Born in Catalonia, Spain, Saint Raymond Nonnatus was delivered via caesarean operation after his mother died during childbirth. Hence his nickname, Nonnatus, which means “not born.” This miraculous survival made him Patron Saint of childbirth and pregnant mothers. He grew up as a pious man and drawn to the religious life. With his father’s permission, he went to Barcelona and became part of the Mercedarians, an order founded by Saint Peter Nolasco, which aimed to ransom Christians taken hostage by Moors of North Africa. Saint Raymond Nonnatus was later ordained as a priest and then succeeded Saint Peter Nolasco as Master General and chief ransomer of the Order. He set forth and fulfilled the mission of his Order by ransoming Christian slaves, which included 140 captives in Valencia and 250 people in Algiers, Africa. He also offered himself as a hostage in exchange of almost 30 Christians when his money was no longer enough to ransom them. While in captivity, he suffered immensely from the hands of the Moors, until his Order ransomed him.
He was nominated as Cardinal by Pope Gregory IX upon his return to Spain, but died on his way to Rome.
Saint Raymond Nonnatus, who offered his life so that other Christians may live, pray for us!
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