Blessed Nicola Paglia was born in 1197 in Giovinazzo near Bari, Italy to Italian nobility. As a child, he received a vision of an angel who warned him not to eat meat as he would one day join a religious order that had a permanent rule of abstinence.
That day came in 1217. As Blessed Nicola was traveling to Bologna to complete his education, he heard St. Dominic speak for the first time. The man was so moved from St. Dominic's sermon that as soon as the saint exited the pulpit Blessed Nicola rushed over and asked him for immediate admission into the Order of Preachers where he would later be ordained to the priesthood.
Like St. Dominic, Blessed Nicola was regarded as a successful preacher. Blessed Paglia served two terms as provincial of the order's Roman province and he founded convents in Perugia and Trani where he settled in. He preached at length and with success for the conversion of the Jewish people to the Christian religion. He also promoted Scripture study and compiled a Bible concordance. Pope Gregory IX also commissioned him to preach a crusade against the Saracens.
He was regarded as a miracle worker. Finally in 1256, he departed this world for the next. He is interred in the Church of San Domenico in Perugia and was beatified by Pope Leo XII in 1828.
Blessed Nicola Paglia, pray for us!
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