On the 10th September, 1349, the day after a terrible earthquake, Nicolò was born at Forca Palena. Little or nothing is known of his youth and his family of origin, but it is certain that in the 80's of the XIV century Nicolò, along with fellow habitants of Forca Palena fled to Palena in search of refuge in the solid city walls.
Here Nicolò began his priestly life and became curate of the church of St. Anthony and shared with the community of palena his spirit of service. During a pilgrimage to Rome, he decided to become part of the community of hermits gathered around brother Rinaldo of Piedimonte, who had his hermitage in a tower at the church of San Salvatore. On the Death of Rinaldo, Nicolò became prior of the monastery.
The great moral qualities of Nicolò enabled him to set up a new monastery dedicated to Santa Maria delle Grazie at Sperlonga and a hospice at Sant 'Agnello.
Back in Rome, in 1419 he founded a hermitage on the Gianicolo dedicated to the holy hermit Onofrio, for which he received the support of Cardinal Condulmer, the future pope under the name of Eugenio IV. He had a lot of esteem for Nicolò to the point of wanting Nicolò at his side during the years when the papacy was moved to Florence.
He returned finally to Rome now in his nineties to devote himself to prayer in the monastery of Giancolense which he founded. Here he died on the 1st October, 1449 and his remains were laid under the floor of the church, from there his remains were transferred to under the high alter in 1712. It was soon started the process of beatification, many were the miracles realised at his remains, in 1771 Clement XIV was proclaimed beatified.
On the 10th September, 1349, the day after a terrible earthquake, Nicolò was born at Forca Palena. Little or nothing is known of his youth and his family of origin, but it is certain that in the 80's of the XIV century Nicolò, along with fellow habitants of Forca Palena fled to Palena in search of refuge in the solid city walls.
Here Nicolò began his priestly life and became curate of the church of St. Anthony and shared with the community of palena his spirit of service. During a pilgrimage to Rome, he decided to become part of the community of hermits gathered around brother Rinaldo of Piedimonte, who had his hermitage in a tower at the church of San Salvatore. On the Death of Rinaldo, Nicolò became prior of the monastery.
The great moral qualities of Nicolò enabled him to set up a new monastery dedicated to Santa Maria delle Grazie at Sperlonga and a hospice at Sant 'Agnello.
Back in Rome, in 1419 he founded a hermitage on the Gianicolo dedicated to the holy hermit Onofrio, for which he received the support of Cardinal Condulmer, the future pope under the name of Eugenio IV. He had a lot of esteem for Nicolò to the point of wanting Nicolò at his side during the years when the papacy was moved to Florence.
He returned finally to Rome now in his nineties to devote himself to prayer in the monastery of Giancolense which he founded. Here he died on the 1st October, 1449 and his remains were laid under the floor of the church, from there his remains were transferred to under the high alter in 1712. It was soon started the process of beatification, many were the miracles realised at his remains, in 1771 Clement XIV was proclaimed beatified.
