Peter Nolasco Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Saint Peter Nolasco O. de M.
Saint Peter Nolasco as found in the Generalate of the Mercedarian Order.
Confessor
Born	1189 Mas-des-Saintes-Puelles, Languedoc
Died	6 May 1256 Valencia
Venerated in	Roman Catholic Church
Canonized	30 September 1628, Saint Peter's Basilica, Rome, Papal States by Pope Urban VIII
Feast	6 May

Peter Nolasco (born 1189, died 1256) was a Catholic priest. He is famous for starting a religious group called the Mercedarians. This group helped free Christians who were captured and held for ransom. Pope Gregory IX approved his order in 1230.

We don't know for sure if Peter Nolasco was born in France or Spain. But we do know he was in Barcelona as a teenager. He joined an army fighting against the Moors in Spain. He also became a teacher for the young king, James I of Aragon.

Life of Peter Nolasco

Sources about Peter Nolasco and the Mercedarian Order are not very detailed. Most of what we know comes from stories written much later. These stories helped him become a saint in 1628.

Early accounts say Peter Nolasco was the son of a merchant. They state he was from a French village called Mas-Saintes-Puelles. This village is near Castelnaudary in France.

Early Years and Education

According to some historians, Nolasco followed Simon de Montfort. This was during a war against a group called the Albigensians. In the Battle of Muret, Montfort defeated and killed King Peter II of Aragon.

Montfort took the king's son, James, prisoner. James was only six years old. Nolasco, who was twenty-five, was chosen to be his tutor. He then took young James back to Aragon.

Starting His Charity Work

After a special trip to Our Lady of Montserrat, Nolasco went to Barcelona. There, he began to help people in need. He became very worried about Christians who were captured. These people were taken during raids by the Moors.

Nolasco decided to create a religious group. This group would focus on helping these captured people.

Ransoming Captives

San Pedro Nolasco has a vision of Jerusalem.

Peter Nolasco started helping to free Christian captives in 1203. In 1218, Raymond of Penyafort began a group of ordinary people. This group also worked to free slaves from the Moors. Peter became a leader in this effort.

Peter's main goal was to create a strong religious order. This order would be dedicated to freeing captives. It would be under the special protection of Mary.

The Mercedarian Order

In 1230, Nolasco became the first leader of the new order. He also held the important job of "Ransomer." This meant he was in charge of freeing Christian prisoners from the Moors.

He first worked in the Kingdom of Valencia. Then he moved to Granada. He traveled many times to the coasts of Spain. He even made a trip to Algiers. Later, Raymond Nonnatus took over his role as Ransomer.

The Mercedarian Order first attracted young noblemen. Their wealth helped them pay for ransoms. It also attracted friars, who were priests and sang in the choir. The noblemen were supposed to protect the coasts from the Saracens. But they also had to join the choir when not on duty.

Peter Nolasco himself was never a priest. The first seven leaders of the order were chosen from the noblemen. However, the friars were always more numerous.

Special Vow and Achievements

Nolasco asked himself and his followers to make a special promise. This was in addition to their usual three vows. They promised to give "their whole substance and very liberty to the ransoming of slaves." This meant they would use all their money and even their own freedom. They would do this to free others, even becoming hostages themselves.

Records show that the Mercedarian Order helped free about 70,000 captives. About 2,700 of these rescues happened during Nolasco's lifetime.

Order's Habit and King's Support

The order chose a white uniform, called a habit. White symbolized innocence. Some stories say that Mary herself guided Nolasco to choose this color.

King James was very supportive of the order. He allowed its members to wear his royal symbols of Aragon on their long scapulars.

Nolasco died in 1256 in Barcelona. This was seven years after he stepped down as the order's leader. Tradition says he died on December 25. But recent studies suggest he died on May 6.

Veneration and Legacy

St. Pedro Nolasco – Capilla de Santa Teresa – La Catedral – Córdoba

Peter Nolasco was made a saint by Pope Urban VIII. His feast day was first set for January 31. Later, it was moved to January 28. This was because January 31 was given to the celebration of John Bosco. Today, he is listed in the Roman Martyrology on May 6. This is the day he died.

The Mercedarian Order grew throughout most of Spain. It was closely connected to the "Reconquista." This was the effort to retake the southern provinces from the Moors. The order also grew in France, England, Germany, and Portugal. From Spain, they sent missionaries to the New World.