About St. Raymond Nonnatus

St. Raymond Nonnatus was born in 1204 in Catalonia, Spain. His parents were well educated nobles who raised St. Raymond to have a life in the Aragon royal court. St. Raymond was inspired to follow a religious life instead.

On hearing this, his father demanded that St. Raymond manage the family farm. While St. Raymond was on the farm, he spent most of his time praying and socializing with the hired workers and shepherds. His father abandoned his hopes of St. Raymond becoming a successful landlord.

St. Raymond Nonnatus Ordained

St. Raymond was ordained a Mercedarian priest. He used all of the money from his estate to pay ransoms for captive Christians. St. Raymond himself was captured and sentenced to be impaled but his ransom was so high, they spared his life.

St. Raymond Imprisoned

St. Raymond was imprisoned while waiting for his ransom to be paid. He was severely tortured and a hole was bored through his lips with a hot iron. A padlock was then placed through his lips so he could no longer preach about Jesus. In spite of this, St. Raymond converted a number of the guards. St. Raymond was freed in 1239 when his ransom was paid and returned to Barcelona.

St. Raymond Nonnatus Death

St. Raymond died of a fever on August 31, 1240 in Catalonia, Spain. He was canonized in 1657 by Pope Alexander VII.
The feast of St. Raymond is celebrated on August 31. On this day, many Catholics wear a St. Raymond medal or a St. Raymond pendant in his honor. St. Raymond is also the patron saint of expectant mothers, midwives, and newborns. Catholics often give a St. Raymond charm or a St. Raymond necklace to friends or relatives who are expecting a child, asking for the intercession of their patron saint for a healthy birth.

Prayer to Saint Raymond Nonnatus

O Blessed Saint Raymond Nonnatus, so loving to all your devotees, I being last of them all, I am happy to know that through the infinite goodness of God, He has deigned to make you a Saint, adorned thee with special graces and help, for which I am most thankful. On the Most Holy Trinity, and you my adorable patron saint, through your merits and those of the blood poured by our Savior Jesus Christ, and through the Immaculate Conception of Mary, I most humbly beg thee, deign to intercede from the most sublime God, protection for the holy Mother Church, that through your prayers, God's wrath be taken away, see the progress of true faith, defeat the wrong doctrines, the peace and understanding of all Christians, peace of the whole country and the redemption of the Christian captives.

I am humbly begging you my devoted saint that you be may be my intercessor. Since for many hours you did not die of the womb of your dead mother an you were successfully delivered from her side, to be the joy of the world, and that my soul may live in grace in this earthly world, may I imitate your live and exemplary holiness, so that when the hour of my death comes, I may detest all evil thoughts and temporary wealth of this world, so that with the burning love for God, my soul may reach heaven and together with you and the angels and all the saints, praise God Almighty forever.

Deign to grant me most amiable father the favor I am asking in this novena (mention the request). I firmly believe most amiable father that you will be my protection since you are merciful to any one imploring thy help. But if the favor I am asking will not be for the glory of God and the good of my soul, then beg from God that I will be resigned to his Divine Will, so that I may have the peace of soul while I live, till the hour of my death and that I enjoy true happiness in heaven.