Our Lady of Mercy feast day commemorates Mercedarian Order history

September 24 marks the liturgical feast of Our Lady of Mercy (Nuestra Señora de la Merced), a Marian devotion rooted in the 13th century. The tradition stems from a vision experienced by Saint Peter Nolasco in 1218, during which the Virgin Mary reportedly instructed him to found a religious order dedicated to the redemption of Christian captives held in slavery.

The Mercedarian Order was established in Barcelona with the support of King James I of Aragon and the counsel of Saint Raymond of Peñafort. The order’s primary mission was to provide mercy and liberation to those captured during the conflicts between Christian and Muslim territories in the Iberian Peninsula and the Mediterranean. Members of the order often risked their own lives to negotiate the release of prisoners.

Over the centuries, the devotion spread from Spain to the rest of the world, including significant historical presence in Latin America and Brazil. In Brazil, the devotion became prominent in regions like Minas Gerais during the gold cycle, leading to the construction of numerous temples dedicated to the Virgin of Mercy.