August 31: Saint Raymond Nonnatus
A life dedicated to freeing Christian captives
He feared neither threats nor torture in his mission to ransom imprisoned Christians who risked losing their faith. Saint Raymond, known as “Nonnatus” (meaning “not born”), was a courageous friar of the Order of Mercy who lived in 13th century Spain. He received this nickname because he was delivered by Caesarean section after his mother’s death.
He was born in Portell, Catalonia, in 1204, into a noble family. At first, his father allowed him to pursue his studies, but later abruptly sent him to work in the fields. In that solitude, Raymond found the opportunity to dedicate himself more intensely to prayer and meditation on the truths of faith.
After a long period of reflection and fervent prayer, he decided to enter the Order of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mercy, founded by Saint Peter Nolasco. He went to Barcelona, where he was welcomed and received the religious habit. A few years later, he was deemed ready to undertake the important mission of ransoming Christians that had been abducted and enslaved by Arab traders in North Africa.
During a mission in Algiers, after spending all the available funds to ransom Christian captives, he offered himself as a hostage in exchange for others who were at risk of abandoning their faith. This act provoked the wrath of the authorities, who subjected him to torture. However, the city’s governor, fearing he would lose the ransom if Raymond died, forbade further mistreatment and threatened punishment for anyone who killed him.
Granted a degree of freedom of movement in the city, Raymond used the opportunity to minister to Christian prisoners and even convert some Muslims. When the governor discovered this, he sentenced him to death, but some slave traders managed to have the sentence commuted to a prolonged and severe flogging.
Despite the punishments, Raymond continued his evangelizing work until the governor ordered him to be scourged, chained, and paraded through the streets. He remained imprisoned for eight months, until Saint Peter Nolasco paid his ransom.
Pope Gregory IX, in recognition of his courage and deeds, named him a Cardinal. However, upon returning to his convent in Barcelona, Raymond chose to continue living as a simple friar, maintaining a humble lifestyle until his death.
Summoned to Rome, he set out on foot, but at Cardona, near Barcelona, he died from a fever on August 31, 1240. He was canonized in 1657 by Pope Alexander VII. He is the patron saint of midwives and expectant mothers.