St. Peter Nolasco
Saint Peter Nolasco was born at the end of the twelfth century in either Languedoc, France, or Barcelona, Spain. At that time, the Moors still held much of Spain, and in sudden raids from the sea they carried off thousands of Christians, holding them as slaves in Granada and in their citadels along the African coast. Peter Nolasco, a merchant by profession, became aware of the plight of these Christian captives on his frequent business trips. He was obsessed with the thought of their suffering, and when, after the death of his father, he received a small inheritance, Peter proceeded to spend it freely in ransoming the Christian slaves. Because of these ventures Peter soon became penniless. He was on the point of despair when he had a vision of the Virgin and heard these words: “Find me men like yourself, an army of brave, generous, unselfish men, and send them into these lands where the children of the faith are suffering.” Peter went at once to Saint Raymond of Pennafort, his spiritual director, who used his influence to get approbation and support for the new community. On August 10, 1218, Peter and two companions were received as the first members of the Order of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mercy, dedicated to the ransom of Christian captives.
The Order spread rapidly. The founder required of himself and his followers a special vow in addition to the usual three–to devote their “whole substance and very liberty to the ransoming of slaves,” even to the point of acting as hostages in order to free others. Peter and his comrades traveled throughout Christian Spain, recruiting new members and collecting funds to ransom the captives. Then they began negotiations with the slave-owners. They penetrated Andalusia, crossed the sea to Tunis and Morocco, and brought home cargo after cargo of Christians. Although Peter, as General of the Order, was occupied with its organization and administration, he made two trips to Africa where, besides liberating captives, he converted many Moors. He died after a long illness in 1256, and was canonized by Pope Urban VIII in 1628.
St. Raymond Nonnatus
Traditionally, St. Raymond Nonnatus is considered a saint of the 13th century. He was born in Portell, Spain, after his mother had already died, and was delivered by the Viscount of Cardona who took the child out of his mother’s womb; hence, he got the nickname Nonnatus (not born). ” However, studies from the 20th century identify him as Ramón Surrons, a friar from Portell who took part in the Mercedarian chapter at El Puig in 1324. He later served as a counselor during the 1335 chapter in Lérida, where he was chosen as a redeemer. During a mission in Algiers to free captives, he was tortured and had his lips padlocked. He also helped elect Master General Vicente Riera.
Raymond lived a life of sacrificial love, sharing in the pain of captives and drawing strength from the Eucharist and his deep devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary.
According to tradition, the Pope appointed him a cardinal and gave him the church of Saint Eustace in Rome. However, while traveling to Avignon, Raymond died in Cardona. Since no priest was available to give him the last rites (Viaticum), tradition holds that Jesus Himself administered it, accompanied by angels dressed in Mercedarian habits. His body was later moved to the hermitage of Saint Nicholas in Portell.
He became the most beloved saint of the Mercedarian Order, especially among missionaries who chose him as their patron. His image is widespread around the world and is often shown with symbols such as the palm of martyrdom, a triple crown, and a monstrance holding the Blessed Sacrament. Due to the miraculous nature of his birth, he is seen as a protector of pregnant women and unborn children, and is also venerated in pro-life causes. The Mercedarian Ritual includes blessings inspired by him: one for expectant mothers and another for holy water for the sick.
His cult was officially recognized on November 5, 1625. He was added to the Roman Martyrology on June 19, 1655. Later, Pope Clement IX allowed his Mass and office to be celebrated throughout the Church. Pope Innocent XI elevated his feast to second class and made it obligatory for the whole Church on March 10, 1681.
St. Peter Pascasius
St. Peter Paschasius was born in Valencia around 1227 into a Mozarabic Christian family. According to Mercedarian tradition, his family was close to St. Peter Nolasco and offered him hospitality during his missions to ransom captives in Valencia. From a young age, Peter felt called to religious life and began his education at the cathedral school in his hometown. He later continued his studies in Paris, where he was ordained a priest in 1249 and served as a canon at the Valencia Cathedral. In 1250, he joined the Mercedarian Order in Valencia under Fr. Arnaldo de Carcasona and committed himself fully to the mission of redeeming Christian captives.
In 1296, Pope Boniface VIII appointed him Bishop of Jaén. He was consecrated in the Basilica of Saint Bartholomew on Tiber Island in Rome. As a bishop, he was a dedicated spiritual leader who sought to guide others to Christ through his deep knowledge and faith. During a pastoral visit in 1297, he was seized by Saracens and taken prisoner. He was martyred by beheading in Granada on December 6, 1300, as later reported by a cathedral canon of Jaén to the Archbishop of Toledo in early 1301.
Throughout his life, St. Peter Paschasius authored several theological works. His most significant writings, however, were created during his imprisonment in Granada to strengthen and protect the faith of fellow Christians. Among these are Refutation of the Sect of Mohammed, Explanation of the Ten Commandments, and Disputation with the Little Bible.
Following his martyrdom, the Mercedarian Order and several Spanish dioceses publicly venerated him. Pope Clement X formally approved his longstanding cult on August 14, 1670, through the decree Ecclesiae Catholicae regimini, and later included his name in the Roman Martyrology on September 8, 1675.
He continues to be honored as the patron of Mercedarian students.
St. Serapion
According to Mercedarian tradition, Serapion Scott was born around 1178 in the British Isles and was said to be related to the Scottish royal family. Though little is known about his early years, he later appears as a companion to King Richard the Lionheart during the Third Crusade, where he fought for the Christian faith and the liberation of the Holy Land. During this time, he showed great concern for the freed prisoners and even endured captivity himself under the Duke of Austria. He was eventually released by the Duke’s son, Leopold VII, and went on to support him in battles against the Saracens in Spain, including the significant Battle of Las Navas de Tolosa in 1212. After the campaign, Serapion retired to Burgos, and in 1221, he traveled with Leonore of Castile to Aragon for her marriage to King James I. The following year, in Daroca, he met Peter Nolasco and joined the Order of Mercy.
Driven by deep compassion for Christian captives, Serapion participated in many redemption missions. One notable mission, recorded in tradition, took place in 1229 when he and St. Raymond Nonnatus ransomed over 150 captives. During another mission in 1240 in Algiers, Serapion was taken hostage while working alongside Fr. Berenguer de Bañares. St. Peter Nolasco urgently wrote to Fr. Guillermo de Bas to gather the needed funds for Serapion’s ransom. Sadly, the amount did not arrive in time. As a result, Serapion was crucified in a manner resembling Saint Andrew, enduring a brutal martyrdom. According to Mercedarian tradition, he uttered these words while on the cross: “O sweet and precious wood, the perfect image of the Wood on which my beloved Jesus died, through You I hope to ascend to eternal happiness!”
Because of the nature of his martyrdom, St. Serapion became the patron saint of those suffering from bone and joint ailments. The blessing of oil in his name remains a long-standing practice in the Order and is still found in its liturgy today.
Saint Serapion was honored in the ancient Mercedarian liturgy, including the 1560 breviary of Master General Miguel Puig, where his feast had its own antiphon and prayer. Though later omitted from the 1576 Missal during liturgical reforms, his beatification process began in 1717 in both Barcelona and Genoa, with Manuel Ribera and José Rimón acting as procurators. On July 14, 1728, a decree confirmed his long-standing cult, and he was officially added to the Roman Martyrology on August 24, 1743.
St. Peter Armengol
St. Peter Armengol was born in the mid-13th century in La Guardia del Prats, located in the province of Tarragona. In his early years, he was known for a fiery and rebellious nature, often at odds with authority. This eventually led to a confrontation with King James I’s troops, resulting in a death sentence. However, due to the noble service of his father, a member of the Armengol family, Peter was granted a pardon.
He then entered the Order of Mercy and became known for his deep spirit of penance and bravery in redeeming Christian captives. He took part in several redemption missions, including one in 1266 with Fr. Guillermo de Florencia, where they ransomed 118 captives in Béjaïa, Algeria. As they prepared to return to Barcelona, they learned of 20 young captives who, under the influence of false promises, had abandoned their Christian faith. Wanting to save them, Peter Armengol volunteered to remain as a hostage in their place.
When the ransom failed to arrive on time, he was hanged. Miraculously, he survived. Fr. Guillermo eventually returned with the ransom and found Peter still alive—an event attributed to the protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary, who was believed to have sustained him. For this reason, he is often depicted in sacred art with a rope around his neck.
After returning to his monastery, Peter Armengol lived a life of severe penance and devotion, earning deep reverence from those around him. He died in 1304 at the Mercedarian convent in La Guardia del Prats. His relics are still venerated today in the hermitage of his hometown.
His enduring veneration was formally recognized when Pope Innocent XI confirmed his cult on March 28, 1686. The following year, liturgical permission was granted for the celebration of his feast, and his name was added to the Roman Martyrology on October 14, 1688.
St. Mary the Helper
María de Cervellón was born on December 1, 1230, in Barcelona, as per Mercedarian tradition. During that period, the Mercedarian friars had already been active for years in rescuing captives from Saracen rule. In the busy port city, people often spoke of their charitable mission and the increasing need to support both the redemptions and the Hospital of St. Eulalia, where rescued captives were received upon return.
Her family, like many of that era, had arranged for her to marry prominent men to strengthen their social ties and influence. But María had chosen a different path — her heart was given to Christ. She turned down each proposal, choosing instead to serve her divine spouse by caring for captives, the ill, and the poor. With the guidance of Fr. Bernardo de Corbera, she dedicated her life to God within the Order of Mercy on May 25, 1265, alongside other young women from Barcelona.
Though not the first woman in the Mercedarian Order, María is the earliest whose personal consecration is documented. From then on, she split her time between her home and the Hospital of St. Eulalia, located near the shore at Villanova, made possible through a gift from Raimundo de Plagamans. These women did not begin as a cloistered group, but lived a life rooted in prayer and active charity, forming a community inspired by Christ’s words: “There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” María embraced this mission and inspired others to join her in living this call.
She was believed to possess the gift of bilocation and was affectionately called “de Socós” or “de Socorro” (meaning “helper”) because people claimed to have seen her aiding ransom ships, walking among stormy waves to guide crews and captives safely to shore. She died on September 19, 1290, and her remains are enshrined in the Basilica of La Merced in Barcelona.
Her enduring veneration was officially acknowledged by Pope Innocent XII on February 13, 1692, and she was added to the Roman Martyrology on November 8, 1729. Today, Mercedarian nuns and sisters honor her as a courageous woman who followed Christ in serving those suffering captivity, becoming co-redeemers with Him through prayer and apostolic service.
Bl. Mariana de Jesus Navarro
Mariana de Jesús was born in Madrid on January 17, 1565. Her father worked as a leather supplier to the royal court of Spain. She was baptized just a few days later, on January 21. When King Philip III relocated his court to Valladolid in 1601, Mariana accompanied her family there and later returned to Madrid when the court moved back in 1606.
At the age of 23, she made a pivotal decision that would shape her future — ending a promising engagement in order to devote her life entirely to God. Her family did not support this choice, and for many years, she endured opposition and hardship because of it.
Her spiritual journey was nurtured at the Mercedarian convent dedicated to Our Lady of Good Remedy. From 1598, her spiritual guide was Fr. Juan Bautista González, who would go on to become a reformer of the Order of Mercy. Around 1611–1612, when the discalced Mercedarian friars opened a convent at Santa Barbara, Mariana took residence in a small house with a garden nearby. She remained there in quiet prayer and self-denial until 1620, when friends of the convent provided her with a new place to live.
Mariana gained the admiration and respect of many — including kings and cardinals — who would later testify on her behalf during the process for her beatification. Between 1614 and 1615, she wrote her Autobiography, as well as several other spiritual works, such as Letters on Humility, Poem on the Virtues, and a collection of Maxims (Sentencias).
In 1613, she was received as a member of the Mercedarian Third Order and made her profession of vows on May 20, 1614, before the Master General, Fr. Felipe Guimerán. Later, for specific reasons, she made a second profession on January 7, 1624, before the Provincial of the discalced branch. She passed away shortly after, on April 17, 1624.
Her incorrupt body is venerated in the church of the Mercedarian Nuns of Don Juan Alarcón in Madrid. What made her hidden life of solitude truly remarkable was her ability to open herself to others. Many people came to her for advice, comfort, or help, and she welcomed each one with compassion and wisdom. Pope Pius VI beatified her on January 18, 1783.