Chris Kenny
St Nicholas of Tolentino
Construction with found twig
£365.00 (framed)
9cm x 16cm
September 10th
Nicholas was from a poor family in Tolentino, a town with a bad reputation. He decided to enter the Augustinian order after encountering the charismatic Reginald of Monterubbiano who ran the local monastery.
Nicholas only cared for others, not himself. One day, when he could no longer function because of the lack of food, the ghostly figures of Mary, Augustine and Agustine's mother Monica appeared and told him to eat a bit of bread marked with a cross. He did this and immediately regained his strength - this led to the manufacture of the St Nicholas biscuit, popular to this day.
Nicholas was responsible for many miracles: he was a vegetarian and when served roast partridges by mistake, he blessed the birds and they flew away.
On another occasion, Nicholas heard the cry of a friend's soul in Purgatory - Nicholas sorted out a quick release for him and some other poor souls. He quelled storms, saved burning buildings and resurrected dozens of dead children.
He also pacified his hometown of Tolentino - stopping the fights between the Guelphs who supported the Pope and the Ghibellines who preferred the Holy Roman Emperor. He took no credit for his good deeds saying he was just 'God's tool'.
He stayed in Tollentino for the rest of his life and died on September 10th 1305.
Nicholas's relics are distributed around the world. Every Tuesday, a scrap of his clothing is venerated in the church of Macabebe in Pampanga in the central Philippines.
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