SEPTEMBER 10TH, ST. NICHOLAS OF TOLENTINO, CONFESSOR

Month in honor of the Seven Dolours of the BVM.

This Nicholas is called Nicholas of Tolentino because he lived in that town for most part of his life. He was born at St. Angelo, a place near Fermo, in the March of Ancona, about the year 1245. His parents were godly people, and in their desire to have children, vowed and made a pilgrimage to the shrine of St Nicholas at Bari, where they were assured of their wish, and therefore gave the name of Nicholas to the son whom they received. From his childhood the lad gave many good signs, but especially as regarded abstinence. In his seventh year, in imitation of his blessed name-sake [St. Nicholas of Bari], he began to fast upon several days in the week, which custom he always kept, and was content with only bread and water. After he reached man's estate, he enlisted himself in the army of the clergy, and was recommended for a Canonry. One day he chanced to hear a sermon upon contempt of the world delivered by a preacher of the Order of Hermits of St. Augustine, and was so moved by it that he forthwith entered that Order. As a Friar he was most strictly observant of that way of life. He subdued his body with rough clothing, stripes, and an iron chain. He never ate meat, and seldom any relish to his meals. And he was a burning and shining light of love, lowliness, long-suffering, and all other graces. He persisted in constant and earnest prayer, notwithstanding many troubles from the assaults of Satan, who sometimes even flogged him. (He conceived an ardent charity for the Holy Souls, so near and yet so far from their Saviour; and often after his Mass it was revealed to him that the souls for whom he had offered the Holy Sacrifice had been admitted to the presence of God.) Every night for six months before his death he heard Angels singing with such sweetness, that it was a foretaste of the happiness of Heaven, and he would often repeat the words of the Apostle "I have a desire to depart and to be with Christ" (Phil. i, 23). Lastly, he foretold to his brethren the day of his death, which was the 10th day of September 1306. After his death also he was famous for miracles, and when due investigation had been made thereof, Pope Eugene IV. enrolled his name among those of the Saints.