Religious, 1882-1958

Brother Nicholas, known in the world as John Medda, the son of John Medda Serra and of Pirama Cogoni Zedda, was born in the small Sardinian town of Gesturi on Aug. 4, 1882. On Oct. 20, 1913, John Medda donned the Capuchin religious habit with the name of Nicholas. After his perpetual profession, he was appointed to the kitchen in the friary of Sassari. Despite his efforts, he was replaced and transferred to Oristano, Sanluri, and Cagliari, where he received the task of questor. Brother Nicholas was a man given to the silence noted in the Capuchin Constitutions. He was popularly known as "Brother Silence." When he spoke, he was always brief and focused on the prayer in which he was involved. He spent 45 years as a man of religious life in humility, penance, charity, silence, and constant prayer. He died on June 8, 1958.

Brother Nicholas of Gesturi was declared blessed on Oct. 3, 1999.