September 10
St Nicholas of Tolentino, Confessor
Thursday after the 15th Sunday after Pentecost
Today, according to the traditional (1962) Roman calendar, the Church celebrates the feast of St Nicholas of Tolentino, Confessor. Born around 1245 in the region of Marche, Italy, Nicholas joined the Order of St Augustine as a young man, inspired by the preaching and example of holy Augustinian friars. He lived a life marked by great austerity, prayer, and devotion to the Mass and the poor. Renowned for his humility and miraculous gifts—including visions, healings, and the reputed multiplication of food—St Nicholas quickly became known as a powerful intercessor, particularly for souls in purgatory, to whom he had a special devotion strengthened by mystical experiences. His life was characterized by faithful obedience to his religious rule, tireless service to others, and deep recollection, making him a model of Augustinian holiness. St Nicholas died in 1305, and his cultus spread rapidly, especially through the Augustinian Order, leading to his canonization in 1446. The traditional Roman calendar assigns his feast to September 10th, close to the date of his death, celebrating his enduring witness as a model of penitence, charity, and intercessory prayer—a confessor who was both contemplative and active, and who remains beloved among Catholics seeking spiritual aid, especially on behalf of the faithful departed.
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Questions about St Nicholas of Tolentino, Confessor (Vetus Ordo Missae)
Local variations
- Africa — St Nemesian and his companions, martyrs
The liturgical day
IntroitPs 91:13-14
Latin
Ps 91:13-14
Iustus ut palma florébit: sicut cedrus Líbani multiplicábitur: plantátus in domo Dómini: in átriis domus Dei nostri.
Ps 91:2
Bonum est confitéri Dómino: et psállere nómini tuo, Altíssime.
℣. Glória Patri, et Fílio, et Spirítui Sancto.
℟. Sicut erat in princípio, et nunc, et semper, et in sǽcula sæculórum. Amen.
Iustus ut palma florébit: sicut cedrus Líbani multiplicábitur: plantátus in domo Dómini: in átriis domus Dei nostri.
English
Ps 91:13-14
The just man shall flourish like the palm tree, like a cedar of Lebanon shall he grow: planted in the house of the Lord, in the courts of the house of our God.
Ps 91:2
It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praise to Your name, Most High.
℣. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
℟. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
The just man shall flourish like the palm tree, like a cedar of Lebanon shall he grow: planted in the house of the Lord, in the courts of the house of our God.
Collect
Latin
Adésto, Dómine, supplicatiónibus nostris, quas in beáti Nicolái Confessóris tui sollemnitáte deférimus: ut, qui nostræ iustítiæ fidúciam non habémus, eius, qui tibi plácuit, précibus adiuvémur.
Per Dóminum nostrum Iesum Christum, Fílium tuum: qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitáte Spíritus Sancti Deus, per ómnia sǽcula sæculórum.
℟. Amen.
English
Be mindful, O Lord, of our humble prayers in this commemoration of Your Saints, so that we, who have no confidence in our own righteousness, may be helped by the merits of those who have been pleasing to You.
Through Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end.
℟. Amen.
Lesson1 Cor 4:9-14
Latin
Léctio Epístolæ beáti Pauli Apóstoli ad Corínthios
1 Cor 4:9-14
Fratres: Spectáculum facti sumus mundo et Angelis et homínibus. Nos stulti propter Christum, vos autem prudéntes in Christo: nos infírmi, vos autem fortes: vos nóbiles, nos autem ignóbiles. Usque in hanc horam et esurímus, et sitímus, et nudi sumus, et cólaphis cǽdimur, et instábiles sumus, et laborámus operántes mánibus nostris: maledícimur, et benedícimus: persecutiónem pátimur, et sustinémus: blasphemámur, et obsecrámus: tamquam purgaménta huius mundi facti sumus, ómnium peripséma usque adhuc. Non ut confúndant vos, hæc scribo, sed ut fílios meos caríssimos móneo: in Christo Iesu, Dómino nostro.
℟. Deo grátias.
English
Lesson from the first letter of St Paul the Apostle to the Corinthians
1 Cor. 4:9-14
Brethren: We have been made a spectacle to the world, and to angels, and to men. We are fools for Christ, but you are wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are honored, but we are without honor! To this very hour we hunger and thirst, and we are naked and buffeted, and have no fixed abode. And we toil, working with our own hands. We are reviled and we bless, we are persecuted and we bear with it, we are maligned and we entreat, we have become as the refuse of this world, the offscouring of all, even until now! I write these things not to put you to shame, but to admonish you as my dearest children, in Christ Jesus our Lord.
℟. Thanks be to God.
GradualPs 36:30-31
Latin
Ps 36:30-31
Os iusti meditábitur sapiéntiam, et lingua eius loquétur iudícium.
℣. Lex Dei eius in corde ipsíus: et non supplantabúntur gressus eius. Allelúia, allelúia.
Ps 111:1
Beátus vir, qui timet Dóminum: in mandátis eius cupit nimis. Allelúia.
English
Ps 36:30-31
The mouth of the just tells of wisdom, and his tongue utters what is right.
℣. The law of his God is in his heart, and his steps do not falter. Alleluia, alleluia.
Ps 111:1
Happy the man who fears the Lord, who greatly delights in His commands. Alleluia.
GospelLuc 12:32-34
Latin
℟. Glória tibi, Dómine.
Luc 12:32-34
In illo témpore: Dixit Iesus discípulis suis: Nolíte timére, pusíllus grex, quia complácuit Patri vestro dare vobis regnum. Véndite quæ possidétis, et date eleemósynam. Fácite vobis sácculos, qui non veteráscunt, thesáurum non deficiéntem in cœlis: quo fur non apprópiat, neque tínea corrúmpit. Ubi enim thesáurus vester est, ibi et cor vestrum erit.
English
℟. Glory be to Thee, O Lord.
Luke 12:32-34
At that time, Jesus said to His disciples, Do not be afraid, little flock, for it has pleased your Father to give you the kingdom. Sell what you have and give alms. Make for yourselves purses that do not grow old, a treasure unfailing in heaven, where neither thief draws near nor moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be.
OffertoryPs 20:2-3
Latin
Ps 20:2-3
In virtúte tua, Dómine, lætábitur iustus, et super salutáre tuum exsultábit veheménter: desidérium ánimæ eius tribuísti ei.
English
Ps 20:2-3
O Lord, in Your strength the just man is glad; in Your victory how greatly he rejoices! You have granted him his heart’s desire.
Secret
Latin
Per Dóminum nostrum Iesum Christum, Fílium tuum: qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitáte Spíritus Sancti Deus, per ómnia sǽcula sæculórum.
℟. Amen.
English
Through Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end.
℟. Amen.
CommunionMatt 19:28-29
Latin
Matt 19:28-29
Amen, dico vobis: quod vos, qui reliquístis ómnia et secúti estis me, céntuplum accipiétis, et vitam ætérnam possidébitis.
English
Matt 19:28-29
Amen I say to you that you, who have left all things and followed Me, shall receive a hundredfold, and shall possess life everlasting.
Post Communion
Latin
Quǽsumus, omnípotens Deus: ut, qui cœléstia aliménta percépimus, intercedénte beáto Nicoláo Confessóre tuo, per hæc contra ómnia advérsa muniámur.
Per Dóminum nostrum Iesum Christum, Fílium tuum: qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitáte Spíritus Sancti Deus, per ómnia sǽcula sæculórum.
℟. Amen.
English
We pray You, almighty God, that we who have received heavenly nourishment may thereby, through the intercession of blessed Nicolaus, Your Confessor, be sustained against all harm and danger.
Through Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end.
℟. Amen.
Vetus Ordo texts: Divinum Officium