Lentorama 2018: Second String Saints

Day 32: Nicholas of Tolentino

Born in Sant'Angelo, Nicholas moved to Tolentino due to angelic visions. Once there, he settled into a life of preaching and working with the poor. He was responsible for giving food to the poor, and created a special bread based on another vision. Augustinians still bless and distribute St. Nicholas bread today.

Between the visions, his work with the poor and prisoners, and attempts at bringing peace during the conflict between the Guelphs and the Ghibelines, the calls for his sainthood started shortly after he died. He was the first Augustinian to be made a saint when Eugene IV canonized him in 1446.

At least one person suggests that he's responsible for Spain getting a foothold in the New World. The settlement of Potosi, Bolivia apparently was suffering from high infant mortality (not surprising, being a colonial city at 13000 feet in altitude). A man dedicated his unborn child to Nicholas, and the son that was born lived to adulthood. This began a tradition of dedicating children and naming them after the saint, which helped the city to grow and become permanent. I imagine all the silver in the area helped the city stick, but it's a good story.