ON BLESSED NICHOLAS OF ARCO,
Monk of the Cistercian Order at Noto in Sicily.
ABOUT 1220.
CommentaryNicholas of Arco, monk of the Cistercian Order at Noto in Sicily (Bl.)
By the liberal courtesy of Ferdinand Ughelli we had received some notice of Blessed Nicholas, monk of Noto, the day of whose deposition being unknown, the first day of April has been assumed, on which his Relics were translated: and at that day treat of him Octavius Cajetanus in his Sicilian Martyrology, and following him, Menardus, Bucelinus, and Chamelot. The same Cajetanus, His name in the Calendars. in volume 2 of the Lives of Sicilian Saints page 200, printed the same notice which we had received from Ughelli, with this title: "On Blessed Nicholas, monk of Noto," with the year of Christ 1230 noted in the margin, on the first day of April. The rest we subjoin here.
[2] With Constance the mother and Frederick reigning in Sicily, Isimbard Morengia, Notice from Cajetanus lord of Noto, and his wife Cara, distinguished both by birth and by piety, founded a temple of St. Mary, and an adjoining monastery, at the fifth milestone from the city of Noto, toward the north; and endowed it with the fields of Arco (from which the Monastery took the name, because it was built there), Planetta, Gaitanino, and Bulchaleno: which were handed over to the Brothers and Abbot Rudolph, and their Cistercian Order, with an instrument of donation completed, in the year of Christ 1212, in the month of November. From that monastery and Cistercian family came Blessed Nicholas, of Noto, whose Relics, about 300 years ago, were held in honor among the people of Noto. There is a report that he was of the family of Count Isimbard, founder of the monastery. Of his life and deeds no monuments exist, and from Vincenzo Littara, but many of his sanctity. For his body first raised from the ground was preserved in the church of St. Mary of Arco, in the field of Noto, four palms high; then it was translated to the city of Noto to the Cistercian shrine, and is seen buried in an ark in the chamber: but the arm enclosed in old silver, on the front of which a monk, adorned with a diadem, is depicted, with this inscription: "Saint Nicholas of Arco." Nevertheless, he is commonly called Blessed Nicholas: of whom Vincenzo Littara, a man of Noto, says these things: "The very ancient monastery, built for the Cistercian family by Count Isimbard, in the year of salvation 1212: there his sepulcher is shown, in which also are the relics of Blessed Nicholas of Noto, of the Cistercian Order; some of which, enclosed in silver cases, are held in honor." Thus far the Sicilian authors, nor are more things suggested by others.