Saint Peter Nolasco
Saint Peter Nolasco (born c. 1189 AD in Mas-des-Saintes-Puelles, Languedoc, France; died December 25, 1256 AD in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain) was a French-born Spanish layman and religious founder who co-founded the Order of Our Lady of Mercy (the Mercedarians) in 1218, dedicated to ransoming Christians held captive by Muslim rulers in North Africa and Moorish Spain. He is patron of the Order of Mercy and of prisoners. His feast day is January 28.
Stored in Cargo: Saint Peter Nolasco
| Saint Peter Nolasco | |
|---|---|
| Feast Day | January 28 |
| Profession | Co-founder of the Order of Our Lady of Mercy (Mercedarians); layman turned religious; ransomer of Christian captives; confessor |
| Rel. Affiliation | Catholic Church; Order of Our Lady of Mercy (Mercedarians); Barcelona; Catalonia; ransoming captives; medieval Spanish Catholicism; collaboration with Raymond of Peñafort and King James I of Aragon |
| Patronage | Prisoners; captives; those held unjustly; the Order of Mercy (Mercedarians); Barcelona; Catalonia; those ransomed from slavery |
| Attributes | White Mercedarian habit with the coat of arms of Aragon and the arms of Barcelona; chains (the captives he ransomed); the Virgin of Mercy; Barcelona setting; Key (he opened prisons); a group of freed captives |
| Birthplace | Mas-des-Saintes-Puelles, Languedoc, France |
| Death Place | Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain |
| Cause of Death | Natural death; died December 25, 1256, in Barcelona, on Christmas Day; he had spent his life ransoming Christian captives from Muslim rulers and died surrounded by his Mercedarian brethren |
| Primary Shrine | Basilica de la Mercè (Our Lady of Mercy), Barcelona — the principal Mercedarian shrine; his relics; Our Lady of Mercy (co-patron of Barcelona with Eulalia); the feast of La Mercè (September 24) is Barcelona's greatest civic festival; pilgrimage site |
| Liturgical Class | Optional Memorial (Roman Rite); January 28; Feast in the Order of Mercy and in Barcelona |
| Historic Class | Double (January 28) in 1962 calendar |
Biography
Peter Nolasco was born c. 1189 in Languedoc, France, and came to Barcelona as a young man, where he served at the court of King James I of Aragon. He was moved by the plight of Christians held captive in Muslim territories and devoted his fortune to ransoming them.
His confessor, Saint Raymond of Peñafort, directed his spiritual development. In 1218, he, Raymond, and King James I each received (according to tradition) a simultaneous vision of the Virgin Mary asking them to found a religious order for the ransoming of captives.
On August 10, 1218 (the feast of Saint Lawrence), the Order of Our Lady of Mercy was founded in Barcelona. It received papal approval in 1235.
Peter Nolasco personally led ransom expeditions to Valencia, Murcia, and North Africa. The order ransomed tens of thousands of captives in its early decades. He died on December 25, 1256, in Barcelona.
Pope Urban VIII beatified and canonized him in 1628.
Significant locations
Legend
Birth location: Mas-des-Saintes-Puelles, Languedoc, France
Death location: Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
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Parishes
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Shrines
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Known shrines
- Basilica de la Mercè (Our Lady of Mercy), Barcelona — his relics; principal Mercedarian shrine; Our Lady of Mercy is co-patron of Barcelona.
Feast day
January 28
Veneration
Saint Peter Nolasco co-founded the Order of Our Lady of Mercy (Mercedarians) in 1218 to ransom Christians held captive in Muslim territories. He is the patron of prisoners and of the Order of Mercy. His feast is January 28.
Prayers
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