| Title:
Saint Nicholas of Tolentino: Patron of the Holy Souls Author: Michael Di Gregorio, OSA ISBN: 0-8189-0954-4 Paperback: viii + 62 pp. Price: $5.95 + shipping To Order call: 1 800-343-ALBA (2522) Please have your Master, Visa or American Express card ready. To order online click here. |
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"A joy to those who were sad, a consolation to those who were suffering, peace to those who were at odds with one another, refreshment to those who were weary from their daily toil, support for those who were poor and a healing balm for those who found themselves in prison." This is the way a fellow religious described the ministry of St. Nicholas of Tolentino. Thanks to Pope Leo XIII who gave him the title in 1884, we remember him today, though, principally as the special patron saint of the Holy Souls in Purgatory. Who was this holy pioneer in the Order of Saint Augustine so often confused with his namesake, St. Nicholas of Myra (or Bari) -- Santa Claus? What was his relationship with another very popular saint, St. Rita of Cascia? How did the custom of blessing and distributing the "Bread of St. Nicholas" on his feast day come into being? And how did he become the patron saint of the Holy Souls in Purgatory? These and many other questions are answered in this fascinating little biography of a saint whose feast is celebrated by the Augustinian Family throughout the world on September 10th each year. |
Father Michael Di Gregorio, OSA entered the Order of Saint Augustine
in 1965, professed vows the following year, and was ordained to the priesthood in 1973. After 19
years of ministry in various parishes of his Order, he served as the director of social communications
for his Order in Rome. Since 1992 he has been rector of the National Shrine of Saint Rita of Cascia
in Philadelphia. Father has also done advanced studies in spirituality, especially Augustinian
Spirituality, has given retreats to religious and lay groups, and has worked with the Augustinian
Secular Movement. He has collaborated on several books on Augustinian themes and the saints of
his Order. Alba House published his biography of Saint Rita of Cascia, The
Precious Pearl in 2003.
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