Saint Peter Nolasco, Confessor
S. Petri Nolasci Confessoris
Saint Peter Nolasco was the founder, with the help of King James of Aragon and the counsel of Saint Raymund of Peñafort, of the Order of Our Lady of Ransom, devoted to the redemption of Christians held in captivity. He died at Barcelona about the year 1256.
Saint Peter Nolasco was born in the latter part of the twelfth century and came in his youth to Barcelona in Catalonia. Moved with compassion for the many Christians who in that age were held captive and in danger of losing their faith, he conceived the desire of devoting himself and his goods to their relief. In this holy purpose he was confirmed, according to the tradition of his Order, by the Blessed Virgin Mary, who is venerated as the heavenly patroness of the work.
The Order of Our Lady of Ransom
With the support of King James I of Aragon and under the wise direction of Saint Raymund of Peñafort, Peter Nolasco founded at Barcelona, about the year 1218, the Order of Our Lady of Ransom, known also as the Mercedarians. Its members bound themselves not only by the usual religious vows but by a further promise to give themselves, if need be, as hostages in exchange for captives in danger of apostasy. Peter himself crossed the sea more than once to ransom the enslaved, spending his strength in this charity until age and infirmity confined him. He governed his Order with humility, preferring service to honour, and died a holy death at Barcelona about the year 1256.
A charity that lays down its life
The work of Saint Peter Nolasco gives a striking image of the love that is willing to spend itself wholly for others. To purchase the freedom of a captive, and to offer one’s own liberty in pledge, is to imitate in a small measure the Redeemer who gave Himself as a ransom for many. In honouring this saint the faithful are moved to gratitude for their own redemption and to works of mercy toward all who are bound, whether in body or in soul.
The Collect
O God, who, after the example of Thy charity, didst by Saint Peter divinely teach Thy Church to bring forth a new offspring for the redemption of the faithful from the power of the heathen: grant, we beseech Thee; that, being freed by his merits and intercession from the bonds of sin, we may enjoy everlasting freedom in our heavenly home. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen.
Deus, qui in tuæ caritátis exémplum ad fidélium redemptiónem sanctum Petrum Ecclésiam tuam nova prole fœcundáre divínitus docuísti: ipsíus nobis intercessióne concéde; a peccáti servitúte solútis, in cælésti pátria perpétua libertáte gaudére. Per Dóminum nostrum Iesum Christum Fílium tuum, qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitáte Spíritus Sancti Deus, per ómnia sǽcula sæculórum. Amen.
Patronage
Saint Peter Nolasco is honoured as the founder and patron of the Order of Our Lady of Ransom (the Mercedarians), and is invoked for those held captive.
In the Modern Calendar
Saint Peter Nolasco is not inscribed in the modern General Roman Calendar; he continues to be honoured in the Roman Martyrology and by the Mercedarian Order, which keeps his memory on this day.
Common Questions
When is the feast of Saint Peter Nolasco?
In the 1962 Roman Missal his feast is kept on 28 January as a Third-Class feast.
Who was Saint Peter Nolasco?
He was a thirteenth-century layman of Barcelona who, with King James of Aragon and Saint Raymund of Peñafort, founded the Order of Our Lady of Ransom (the Mercedarians) to redeem Christians held in captivity. He died at Barcelona about 1256.
What is the Order of Our Lady of Ransom?
It is the religious order founded by Saint Peter Nolasco, whose members took a special vow to ransom captive Christians, even offering themselves as hostages when needed to free those in danger of losing the Faith.
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