Nicholas of Myra

St. Nicholas of Tolentino

Feast Day: September 10th

St. Nicholas of Tolentino

"The heavens are not pure in the sight of Him Whom I serve;

how then shall I, a sinful man, stand before Him? "

-Saint Nicholas of Tolentino

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    St. Nicholas was born at St. Angelo in the March of Ancona, but is called Nicholas of Tolentino, from having resided during the last thirty years of his life at the latter place. His parents, Campanus and Amata, were long without issue, and desiring to be blessed with a child, they made a pilgrimage to Bari, to the shrine of the holy bishop St. Nicholas. Having most fervently performed their devotions, they were favored with an apparition of the Saint, who told them that they would have a son, whom they should call Nicholas, and who would become a man of eminent virtue. The truth of this prediction was soon made known. Amata gave birth to a son, who, in accordance with the command of the Saint, was named Nicholas. It was a striking fact, that from his early childhood, Nicholas possessed, in an eminent degree, the spirit of prayer, and when, as is the habit of children, he shed tears, nothing could pacify him more easily than to be told that they would carry him to church. When there he was always quiet, and as he became older, he showed a reverence that was truly angelical. He never spoke a word while in the house of God; never looked curiously about. In his whole conduct there was never seen any childishness or frivolity.

    When he was old enough to begin his studies, he displayed remarkable eagerness for gaining knowledge, and made great progress: in consequence of which, he was, when yet quite young, admitted among the Canons of the church of St. Salvador. But one day, hearing a sermon on the words of the Apostle: "Do not love the world, or what is in the world," delivered by an Augustinian hermit, he perceived an inner desire to leave all that is temporal, and serve God more perfectly in a religious state. Hence he went, immediately after the sermon, to the superior of the above-named Order, and requested to be received as a novice. His request was granted; and fulfilling the prophecy of St. Nicholas, he gave, already in the year of his probation, manifestations of truly eminent virtues, which caused him to be allowed to make his profession earlier than was usual. His constant mortification excited the admiration of all with whom he came in contact. He had heard, when only seven years of age, that his holy patron, St. Nicholas, had, when an infant, abstained every Wednesday and Friday, from his mother's breast, and had begun immediately to pass the same two days without any food. To these two fast-days, he, in the course of time, added two more. During thirty years, he never touched either flesh or fish; he even abstained from eggs, milk, and fruit, contenting himself with bread, vegetables and water. Even when seriously sick, he deviated not from this austerity. Once when the physicians prescribed meat for him, and the General of the Order commanded him to follow their advice, he obeyed, but having taken a little, he begged to be excused from eating more, saying that he would regain strength without it, which did not fail to happen. Besides these continual fasts, the holy man chastised his innocent body in various ways. He constantly wore a hair-shirt, and scourged himself every night with an iron chain. He took a short rest at night on the bare floor, and never allowed his body the slightest recreation. One day, when someone told him not to be too severe upon himself, he said: "I have not entered the religious state to indulge in my own comfort."

    The Evil One, endeavored vainly to disturb the pious zeal of the servant of God, by terrible visions and cruel ill-treatment; but Nicholas adhered faithfully to the path he had selected. His solicitude for the salvation of souls was indefatigable, and he reformed a great many by his sermons and private discourses. To visit the sick and prisoners and to comfort and assist them, was his greatest pleasure. Not less deep was his compassion for the souls in purgatory, and as he offered daily his prayers, his penances and holy Mass for them, he released a great many from their suffering. To Mary, the divine Mother, he was most fervently devoted from his early childhood, and therefore, he received many and great favors from her. Once, when suffering from a severe fever, he thought that his last hour had arrived, and he was overcome with fear while meditating on the judgments of the Almighty. He appealed to his beloved mother, the Blessed Virgin, who deigned to appear to him, telling him to put aside all fear and be hopeful. She, at the same time, blessed a crust of bread that was lying beside him, and told him to eat of it, which he had no sooner done, than the fever left him. This is the origin of the so-called Tolentine bread, which is blessed on the feast of this Saint, and is often very beneficial to the sick. He himself wrought many miracles in favor of the sick and poor, as may be seen in his more circumstantial biography.

    We will only add a few lines about his happy death, the hour of which God had revealed to him, but which was preceded by a painful sickness that lasted six months. During this time, he derived an indescribable consolation from heavenly music which he heard during the night or towards morning. Several times this was heard also by those who were with him. He received the Holy Sacraments with wonderful devotion, shedding many tears. The crucifix, which enclosed a particle of the wood of the holy Cross, he kissed most fervently, praying to the Almighty to assist him in his last combat, and to guard him from all danger by the power of the holy Cross. Besides this, his heart was filled with the desire to behold God in heaven, whom he had loved above everything on earth. Hence he called aloud several times: "Oh! that I might be dissolved and be with Christ!" Shortly before he expired, a holy joy was seen on his countenance, and when asked the cause of it, he replied: "Our Lord, Jesus Christ, leaning upon His beloved mother and St. Augustine, calls me to Him with these words: "Come, thou pious and faithful servant! enter into the joys of thy Lord!" Having said this, he fixed his eyes upon the crucifix, saying: "Lord, into thy hands I commend my spirit," and expired. He is represented with a lily in his hand and a star on his breast. The lily represents the angelic purity and innocence which he kept inviolate; the star, the holy life of the great servant of the Almighty. St. Nicholas was, during his life, a bright star in the church of God, on account of his many and great virtues. His tomb shines yet, in our days, with a divine light, on account of the many and great miracles with which God there honors His faithful servant.

by Father Francis Xavier Weninger, 1876

Prayers in honor of Saint Nicholas of Tolentino

Hymn to Saint Nicholas

From lonely field, from thronged street,

Our prayerful chants in heaven meet,

Our children's voices blending sweet,

To bless thee, Saint of Tolentine.

To thee the dumb one comes to speak,

Thee the maimed and crippled seek,

To thee appeals the sinner weak,

O gentle Saint of Tolentine.

The cry to Heaven for sympathy,

Arising wild from storm-tossed sea,

Brings wondrous calm and safety,

Through thee, O Saint of Tolentine.

Fetters fall from the slave of sin,

The crushed with new hope begin

The light of life and hope to win,

Through thee, O Saint of Tolentine.

Reigning with Christ, thy soul's delight,

Win for our souls new grace and light,

Through earth's dark ways lead us aright,

O gentle Saint of Tolentine.

To the Triune God your praises tell,

Glory to the Father Eternal,

To the Son and Paraclete that dwell

For endless days in paradise. Amen.

Prayer to Saint Nicholas

O God, source of strength and courage,
you gave your beloved preacher,
Saint Nicholas of Tolentino,
the conviction of faith to the very end.
Grace us with the ability
to translate your teaching into action,
remain patient amid hardship,
serve the poor and those who suffer,
and live as your true and faithful
servants.

Saint Nicholas of Tolentino, pray for us.

Prayer for the Deceased by Saint Nicholas

Lord, God of holiness and light.
You do not allow any shadow of darkness or evil in your sight,
and so in your mercy you grant to those who have left this world burdened with sin,

a time of purification, applying to them the spiritual treasurers of your holy Church.

Hear my prayer
and through the merits of Christ,
the Blessed Virgin, the saints,
and all your faithful people
bring to an end this time of waiting
for our beloved dead, especially _____.

In your providence
you have chosen Saint Nicholas
as a special intercessor
on behalf of the departed.

Hear also his fervent prayer for those whom I recommend to you through his intercession. Amen.

THE ARCH CONFRATERNITY OF TOLENTINO

The famous Augustinian, Saint Nicholas of Tolentine fostered a profound devotion of prayer for the faithful departed: so much so that he has merited, by the Church, the title "Patron Saint of the Souls in Purgatory."

He strongly encouraged the practice of having Masses Offered for the souls in Purgatory. Further, it is to him that the Augustinian Tradition attributes the great devotion of the "Septinarium": the seven days of prayer for the dead.

FIRST DAY

Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be.

St. Nicholas, Patron of the Holy Souls,

Pray for us

O good Jesus, mystically present upon our altars, renewing the oblation of Calvary for the sake of our salvation, we kneel in silence before thee, as Mary and John and Thy Blessed mother knelt in the silence of that awful moment when the Angel of Dead spread his wings around the cross. We come to plead with Thee while our thoughts follow Thee down from Calvary to the prisons where the Holy Souls waited through the years of Thy coming.

We plead, dear Jesus, for the for the release of the poor souls now detained in the prisons of purgatory. We plead through the memory of that moment when Thy agonizing Heart ceased to beat on the cross. We plead through the merits of the angels that serve Thee, through the merits of the Saints who surround Thee, through the merits of Saint Nicholas of Tolentine, the efficacy of whose great charity towards the poor souls is our encouragement to approach Thy Divine Bounty.

In Thy compassion and mercy for those whom Thou hast redeemed, deign, once again, through the intercession of Saint Nicholas, to open the gates of purgatory that the heavens may see the passing of multitudes to eternal happiness.

Glory Be…

Eternal Rest…

Let us pray:

Grant, we beseech Thee, O Almighty God, that Thy Church, which is made illustrious with the glory of the prodigies and miracles of Saint Nicholas, Thy Blessed confessor, may, by his merits and intercession enjoy perpetual unity and peace.

SECOND DAY

Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be.

St. Nicholas, Patron of the Holy Souls,

Pray for us

Remember, O gentle and compassionate Lord, the mercy that stirred Thy heart when the cry of misery and sorrow came to Thine ears in Israel, how Thine eyes searched the rocks for the poor lepers who called out to Thee, how Thou didst reach out Thy hand to the daughter of Jairus, and the widow’s son of Naim, how tears came to Thine eyes at the tomb of Lazarus. Look down upon the land of sufferings, where souls that love Thee await for the touch of Thy healing mercy. Through the merits of Thine own great sufferings which appeased the Eternal Justice, reach out Thy Hand once more in its infinite power to save and relieve the Holy Souls in their sufferings. O Lord, hear our prayers, unworthy though they be. We unite with the prayers of Thy holy servant, St. Nicholas of Tolentine, in the grotto of San Angelo, with the prayers which he offered to Thee though the silent hours of the night, with the prayer with which he bless Thine infinite goodness and mercy for Thy miraculous aid in his ministry. Hear our prayers for those who cannot plead for themselves, and grant to the poor souls in purgatory happiness and rest. .

Glory Be…

Eternal Rest…

Let us pray:

THIRD DAY

Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be.

St. Nicholas, Patron of the Holy Souls,

Pray for us

Remember, O Divine and merciful Lord, Thy compassion to the soul of the Gentile Jodiani, for whom Saint Nicholas besought Thy mercy. Thou didst give the dying sinner the grace of repentance. Though didst suspend the rigour of Thy justice, and, accepting the merits and suffrages of the Saint, Thou didst remit the punishment deserved by his sins. Vouchsafe, O Lord, the same gentle pity to the poor penitent souls in purgatory, who, in human frailty, offended Thy majesty and holiness. List once more to the prayer of Thy Saint, to which we, in our lowliness, unite our supplications, and grant the poor souls relief from their sufferings, so that, with the Blessed in Heaven, they may join their voices in exultant praise of Thy mercy.

Glory Be…

Eternal Rest…

Let us pray:

FOURTH DAY

Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be.

St. Nicholas, Patron of the Holy Souls,

Pray for us

O ever blessed and adorable God, we remember how Thou didst permit Thy servant Saint Nicholas of Tolentine, to see a multitude of the poor sufferers expiating their sins in purgatory, how the vision overwhelmed him with grief, and how his heart pour out its gratitude to Thee, when Thou didst accept the penances and prayers which He offered Thee in union with the infinite merits of the Holy Sacrifice. On the seventh day of his continual appeal to Thy mercy, Thou didst open wide the gates of purgatory and paradise, permitting his eyes to behold the great multitudes that were passing to their eternal rest with Thee. Vouchsafe now, O Lord, to show forth the wonders of Thy mercy. Grant, through the devotion of the Septenarium of the Saint, that the faithful departed may pass, this day, from the plains of darkness and suffering to the light of the Beatific Vision of heaven.

Glory Be…

Eternal Rest…

Let us pray:

FIFTH DAY

Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be.

St. Nicholas, Patron of the Holy Souls,

Pray for us

O ever bountiful and merciful Lord, Thou hast glorified the memory of Saint Nicholas of Tolentine by countless and extraordinary miracles, giving to his prayers a wondrous efficacy, and to his hand an astonishing healing power. Though Thee he solaced and healed the afflicted, through Thee, he restored the dead to a disconsolate mother’s embrace. To Thy pitying mercy he led the despairing and the penitent. Though the holiness, the virtues, and the miracles of Thy saints, may the poor souls be admitted to Thy mercies, and to the embrace of Thy compassionate love. Grant them the solace of Thy clemency, and eternal happiness and rest, with Thy glorious saints in paradise.

Glory Be…

Eternal Rest…

Let us pray:

SIXTH DAY

Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be.

St. Nicholas, Patron of the Holy Souls,

Pray for us

Remember, O Lord, the cry of the poor victim who found no pity in the cruel human hearts but found pity in heaven, because he invoked Thy All-Holy Name, and venerated the name of the Saint of Tolentine. Death or sin on the unshriven soul became no obstacle to Thy pitying mercy. O Good Jesus, how wonderful are Thy ways in dealing with human souls. A boundless ocean of merit and mercy surrounds Thy Calvary and Thy Cross, upon which Thou wert immolated by cruel hands. Behold, we turn our eyes to Thee upon the Cross, and upon the altar, and our hearts overflow with a happy confidence. In that confidence we appeal to Thee for mercy upon our own unworthy souls, and for the souls of all the faithful departed. Hear our cry in the moment of death, hear our prayers for the souls in purgatory. Let neither death nor sin, O good Jesus, be an obstacle to their enjoyment of the full blessings of Thy Redemption. Let Thine own merits make amends for the their failings, and now, in death take them to Thy Heart in the land of eternal happiness.

Glory Be…

Eternal Rest…

Let us pray:

SEVENTH DAY

Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be.

St. Nicholas, Patron of the Holy Souls,

Pray for us

O blessed Mother of our Redeemer, remember that dark hour beneath the Cross when the dying lips of Jesus consecrated human souls to thy motherly love, and through the tender commiseration enkindled within thy heart at that moment, bear to the Eternal Throne the supplications which we offer for thy suffering children in purgatory. In humility we lift our mind to thy Divine Son. We see Him through the eyes of faith in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, or abiding in the hallowed shelter of the tabernacle, and we remember, dear Mother, that thine own pure heart was the first altar upon which he reposed here on earth.

O, that we could bring into His presence, a faith and love like thine. Help us, dear Mother, supplement our weak efforts, give thy powerful aid to our supplications for the release of the suffering souls in purgatory. Though the merits of the Cross and the Blessed Sacrament, though thin own great pity for the souls of all thy children, through thine own love, and the love of Saint Nicholas of Tolentine for Jesus abiding in the adorable Sacrament of the Latar, we pray for the release of the souls in purgatory this day.

Glory Be…

Eternal Rest…

Let us pray:

St. Nicholas, Bishop of Myra

Feast Day December 6th,

Patron of Children, Sailors, and Prisoners

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    St. Nicholas, whom the Almighty honored with numberless miracles, was born at Patara, in Lycia, of rich and pious parents, who having lived a long time without issue, at last, after many prayers, were rejoiced by the Lord with a son. It was a remarkable fact that Nicholas, when an infant, on Wednesdays and Fridays, refused to take nourishment from his mother's breast until nightfall; and this custom of partaking of no food on those days, he observed as long as he lived. When sent to school, he carefully avoided all intercourse young men, and still more with the other sex. He shunned all occasions of evil, chastised his body by watching, fasting, wearing a penitential girdle, and read only such books as aided him to acquire virtue and knowledge. In this manner he preserved his innocence inviolate through all dangers. Having made great progress in virtue and knowledge, he was ordained priest by the bishop of Myra, who was his God-father. As he felt himself obliged by the sacredness of his station to strive to attain greater virtue, he redoubled his austerities, his fervor in prayer, and his zeal in doing good. The rich inheritance which came into his possession after the death of his parents, was employed only to relieve and comfort the needy.

    Among these were three young virgins whom their father, impoverished by misfortune, had advised to maintain themselves at the cost of their virtue, as he saw no means to provide for them. St. Nicholas, having heard this, went, during the night and threw into the father's room, through the window, as much money as was necessary to give one of the three maidens a marriage dower. The same was done, after a lapse of some time, for the second and the third; and, by this noble work of charity, the father and the daughters were saved from temporal and eternal ruin. After some time, by order of the bishop of Myra, Nicholas was charged with the care of a monastery, and performed this task with great prudence and care.

    Meanwhile, his heart was filled with the desire to visit the Holy Land, and to pass the remainder of his life in solitude. The day on which he set sail he prophesied to the sailors that they would soon encounter a severe storm. The sailors, thinking they were better skilled in such matters, laughed at him, but the issue showed that the Saint was right; for so terrific a storm arose that all on board thought themselves lost. Hence they begged the Saint, as God had revealed to him the danger, to implore Him to turn it from them. Hardly had the holy man begun to pray when the winds abated and the storm ceased. Similar miracles the holy man performed frequently; hence he is honored and invoked as a special patron of sailors. In Palestine he visited the holy places with great devotion, and made the resolution to remain there in some retired spot, where he might serve the Almighty undisturbed. But, by divine admonition, he returned to his monastery, where he did not remain long, as God inspired him to go to Myra, the capital of Lycia.

    The bishops of that country had just assembled at Myra, to elect a successor to the late bishop, and while they were praying to be guided by heaven in their choice, God revealed to one of them that they should choose him who, on the following morning, should first enter the church, and whose name was Nicholas. St. Nicholas, knowing nothing of what had passed, was the first who entered the church the next morning. A bishop who had been appointed to be there, having asked his name, took him by the hand and led him to the assembled prelates, who informed him of the divine will and consecrated him bishop in spite of the tears he shed and the objections he offered.

    Nicholas considering that so high an office required high virtues, endeavored to lead a still more perfect life than before. He practiced severe penance, partook daily of one meal only, and never touched meat; took his short rest on the bare floor, gave all the time left to him from the administration of his functions to prayer, daily said holy Mass, at which he often shed many tears; visited the prisoners, the sick, and the poor of the city, among whom he divided almost all his income; preached on all Sundays and Holydays, and frequently visited the churches and parishes of his diocese, providing all with able priests and a sufficient income. In one word, he did all that could be expected of a bishop, who perfectly fulfilled his sacred duties. At that period there were still many pagans in Myra, besides an idolatrous temple, and the emperor sent his officers to exterminate Christianity and restore the pagan worship. On this occasion our holy bishop showed his generous seal. He went through all the streets and into all the houses exhorting the Christians to remain faithful to Christ, without fearing for himself either danger, persecution or death. He was seized, dragged out of the city, and cast into a dungeon, where he remained until Constantine the Great ascended the throne. The holy bishop experienced the greatest joy when this emperor gave orders to demolish the idolatrous temples and to build churches in their places. He himself assisted at the work and rested not until all pagan temples had disappeared from his diocese. Some time later an opportunity presented itself to him to fight against the Arian heresy, which he condemned in the Council of Nice.

    The many and great miracles that he performed and the fame of his holiness gave him great consideration. Eustathius, an avaricious officer, had condemned to death three innocent citizens, living not far from Myra, in order that he might take possession of their property. No sooner had St. Nicholas been informed of this than he hastened to the place, where he found the three men already in the hands of the executioner. The Saint ran towards him and took the sword from him; he then reproved the wicked judge with severe words, and thus freed the innocent persons, amid the great rejoicings of the people.

    Still more remarkable is the following: Constantine, the emperor, had condemned three of his most renowned generals to death, on false accusations. These, having heard much of the holiness of the Bishop of Myra, called on God to come to their aid for the sake of His servant. In the night before the day on which the sentence on the three prisoners was to be executed, Constantine saw St. Nicholas standing before him, threatening him with divine vengeance if he did not immediately recall the sentence against the innocent men. In the same manner the Saint appeared to the unjust accuser. Both, greatly frightened, set the prisoners free, and sent them with many rich gifts to St. Nicholas, to thank him for having thus protected them.

Almost at the same time the Saint appeared to some sailors who were in great danger of being wrecked, and had invoked him. They saw him at the helm, guiding the ship safely to land. When they expressed their gratitude to him, he said: "My children, give honor to God; I am but a poor sinner." Taking them aside, he said that their sins, which he named to them, had been the cause of the danger they experienced, admonished them to repent, and then dismissed them. On account of this and numberless other miracles, the holy bishop was called the Thaumaturgus, or Wonder-worker of his age. All his biographers unite in saying that he raised many dead to life. Among these were three children who had been-cruelly murdered and cast into a tub; and this miracle is frequently represented by artists in their pictures of the Saint.

Although St. Nicholas was gifted with such high graces, and administered his episcopal functions so well, he yet feared that he did not do enough, and frequently prayed to God to release him from this burden. A voice from heaven, however, encouraged him, saying: "Fear not, Nicholas, I will recompense thy faithful services." God also revealed to him the day and hour of his death, and the Saint, rejoicing soon to see the Lord, received with great devotion, the holy Sacraments, and after a short sickness ended his holy life.

In his last moments he saw heaven open, and a great multitude of angels came to accompany his soul to heaven. His last prayer was the Psalm, "In Thee, O Lord, have I hoped." When he came to the words, "Into Thy hands I commend my spirit," he calmly expired. From his body emanated a miraculous oil, which restored the health of many sick. This oil is still flowing at Bari, in Apulia, where the holy body is enshrined, and is yearly visited by many devout pilgrims.

by Father Francis Xavier Weninger, 1876

A Prayer of Petition to St. Nicholas

Glorious Nicholas, my own protector! from that bright throne where thou dost enjoy the vision of thy God, in pity turn thine eyes upon me; ask for me from God those graces and helps most seasonable in my present necessities, whether spiritual or temporal, and especially the grace of . . . . . . if such be expedient for my eternal welfare. Forget not, glorious and holy bishop, our Sovereign Pontiff, the holy Church, and this pious city. Bring back to the right way of salvation those who live steeped in sin, or buried in the darkness of ignorance, error, and heresy. Comfort the sorrowing, provide for the needy, strengthen the weak-hearted, defend the oppressed, help the sick; let all know the effects of thy powerful patronage with Him Who is the supreme giver of all good. Amen

Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be to the Father.

V. Pray for us, blessed Nicholas.
R. That we may made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let us pray:
God, Who has honored, and ceasest not daily to honor, Thy high-priest and glorious confessor, blessed Nicholas, with innumerable miracles: grant, we beseech Thee, that, by his merits and prayers, we may be delivered from the fires of hell and from all other dangers. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

(Indulgence of 50 days, Pope Gregory XVI)

Invocation

Saint Nicholas, glorious Confessor of Christ, assist us in thy loving kindness.

(Indulgence 100 days)

Hymn: Intonent Hodie

Sing today voices of the church.
And so come daybreak in a rejoicing world
With a jubilant heart and happy mouth.
This famous saint, the Lord's subject,
Was laid in a cradle; he avoided the breast, denied his flesh,
And three times on Saturday the boy fasted.
To the wretched parent, whose boy drowned
He granted what was asked; he heard his prayers,
And gave the drowned boy back to his father.
To the three virgins without food and needing money,
He restored honor, saving them from mistakes,
And giving back to the maidens the flower of virginity.