Our Lady Of Ransom
Country : Spain
Year : 1218
This feast of Our Lady of Ransom originated with the Order of Blessed Mary of Ransom (Mercedarians), founded in the thirteenth century in Spain for the redeeming captives from among the Moors. It was extended first to all Spain and then, in 1696 to the whole Western Church, to be kept on September 24, having in view the ransoming of the faithful from the bondage of sin and Hell.
This feast of Our Lady of Ransom originated with the Order of Blessed Mary of Ransom (Mercedarians), founded in the thirteenth century in Spain for the redeeming captives from among the Moors. It was extended first to all Spain and then, in 1696 to the whole Western Church, to be kept on September 24, having in view the ransoming of the faithful from the bondage of sin and Hell.
This historical uncertainly detracts not at all from the dignity of our Lady invoked as “of Ransom” or “of Mercy”, who is especially venerated in Spain. She is the patronness of Barcelona, where a famous statue of her is the resort of pilgrims, and there is another well-known shrine at Puig near Valencia. There is a confraternity, a scapular, and a novena of Our Lady of Ransom. The invocation of Mary under this title for the return of the English people to Catholic unity has nothing to do with the historical and liturgical aspects of her feast. Our Lady of Pity was an old name for her in England, expressing a cognate idea to “ransom,” and she may be regarded as interceding for that country’s release from the bonds of religious terror.
