Saint Nicholas of Tolentino, known as the Patron of Holy Souls, was an Italian saint and mystic. He is particularly invoked as an advocate for the souls in Purgatory, especially during Lent and the month of November. In many Augustinian churches, there are weekly devotions to St Nicholas on behalf of the suffering souls.

Born in 1245 in Sant' Angelo in Pontano, Nicholas became a friar at 18, and seven years later, he was ordained a priest. He gained a reputation as a preacher and a confessor.

Nicholas, who had visions of angels reciting "to Tolentino" took it as a sign and moved to that city in 1274, where he lived the rest of his life. He worked to counteract the decline of morality and religion which came with the development of city life in the late thirteenth century.

On account of his kind and gentle manner his superiors entrusted him with the daily feeding of the poor at the monastery gates. Once, when weak after a long fast, he received a vision of the Blessed Virgin Mary and Saint Augustine, who told him to eat some bread marked with a cross and dipped in water. Upon doing so he was immediately stronger. He started distributing these rolls to the ailing, while praying to Mary, often curing the sick; this is the origin of the Augustinian custom of blessing and distributing 'Saint Nicholas Bread'.

In Tolentino, Nicholas worked as a peacemaker in a city torn apart by strife between the Guelphs and Ghibellines. He ministered to his flock, helped the poor and visited prisoners. When working wonders or healing people, he always asked those he helped to "Say nothing of this", telling them that he was just God's instrument.

During his life, Nicholas is said to have received visions, including images of Purgatory, which was ascribed to his lengthy fasts. Prayer for the souls in Purgatory was the outstanding characteristic of his spirituality. Because of this, Nicholas was proclaimed patron of the souls in Purgatory in 1884 by Pope Leo XIII.

Towards the end of his life, Nicholas became severely ill, but still he continued the mortifications that had been part of his holy life. Nicholas died in 1305 after a prolonged illness. He was canonized by Pope Eugene IV on the 5th of June in 1446 and was the first Augustinian to be canonized.

Other Saints of the Day
1. Saint Agapius of Novara
2. Saint Candida the Younger
3. Saint Jacques Gagnot
4. Saint Peter Martinez
5. Saint Salvius of Albi