The Servant of God Nicholas De Sanctis
Our Lady’s “Agnoletto”

	An old portrait of the Servant of God recalling the vision of another holy soul at his death bed of Our Lady standing beside her Agnoletto with a crown prepared for him.

In the extreme west of the Basilicate province, a few kilometres from the north slope of the Appennines, stretches a strip of land between Murco-Lucano and Bescopagans, here in this picture postcard setting atop a small hill stands the village of Castelgrande. It was here on 31 January, 1818, The Servant of God Nicholas De Sanctis first saw the light of day. His parents Peter De Sanctis and Michelle Masi were known for their deep faith, fear of God, and piety. They begged God that, if it was pleasing to Him, He would richly endow with His grace the son that they entrusted to His keeping.

Little Nicholas was brought up in a loving environment. Through stories and explanations his pious mother used her faith and understanding to implant in his young heart a tender love for Our Blessed Mother. This unremitting care employed by his mother in the raising of her child kindled in him a pious regard for the faith. In order to show his love for Our Holy Mother he daily prayed the Rosary and recited her litany. He took his only refuge in her, sang to her of her greatness and of his love for her in the pious hymns of St Alphonsus. He denied his weak body food, and wore a hairshirt and other penitential aids. Nicholas venerated Our Lady especially as Mother of the Afflicted. His Holy Mother effected in him an inner tender love for Her Son that turned the pious child into someone who exhibited the characteristics of an Angel. One needed only to observe his preparations for his First Holy Communion, how long he remained in mental prayer, the deprivations his body was subjected to, and the abstinence and penance of every type. Nothing was too much for his love-inflamed heart, his wish and longing were only for God, and as the longed-for moment came, as the beloved Redeemer came to our young Nicholas he exchanged with Him a thousand acts of glowing love in his heart. Jesus was his life, Mary his hope, and his model was St Francis of Paula, for whom his reverence was exceptional. He would not permit himself to ever become upset, on the contrary, he used occasions of unpleasantness to demonstrate a good example by his demeanour and words. For all those who experienced suffering Nicholas had a good heart; he was always ready to help and share with them his spiritual and material benefits. In order to ease their suffering he would often donate not only what he regarded as superfluos but even what was essential for his own needs. For the rescue and salvation of souls he offered his prayers, mortifications, and life to God. His strength derived from reading the spiritual works of St Alphonsus, which occupied an honoured place in his library. Their study moved him to contemplate becoming a religious. About this time the Redemptorists were preaching a Holy Mission in Castelfranca. When Nicholas learnt of the Mission he immediately went to the Fathers and expressed his wish. They replied that they were willing to discuss his wish and longing with his parents. Their meeting was a success; Nicholas’s parents gave their permission. Nicholas was more than happy. At once he began spiritual exercises, renewed and increased his prayer life and penances. Soon a letter from the Order arrived. It had been arranged for Nicholas to travel in order to meet the Fathers. This meant it was now time to say goodbye. A painful moment! His father, mother, and brothers and sisters, were in tears, and not to be consoled. Nicholas was however calm and composed; deep peace was in his heart, and shone from his eyes. To all, especially his parents, he spoke of and promised extraordinary graces from Heaven. Then it was off to Pagani. Hardly had he entered the monastery when he heard that his entry into the Order had been turned down. It had been decided that he was too young, and that his health was too weak. Nicholas’s pain was so great he believed he would die. He wept bitter tears and begged the Fathers to at least accept him as a serving brother. His request was granted with the silent hope that in the future unequivocal cause for his departure would arise. Yet men propose, but God disposes. Nicholas against all expectations endured and overcame his trial in splendid fashion, so that the advice that he should be allowed to stay met with no further opposition. Finally, he had achieved his wish. In torrents of prayers he thanked his Lord and God from his deepest heart, and consecrated himself to Him. During his noviciate his resolve to practice virtue was so great that he was named The Angel of the noviciate. He had such a gentle nature that his novice master gave him the charming nickname: Agnoletto, Little lamb. In his letters to his parents he speaks of his his ardour and ambition to ground his soul in the service of the Almighty: “Out of His overflowing mercy The Redeemer has called me to the order. For this reason I am determined with the support of His grace to do everything I can to achieve holiness.” His life in the Order was marked, especially, by heroic obedience, not just to his superiors, but to those his equals, and even to those subordinate to him. The complete subjugation of the young novice to the will of God was admirable, a virtue he practiced at all times, and under all circumstances; he was never heard to utter the slightest complaint. His humility caused him to regard himself as the world’s worst sinner, indeed he declared himself as such in the confessional. Those, however, who heard his confession, were unable to detect even the shadow of sin. Small imperfections were in his eyes terrible sins. The humility of the young holy novice demonstrated itself in an extraordinary spirit of poverty. He was always content with what was given him, and sought nothing more. The world was never capable of spoiling his innocence and resolve. Mary Immaculate was guardian of those priceless treasures. Through a strict spirit of penitence he sought to protect these precious virtues. The floor of his cell was his resting place, the rules of the Order allowed for a pillow, Nicholas however regarded a pillow as a luxury, and slept without the comfort of one. The strength to persevere with these mortifications came from his constant prayer, to which he devoted several hours during the night. Sunk on his knees, before a crucifix, he contemplated the suffering and death of The Redeemer. Also his love for Our Blessed Lady grew in his heart. He would frequently visit her picture to increase his practice of silent prayer to Her. After the completion of his probation Nicholas journeyed to Illiceto, where he made his Holy Vows, and enthusiastically resumed his studies. During this period of work his application to prayer did not suffer, on the contrary he even increased it, and continued, more perfectly than ever, to practice virtue. Nicholas’s superiors and fellow students were soon convinced that one day he would be a shining star of their Order. Yet God had decided differently. On 14th May 1834 he was taken badly. He had to retire to bed, and with every passing day he suffered increasing pain, yet he remained the same smiling angelic Nicholas. With deep contemplation he surrendered completely to the will of God. May 20th that year was the eve of the feast of the Seven Sorrows of Our Lady. Nicholas tossed and turned in inexpressible agony, his Father confessor came to him with a picture of the Madonna, smiling he reached out his hand to Her, and with this final gesture his soul breathed its last breath. All those present were filled with wonder. Before we finish this short record, we want to report the contents of a letter sent by the Father Rector of Iliceto to Nicholas’s father. Inside we read:

“He was called by God to climb ever higher the steps to holiness, and he followed the Lord’s call with fidelity. We firmly trust that your son already enjoys the Beatific Vision. This trust is based on what has been related to us by a true friend of God. She saw Our Lady in a vision, She was holding a crown in her hand, ready, as She said for a soul that was about to take its departure on its journey to Heaven. It was as Nicholas lay near to death, that she was enlightened that the crown held by Our Lady was waiting for Nicholas. I would also like to mention another fact, that certainly is of note. On the eve of your son’s passing various fathers, students, brothers, and strangers, who happened to be visiting at the time, also saw Our Lady. She showed herself to them in a very ancient picture. Could there be anything more gratifying and consoling for a father who mourns a beloved son? Could a father have a better intercessor in Heaven than his own son? Like all of us, may your Christian heart be filled with consolations.” †

[With thanks to Mr George Brady for translating this article from German.]