a certain
type of roll that had been dipped in water and he recovered. He then
began himself to bless and distribute this bread to the sick and poor,
who were also healed. He became so enthusiastic about this that the
prior accused him of squandering the community's resources. He also had a
reputation as a healer, even befored he was ordained in 1269. The rolls
became known as Saint Nicholas Bread, and are still distributed in his
memory.
Peace to Tolentino
After his ordination
Nicholas was stationed at a friary where he felt comfortable, but one
day he heard a voice telling him, "To Tolentino, To Tolentino".
Tolentino was a town that was troubled by rival pro- and anti- papal
factions. Here he preached in the street and despite opposition and
ridicule, he was able to restore peace to the town. He continued his
lengthy fasts and received visions. He became known as a sympathetic
confessor and for visiting the sick and poor.
Souls in purgatory
Once, while asleep, a fellow
friar who had died shortly before spoke to him from purgatory and urged
him to celebrate the Eucharist for him and other souls there, so that
they would be set free by the power of Christ. Nicholas did so for seven
days. The friar again spoke to Nicholas, thanking him and assuring him
that a large number of souls were now with God. Because of this Nicholas
was proclaimed patron of the souls in Purgatory.
Death and influence
Nicholas died on 10th September 1305.
Eugene IV canonised him in 1446, and his relics were rediscovered at Tolentino in 1926.
In the Augustinian Church of St John the Baptist and St Augustine
(John's Lane) in Thomas Street, Dublin, behind the high altar there is a
stained glass window depicting St Nicholas of Tolentino in red
vestments celebrating Mass for the souls in purgatory also depicted -
with one soul being escorted into heaven.