St. Peter Nolasco Founded the Mercedarians

St. Peter Nolasco founded the Order of Our Lady of Mercy after he received a vision from the Blessed Virgin telling him to gather men of courage. The order is also known as the Mercedarians or the Order of Our Lady of Ransom.

Today the Mercedarians work in hospitals, assisting the patients, education, prisons, and foreign missions preaching the Gospel. When St. Peter Nolasco first founded the order, however, it was called the Order of Our Lady of Ransom. This was because the order was dedicated to freeing captive Christians who were held as slaves in Africa.

The efforts of St. Peter Nolasco and the Mercedarians freed hundreds of Christian slaves. In fact, St. Peter was twice kept as a slave, giving himself in ransom for other Christians.

The Fourth Vow of Mercedarians

Most religious orders make three vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience. St. Peter Nolasco's Order of Mercy take a fourth vow. The fourth vow is stated differently depending upon the time the order was founded and its location but all the vows are solemn.

* 1272 (American Constitutions) "... all the brothers of the Order must always be gladly disposed to give up their lives, if it is necessary, as Jesus Christ gave up his for us..."

* 1327 (Albertine Constitutions) "Surrender of one's life as hostage in Saracen Territory."

* 1588 (Zumelian Constitutions) "I will be obedient to you and your successors up to death; and I will remain in person in the power of the Saracens if it be necessary for the Redemption of Christ's Faithful."

* 1692 (Madrilene and Roman Constitutions) "Therefore, we must understand in the first place, that all our religious are committed to the Redemption of Captives in such a way that they must not only always be disposed to carry it out in fact if the Order sends them, but also to collect alms, or if the prelates do select them, to do whatever else may be necessary for the act of redemption to be carried out."

* 1970 (Contitutions and Norms) "The Mercedarian, urged by Charity, dedicated himself to God by a particular vow in virtue of which he promises to give his own life, if it will be necessary, as Christ did for us, to free from the new forms of slavery the Christians who are in danger of losing their Faith."

* 1986 (Acquarian Contitutions) "In order to fulfill this mission we, impelled by love, consecrate ourselves to God with a special vow, by virtue of which we promise to give up our lives, as Christ gave his life for us, should it be necessary, in order to save those Christians who find themselves in extreme danger of losing their faith by new forms of captivity."

St. Peter Nolasco Honored

Today's Catholics honor St. Peter Nolasco as founder of the Order of Mercy and for his personal sacrifices to free Christian slaves. Many Catholics wear a St. Peter Nolasco medal, a St. Peter Nolasco pendant, or a St. Peter Nolasco medallion as a reminder of his mission. Wearing the St. Peter Nolasco necklace helps believers live a life of sacrifice for their fellow Christians and a life of Christ.