St. Nicholas of Tolentino
Patron Saint of Souls in Purgatory
St. Nicholas of Tolentino was born in the middle of the thirteenth century in Italy. When he was 18, he entered the Augustinians, and he was ordained a priest when he was 25. He was sent to Tolentino once he was ordained, but the town was struggling with serious civil disputes. Nicholas recognized that these issues were relevant to him as the pastor, so he began to focus his preaching on overcoming these civil difficulties. He was incredibly successful, and for the rest of his thirty years in Tolentino, he was known for his preaching and his ability as a confessor. People would come from all over to hear him preach and to go to him for confession. In 1446, he became the first Augustinian to be canonized. He is known as the patron of the souls in Purgatory.