In 1218, St. Peter Nolasco founded the Order of Our Lady of Ransom, also known as the Mercedarians. The order was established to ransom Christian captives who were being held by Muslim Moors in Spain, North Africa, and the Middle East. The order was unique in that its members were both monks and soldiers, and they were willing to sacrifice their own freedom in order to secure the freedom of others.
St. Peter Nolasco’s efforts to ransom Christian captives were not limited to his own order, as he was also known to have personally paid for the release of many prisoners himself. His reputation as a great humanitarian spread throughout Europe and North Africa, and many people, including rulers, began to turn to him to help negotiate the release of prisoners.
The Mercedarian order grew rapidly and soon had a presence in many cities and towns throughout Europe. In addition to ransoming Christian captives, the order also provided aid and shelter to the poor and suffering. They also established hospitals and schools and were known for their dedication to helping the less fortunate.
St. Peter Nolasco passed away in Barcelona on January 6, 1256. He was canonized by Pope Clement X in 1628 and is venerated as a saint in the Catholic Church. His feast day is celebrated on January 6th.
Due to his extensive humanitarian efforts and his willingness to sacrifice his own well-being for the freedom of others, St. Peter Nolasco is considered to be one of the most admirable figures of the Middle Ages. His order, the Mercedarians, still exists today and continue to be active in many countries around the world.
The Mercedarian Order are well known for their charitable works and social services, following the spirit of St. Peter Nolasco of ransoming those in need, whether it be physically, socially, economically and spiritually. They continue to work in those fields and also in the field of education.
The legacy of St. Peter Nolasco continues to be honored by the Mercedarian order and the Catholic Church, with many churches, schools, and institutions around the world bearing his name.
Peter Nolasco was born near Castelnaudary, France, in 1182, of a noble family. From his youth, he was noted for his piety, almsgiving and charity. During this time, Christians were persecuted throughout a large part of the Iberian Peninsula. St. Peter Nolasco took it upon himself to ransom and save as many of these persecuted believers as he could and is attributed as saving countless lives.
After much prayer, and moved by a heavenly vision in 1218, he resolved to found a religious Order similar to that established a few years previously by St. John of Matha and St. Felix of Valois for the redemption of Christian slaves. He received the encouragement of St. Raymond of Penafort and James I, King of Aragon, who shared this desire to help those Christians being persecuted for their faith.
The new Order, Our Lady of Ransom, was approved by Pope Gregory IX in 1230, and the members were called Mercedarians. They were bound by a special vow to employ all their substance for the redemption of captive Christians, and if necessary to remain in captivity in their stead. In the beginning Peter Nolasco and his associates were lawmen, but Pope Clement V decreed that the Master General of the Order should always be a Priest.
St. Peter Nolasco died on Christmas Day, 1256, at Barcelona. His feast was formerly celebrated on January 31st but is now observed on January 28th.
