Blessed Maria de Cerevellon
Blessed Maria de Cerevellon (Catalan: Maria de Cervelló; also Maria of Help, "María del Socós"; born December 1, 1230 AD in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain; died September 19, 1290 AD in Barcelona, Spain) was a Spanish noblewoman who became the first woman to make religious profession in the Order of Our Lady of Mercy (the Mercedarians), and is regarded as the foundress of the Mercedarian nuns. Renowned for her charity and her aid to those in peril at sea, she is venerated as a Blessed and invoked as a patroness of sailors. Her feast day is September 19.
Of the noble Cervelló family of Barcelona, Maria consecrated her life and goods to the Mercedarian work of ransoming Christian captives and to the care of the poor and sick. So many were the graces attributed to her intercession, especially for ships in danger, that she was called "Maria del Socós" (Mary of Help). Her cult was confirmed in 1692.
Stored in Cargo: Blessed Maria de Cerevellon
| Blessed Maria de Cerevellon | |
|---|---|
| Feast Day | September 19 |
| Profession | Noblewoman; first Mercedarian nun; foundress of the Mercedarian sisters |
| Rel. Affiliation | Catholic Church; Order of Our Lady of Mercy (Mercedarians) |
| Patronage | Sailors and those in peril at sea; the Mercedarian sisters; Barcelona |
| Attributes | Mercedarian white habit with the shield of the Order; a ship (for her aid to sailors) |
| Birthplace | Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain |
| Death Place | Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain |
| Cause of Death | Natural death; first Mercedarian nun and foundress of the Mercedarian sisters; died at Barcelona |
| Primary Shrine | Basilica of Our Lady of Mercy (La Mercè), Barcelona, Spain |
Biography
Maria de Cervelló was born on December 1, 1230, at Barcelona, into the noble Catalan family of Cervelló. She grew up in a city where the Order of Our Lady of Mercy (the Mercedarians), founded by Saint Peter Nolasco, was devoted to the ransom of Christians held captive by the Muslims, a great work of charity in the Mediterranean world of the thirteenth century.
Under the influence of the Mercedarian friar Bernardo de Corbera, Maria was drawn to consecrate herself to God in the spirit of Mercy. She and other devout women placed themselves and their goods at the service of the Order's work—caring for the poor, the sick, and returning captives, and supporting the redemption of prisoners. About 1265 she made religious profession, becoming the first woman to do so in the Order of Mercy, and is honored as the foundress of the Mercedarian nuns.
She was renowned for her boundless charity and for the graces attributed to her prayers. In particular, she was believed to come to the aid of ships and sailors in danger on the sea, appearing or interceding to save them from storm and shipwreck; for this she was given the loving title "Maria del Socós" (Mary of Help or Succor), and she became a patroness of sailors.
Maria de Cervelló died at Barcelona on September 19, 1290. Her cult, long maintained, was confirmed in 1692 by Pope Innocent XII. Her feast is kept on September 19.
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Feast day
September 19
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