Today, December 23, is the memorial of Blessed Nicolas Factor.
Franciscan priest and Renaissance painter.
Nicolas knew poverty when he was born in 1520 in Valencia, Spain. His father was a poor tailor and had five children.
As a child, Nicolas fasted thrice a week and gave his food to the poor. He was also caring towards the sick, visiting even a leper colony. So virtuous and inspiring was he that people around him decided to convert to Roman Catholicism.
He joined the Order of Friars Minor (Franciscans) in 1537 and was later ordained priest. He enjoyed painting devotional images. As an itinerant preacher, he became well-known and much-admired. He was known to scourge himself and practice severe mortifications before giving his sermons.
Throughout his life, God blessed Nicolas with many mystical experiences. An account goes that when he was in an ecstasy and so absorbed in his love of God, he would become over-heated and had to be dunked in water which would boil.
His friends St. Pascal Baylon, St. Louis Bertrand, and St. John de Ribera served as witnesses and gave testimonies to Nicolas’ virtues during his beatification process.
He died of a long illness in 1583. Three years later, his remains were found to be incorrupt.
He was beatified by Pope Pius VI in 1786.