Origin of the Title
In the early thirteenth century, Spain groaned under the yoke of Moorish domination. Countless Christians languished in captivity, enslaved in body and endangered in soul. Amidst this peril, the Blessed Virgin Mary, the merciful Mother of God and Refuge of the afflicted, deigned to manifest her maternal solicitude under a new and singular title: de Mercede—of Mercy or Ransom.
Apparition and Foundation of the Order
Tradition recounts that the holy Virgin appeared to St. Peter Nolasco (1189–1256), a man of great charity, who sought to succor the captive faithful. On the night of 1 August 1218, the Blessed Mother revealed to him her will: that an Order be founded, dedicated to the ransom of Christian captives, who were in danger of apostatizing under torment.
In the same vision, Our Lady also manifested herself to St. Raymond of Peñafort, Master General of the Order of Preachers, and to King James I of Aragon, bidding them to unite in this divine work of mercy. Thus arose the Order of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mercy for the Redemption of Captives (Ordo Beatæ Mariæ Virginis de Mercede Redemptionis Captivorum), commonly called the Mercedarians.
The Mercedarian Vow
Besides the three evangelical counsels of poverty, chastity, and obedience, the sons of Our Lady of Mercy embraced a fourth vow: that they would offer themselves, if necessary, as hostages in exchange for enslaved Christians, thereby imitating Christ who gave His life as ransom for many.
Devotion to Our Lady of Mercy
From Barcelona, where the first church of the Order was raised, devotion to Our Lady under this merciful title spread throughout Spain and beyond. The Mother of God was venerated as the Redemptrix of captives, the Protectress of the oppressed, and the Guardian of those who suffer violence for the Faith.
Countless Christians experienced miraculous deliverance through her intercession. She is depicted bearing the scapular of the Order, or holding chains and shackles broken by her maternal power.
Liturgical Cultus
The feast of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mercy was extended to the universal Church by Pope Innocent XII in 1696, and is celebrated on 24 September. The Collect of her Mass invokes her maternal intercession for the deliverance of souls from every captivity of body and spirit.
Spiritual Lesson
Under the title of de Mercede, the Blessed Virgin shows herself as the Mother of true liberty, freeing her children from the slavery of sin, error, and the enemies of the Faith. Just as she raised up an Order to ransom bodies and safeguard souls, so she continues to rescue the faithful from the chains of the devil, guiding them to the freedom of the children of God.
“Sancta Maria de Mercede, ora pro nobis: ut a vinculis peccati liberemur, et ad gloriam æternam perducamur.”