Life Nicola da Forca Palena

tomb in church himself founded.

nicola da forca palena born in modest house in forca - in chieri - on 10 september 1349 devout , modest parents. on previous day, 9 september 1349, devastating earthquake had struck region , surrounding areas.

he became professed member of third order of saint francis , became noted penitential acts , austere methods defined life. undertook pilgrimage rome visited tombs of each of apostles , there felt call lead more austere mode of life. decided join several companions live life of solitude group craved , decided retire hermitage. moved 1 such place in rome , later moved 1 in naples before returning rome once more in 1419. founded santa maria della grazie hermitage in sperlonga in naples , hospice @ square of sant agnello. nicola attended jubilee in 1400 pope boniface ix presided over.

nicola served curate sant antonio church in palena in 1379.

he later met pietro gambacorta , pair founded poor hermits of saint jerome in rome. pope eugene iv later heard of reputation holiness , entrusted him direction of several convents in florence in 1434 , in 1437; same pontiff later issue full papal approval order , gambacora founded in 1446 after pope martin v had issued initial approval in 1421. nicola founded sant onofrio church in rome in 1439. construction funds came various donors including cardinal gabriele condulmer - future pope eugene iv.

nicola died on 1 october 1449 , remains interred in church himself established. remains laid out under week faithful , buried under floor of church. friend pope nicholas v dictated sepulchral inscription. remains moved main altar in 1712 rests.

the poor hermits of saint jerome dissolved under pope pius xi on 12 january 1933. sant onofrio became titular see cardinals since 1519 when pope leo x elevated , included 3 pontiffs such pope innocent xi. church - since 1945 - has been headquarters of order of holy sepulchre.