Born in Sant’Angelo, a town near Fermo in Italy, in 1245, Saint Nicholas was blessed with innocence and the practice of extraordinary virtues from his earliest childhood. While still a young student, his extraordinary merit earned him the position of canon of the Church of Our Saviour, a position he greatly enjoyed, as it gave him the opportunity to be constantly employed in the service of God. A sermon preached by an Augustinian friar, on the vanity of the world, persuaded him to enter religion. This was not a passing emotion, but a firm resolution, which he carried out by entering the Order of the Augustinians in Tolentino, a small town in the Papal States.
From this town, where Nicholas spent most of his life, he took his surname. He made his profession before reaching his eighteenth year. Then he embarked on the great race of holiness, in which he soon excelled, distinguishing himself especially by the virtues of humility and meekness. He was successively sent to several convents of his Order, and in that of Cingoli, he was ordained priest by the Bishop of Osimo. From that moment on, he was employed in the works of the ministry, preaching and hearing confessions.
Nicholas spent the last thirty years of his life in Tolentino. His zeal for the salvation of souls produced the most wonderful fruits. God favored the saint with many heavenly gifts, and the time he could devote to his work, he spent in prayer and contemplation. He also had much to suffer from various painful illnesses. He died happily on September 10, 1305 and was canonized in 1446 by Pope Eugene IV.
PRAYER: Almighty God, your glory shone upon the Church through the holiness and miracles of Saint Nicholas of Tolentino. In answer to his prayers, keep your holy people in peace and unity. Amen.
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