City of God in Exile
Main Gate

Sacred Calendar

The Roman year ordered for memory, penance, feasts, saints, and the daily pilgrimage of the faithful.

Calendar standard

Pre-1955 Roman usage

The calendar follows the universal Roman year under the rubrics of Pope St. Pius X, with the Roman Martyrology preserved as a distinct daily witness.

The day is presented for prayer, recollection, study, and perseverance in the City.

Daily observance

Today in the City of God

The Church keeps this day in holy time. The Pilgrim's Companion gathers the feast, daily quote, Martyrology, meditation, prayer, and related chapters into one daily path through the City.

Daily observance

St. Nicholas of Tolentino, Confessor

Friday, September 10, 2027

Season: Time after Pentecost

The day is set within the Roman year so its feast, Martyrology, daily quote, prayer, and reading path may be received together without blurring their proper sources.

Today's pilgrimage

St. Nicholas of Tolentino, Confessor

Rank: Double

Color: white

Quote for the day

St. Gabriel the Archangel

“Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with thee.”

Luke 1:28, Douay-Rheims

The pilgrim's devotional rhythm

Keeping the month and the weekday in prayer

This chosen devotional rhythm does not change the feast, rank, or obligations shown above. It gives the passing days a steady intention, helping the pilgrim honor God, intercede for souls, and carry one Catholic practice into the day. It is a household aid to devotion, not another law of the Roman Calendar.

September intention

The Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Our Lady did not flee the Cross. By remembering her sorrows, the pilgrim learns compassion for the Passion of Christ, patience in affliction, and fidelity when consolation is withdrawn.

Intention

For those crushed by grief, for sinners at the hour of death, and for the grace to carry every cross without abandoning Christ.

A faithful act

Accept sorrows without murmuring and offer them with Our Lady for dying souls.

Prayer

Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, keep us faithful beside the Cross of Jesus.

Friday remembrance

The Passion and Sacred Heart of Jesus

Friday keeps Calvary before the Christian soul. Unite the day's labor and suffering to the Passion of Christ, remembering that His Sacred Heart was opened for sinners and that love proves itself by sacrifice and obedience.

Intention

In reparation for sin; for the conversion of sinners; and for those who suffer, are persecuted, or will die this day.

A faithful act

Keep the Church's Friday abstinence and add hidden self-denial in memory of the Passion.

Prayer

Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, through Thy bitter Passion, have mercy on us and on poor sinners.

Roman Martyrology

Roman Martyrology - September 10

At Tolentino, in the March of Ancona, the departure from this life of St. Nicholas, confessor, of the Order of Augustinians. — In Africa, the birthday of the holy bishops Nemesian, Felix, Lucius, another Felix, Litteus, Polyan, Victor, Jader, Dativus, and others. As a violent persecution was breaking out under Valerian and Gallienus, they were at their first courageous confession of Christ beaten with rods, then put in irons, and being sent to dig in the metal mines, they terminated their combat and glorious confession. — At Chalcedon, in the persecution of Diocletian, the holy martyrs Sosthenes and Victor. Under Priscus, proconsul of Asia, after they had been loaded with fetters and exposed to the beasts, they were condemned to be burned. But whilst they were saluting each other with a holy kiss and praying, they expired. — In Bithynia, the holy virgins Menodora, Metrodora, and Nymphodora, sisters. Under the emperor Maximian and the governor Fronto, they were crowned with martyrdom, and went to eternal glory. — Also, the holy martyrs Apellius, Luke, and Clement. — At Liege, in Belgium, St. Theodard, bishop and martyr, who laid down his life for his flock, and after his death was renowned for the gift of miracles. — At Rome, blessed Hilary, pope and confessor. — At Compost ell a, St. Peter, bishop, who was celebrated for his many virtues and miracles. — In the city of Albi, St. Salvius, bishop and confessor. — At Novara, St. Agapius, bishop. — At Constantinople, St. Pulcheria, empress and virgin, distinguished by her piety and zeal for religion.

Read and verify the full entry

Highlighted saint

St. Nicholas of Tolentino

Confessor of penance, prayer, and mercy for suffering souls.

The Martyrology remembers St. Nicholas of Tolentino as a confessor of the Order of Augustinians.

His feast keeps together penance, prayer, and charity toward the faithful departed, especially souls undergoing purification in Purgatory. Catholic devotion does not reduce mercy to sentiment; it prays, fasts, and offers sacrifice.

Virtue to practice

Merciful penance.

Error to resist

The comfortable mercy that speaks kindly but refuses sacrifice.

For the pilgrim in exile

Ask St. Nicholas for a merciful seriousness. Souls are helped by prayer and sacrifice, not by vague goodwill alone.

Imitate today

  • Pray for the faithful departed.
  • Offer a small penance for souls in need.
  • Let mercy become intercession.

Sources

  • St. Andrew Daily Missal, September 10.
  • Roman Martyrology, 1916 Baltimore edition, September 10.

From Matins

Penance, prayer, and desire for Christ.

Matins - Second Nocturn - St. Nicholas of Tolentino, Confessor

Roman Breviary, Proper lessons for St. Nicholas of Tolentino

“He subdued his body with rough clothing, stripes, and an iron chain.”

Doctrine taught

  • The Breviary presents St. Nicholas as an Augustinian confessor marked from childhood by abstinence and later by strict religious observance, prayer, love, lowliness, and long-suffering.
  • His contempt of the world was not barren severity: the lesson calls him a burning and shining light of grace.
  • His perseverance in prayer amid the assaults of Satan and his desire to depart and be with Christ teach the pilgrim to order penance toward heavenly union.

For the pilgrim in exile

Let fidelity cost something. St. Nicholas teaches the soul to join abstinence and religious discipline to earnest prayer, lowliness, long-suffering, and desire for Christ.

Full Breviary lessons

Fourth Lesson - A Child Formed in Abstinence

This Nicholas is called Nicholas of Tolentino, because he lived in that town for most part of his life. He was born at St Angelo, [a place near Fermo,] in the March of Ancona, [about the year 1245.] His parents were godly people, and in their desire to have children, vowed and made a pilgrimage to the shrine of St Nicholas at Bari, where they were assured of their wish, and therefore gave the name of Nicholas to the son whom they received. From his childhood the lad gave many good signs, but especially as regarded abstinence. In his seventh year, in imitation of his blessed name-sake, he began to fast upon several days in the week, which custom he always kept, and was content with only bread and water.

Fifth Lesson - Contempt of the World and Religious Discipline

After he reached man's estate, he enlisted himself in the army of the clergy, and was preferred to a Canonry. One day he chanced to hear a sermon upon contempt of the world delivered by a preacher of the Order of Hermits of St Austin, and was so moved by it that he forthwith entered that Order. As a Friar he was most strictly observant of that way of life. He subdued his body with rough clothing, stripes, and an iron chain. He never ate meat, and seldom any relish to his meals. And he was a burning and shining light of love, lowliness, long-suffering, and all other graces.

Sixth Lesson - Prayer and the Desire to Be with Christ

He persisted in constant and earnest prayer, notwithstanding many troubles from the assaults of Satan, who sometimes even flogged him. Every night for six months before his death he heard Angels singing with such sweetness, that it was a fore-taste of the happiness of heaven, and he would often repeat the words of the Apostle: "I have a desire to depart and to be with Christ" (Phil. i. 23.) Lastly, he foretold to his brethren the day of his death, which was the 10th day of September [1306.] After his death also he was famous for miracles, and when due investigation had been made thereof, Pope Eugenius IV. enrolled his name among those of the Saints.

Sources

  • The Roman Breviary, translated by John, Marquess of Bute, 1908, vol. IV, Autumn, Second Nocturn for St. Nicholas of Tolentino, lessons iv-vi, printed pp. 531-532.
  • Bute 1908 is used here as an accessible pre-Pius X Breviary witness and is cited distinctly from the 1936-1937 Benziger / Burns Oates edition.

Breviary Witness

Penance made merciful.

Matins - St. Nicholas of Tolentino

Breviary witness

  • The Breviary honors St. Nicholas of Tolentino as an Augustinian confessor, a witness of prayer, penance, and charity toward souls.
  • His feast reminds the faithful that mercy is strengthened, not weakened, by sacrifice offered for others.

For the pilgrim in exile

Let mercy cost something. Pray for the faithful departed and offer small penances for souls in need of God's mercy.

Sources

  • Roman Breviary, Matins lessons for September 10, St. Nicholas of Tolentino.
  • Roman Martyrology, 1916 Baltimore edition, September 10.

Meditation

Growth After Pentecost

The green season is not empty time. It is growth under grace. The pilgrim must ask whether the seed of doctrine is becoming virtue, whether prayer is becoming habit, whether zeal is becoming charity, and whether Catholic truth is governing ordinary choices.

Prayer

The day should become prayer.

O Lord, do not let me be satisfied with appearances when Thy glory is absent. Teach me to seek worship that is true, reverent, sacrificial, and received.

Thought for the pilgrim

The glory has departed wherever worship and doctrine are severed from truth.

Practice

The day should become obedience.

Test admired religious appearances by doctrine, valid worship, and Catholic obedience.

Source notes

Universal Roman Calendar under the rubrics of Pope St. Pius X

Fasting and abstinence according to the laws observed in 1952

Daily quotations and pilgrimage excerpts ordinarily come from eligible Catholic sources issued no later than December 31, 1954: Scripture, Fathers, Doctors, saints, Roman Pontiffs, traditional catechisms, approved devotional works, and received liturgical texts. Legitimate additions promulgated under Pope Pius XII may be retained when identified precisely; this does not adopt the reformed Holy Week or later rubrical changes.

The Roman Martyrology, Baltimore, 1916, published by John Murphy Company; the local 1916 text is displayed and traceable to its source lines.

  • St. Andrew Daily Missal, Liturgical Calendar, pp. xvii–xxviii.
  • St. Andrew Daily Missal, Dom Gaspar Lefebvre, O.S.B., 1953 edition; proper Mass or devotion named in this entry.
  • Luke 2:34-35 and John 19:25-27, Douay-Rheims.
  • John 19:30-37, Douay-Rheims.
Browse the Roman Martyrology