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His middle-aged parents,
Compagnonus de Guarutti and Amata de Guidiani, were childless until a
prayerful visit to a shrine of the original Saint Nicholas at Bari, Italy.
In gratitude, they named their son Nicholas.
Augustinian Friar at age 18, and a student with Blessed Angelus de
Scarpetti. Monk at Recanati and Macerata. Ordained at age 25. Canon of
Saint Saviour's. Had visions of angels reciting "to Tolentino"; he took
this as a sign to move to that city in 1274, where he lived the rest of
his life.
Worked as a peacemaker in a city torn by civil war. Preached every day,
wonder-worker and healer, and visited prisoners. He always told those he
helped, "Say nothing of this." Received visions, including images of
Purgatory, which friends ascribed to his lengthy fasts. Had a great
devotion to the recently dead, praying for the souls in Purgatory as he
traveled around his parish, and often late into the night.
Once, when severely ill, he had a vision of Mary, Augustine and Monica.
They told him to eat a certain type of roll that had been dipped in water.
Cured, he began healing others by administering bread over which he
recited Marian prayers. The rolls became known as Saint Nicholas Bread,
and are still distributed at his shrine.
Reported to have resurrected over one hundred dead children, including
several who had drowned together. Legend says that the devil once beat
Nicholas with a stick; the stick was displayed for years in the his
church. A vegetarian, Nicholas was once served a roasted fowl; he made the
sign of the cross over it, and it flew out a window. Nine passengers on
ship going down at sea once asked Nicholas' aid; he appeared in the sky,
wearing the black Augustinian habit, radiating golden light, holding a
lily in his left hand; with his right hand he quelled the storm. An
apparition of the saint once saved the burning palace of the Doge of
Venice by throwing a piece of blessed bread on the flames.
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