Virgin of Mercy

Over the centuries, the order traditionally claimed tens of thousands of captives redeemed through its work.

Devotion to Our Lady of Ransom, also called Our Lady of Mercy, naturally grew alongside the order.

Mary was pictured sheltering captives beneath her mantle or holding broken chains, a powerful image for families waiting at home for someone who might never return.

The feast eventually spread beyond the mercedarians and was placed on September 24th in the Roman calendar.

Yes, my friends, a family that prays together stays together, and a world at prayer is a world at peace.

Today, throughout the world, the church celebrates Our Lady of Ransom, Our Lady of Mercy.

And this dates back to the 1200s when Mary appeared to King James of Aragon, Saint Peter Nolasco, and Saint Raymond of Penafort, inviting them to start a new congregation.

The name would be the Mercedarians, Our Lady of Mercy, but also Our Lady of Ransom.

What is the origin and the purpose of this? Well, back 800 years ago, and even to this very day, the Moors or the Moslems were capturing many Christians and had them slaves so Mary wanted to liberate them and the means by which she would do this was the founding of an order in honor of her with the title Our Lady of Ransom founded by Saint Peter Nolasco with the help of Saint Raymond of Penafort, who was a Dominican.

They're also known as the Mercedarians or Lady of Mercy.