Our Lady Of Ransom. Feast Day 24 September.

“Madonna of Mercy”.

“Maria de Mercede”.

Artist: Domenico Ghirlandaio (1448–1494).

Date: Circa 1472.

Collection: Ognissanti Church, Florence.

Source/Photographer: Web Gallery of Art.

(Wikimedia Commons)

Text is from
“The Liturgical Year”.
   By: Abbot Guéranger, O.S.B.
      Volume 14.
      Time After Pentecost.
      Book V.

The Office of the time gives us, at the close of September, the Books of Judith and Esther. These heroic women were figures of Mary, whose birthday is the honour of this month, and who comes at once to bring assistance to the World.

“Adonai, Lord God, great and admirable, Who has wrought salvation by the hand of a woman:” [Editor: Magnificat Antiphon. First Vespers. Fourth Sunday of September] The Church thus introduces the history of the heroine, who delivered Bethulia by the sword, whereas Mardochai’s niece rescued her people from death by her winsomeness and her intercession.

The Queen of Heaven, in her peerless perfection, outshines them both, in gentleness, in valour, and in beauty. Today’s Feast is a memorial of the strength she puts forth for the deliverance of her people.

Finding their power crushed in Spain, and in The East checked by the Latin Kingdom of Jerusalem, the Saracens, in the 12th-Century, became wholesale pirates, and scoured the seas to obtain slaves for the African markets.

We shudder to think of the numberless victims, of every age, sex, and condition, suddenly carried off from the coasts of Christian lands, or captured on the High Seas, and condemned to the disgrace of the Harem, or the miseries of the Bagnio [Editor: Brothel].

Here, nevertheless, in many an obscure prison, were enacted scenes of heroism worthy to compare with those witnessed in the early persecutions; here was a new field for Christian Charity; new horizons opened out for heroic self-devotion. Is not the spiritual good thence arising a sufficient reason for the permission of temporal ills ? Without this permission, Heaven would have for ever lacked a portion of its beauty.

When, in 1696, Pope Innocent XII extended this Feast to the whole Church, he afforded the World an opportunity of expressing its gratitude by a testimony as universal as the benefit received.

Differing from the Order of Holy Trinity, which had been already twenty years in existence, the Order of Mercy was Founded as it were in the very face of the Moors; and, hence, it originally numbered more Knights than Clerks among its Members.

It was called the Royal, Military, and Religious Order of Our Lady of Mercy for the ransom of captives.

The Clerics were charged with the Celebration of the Divine Office in the Commanderies; the Knights guarded the coasts, and undertook the perilous enterprise of ransoming Christian captives.

Saint Peter Nolasco was the first Commander, or Grand Master, of the Order; when his Relics were discovered, he was found armed with Sword and Cuirass.

The following Text is from Wikipedia - the free encyclopædia, unless stated otherwise.

A Feast Day was instituted and observed on 24 September, first in the Religious Order,[1] then in Spain and France. 

The Calendar of the Spanish Mercedarians of 1644 has it on 1 August, as a Double.

Proper Lessons were approved on 30 April 1616. The Feast was granted to Spain (on the Sunday nearest to 1 August) on 15 February 1680, and to France, on 4 December 1690. 

On 22 February 1696, it was extended to the entire Latin Church, and the date changed to 24 September.[5]

The Mercedarians keep this Feast as a Double of The First Class, with a Vigil, Privileged Octave, and Proper Office, under the Title: “Solemnitas Descensionis B. Mariæ V. de Mercede”.[5]

In August 1805, Sicily, which had suffered so much from the Saracens, was given permission by the Congregation of Rites to observe the Commemoration of the “Apparition of Our Lady to Saint Peter Nolasco in the Choir of Barcelona” on the old date of the Feast (the Sunday nearest to 1 August). 

In England, the Devotion to Our Lady of Ransom was revived in modern times in recognition of England’s historic title as “Our Lady’s Dowry”.[6]

Our Lady Of Ransom. Whose Feast Day Is, Today, 24 September.

Text from The Saint Andrew Daily Missal,
unless otherwise stated.

Our Lady of Ransom.
   Feast Day 24 September.

Greater-Double.

White Vestments.

Our Blessed Lady of Mercy.
Illustration: TRANSALPINE REDEMPTORISTS
The Web-Site of The Mercedarian Friars is at
THE ORDER OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY OF MERCY

The Blessed Virgin appeared in the 13th-Century to Saint Peter Nolasco (Feast Day 28 January), to Saint Raymund of Pennafort (Feast Day 23 January), and to James, King of Aragon, requesting them to found a Religious Institute with the object of delivering Christian captives from the barbarous Saracens (Collect), who then held a great part of Spain.

In consequence of this, on 10 August 1218, King James of Aragon established The Royal, Military and Religious Order of Our Lady of Ransom (Editor: The Mercedarian Friars), and granted to its Members the privilege of bearing on their breasts his own Coat-of-Arms.

Most of them were Knights, and while the Clerics recited The Divine Office in The Commanderies, they guarded the coasts and delivered prisoners. This pious work spread everywhere and produced heroes of Sanctity and men of incomparable Charity and Piety, who devoted themselves to the collection of Alms for The Ransom of Christians, and who often gave themselves up as prisoners to deliver captives.

This Feast, originally kept only by The Order, was extended to the whole Church by Pope Innocent XII in the 17th-Century.

Mass: Salve, Sancta Parens.
Creed.
Preface: Of The Blessed Virgin Mary: "Et te in Festivitáte".

Royal, Celestial and Military Order of Our Lady of Mercy and The Redemption of Captives. Ordo Beatæ Mariæ de Mercede redemptionis captivorum.

English: Coat-of-Arms of The Mercedarians

Català: Escut de la Orde de la Mercè

Español: Escudo de la Orden de la Merced

Date: 6 April 2011.

Source: [1]

Author: Heralder

(Wikimedia Commons)

The following Text is from Wikipedia - the free encyclopædia.

The Feast of Our Lady of Ransom is a Roman Catholic Liturgical Marian Feast on 24 September, a Double Major Ranking of Liturgical Days in The Roman Rite, commemorating The Foundation of The Mercedarians.

On 10 August 1223, The Mercedarian Order was legally constituted at Barcelona, Spain, by King James of Aragon, and was approved by Pope Gregory IX on 17 January 1235.

The Mercedarians Celebrated their Institution on the Sunday nearest to 1 August (on which date, in the year 1233, The Blessed Virgin was believed to have shown Saint Peter Nolasco The White Habit of The Order), and this custom was approved by The Congregation of Rites on 4 April 1615 (Anal. Juris Pont., VII, 136).

But The Calendar of The Spanish Mercedarians of 1644 has it on 1 August as a Double. The Proper Lessons were approved on 30 April 1616. The Feast was granted to Spain (The Sunday which was nearest to 1 August) on 15 February 1680; to France, 4 December 1690. On 22 February 1696, it was extended to the entire Latin Church, and the date changed to 24 September.

The Mercedarians keep this Feast as a Double of The First-Class, with a Vigil, Privileged Octave, and Proper Office, under the Title: “Solemnitas Descensionis B. Mariæ V. de Mercede”.

Our Lady of Ransom is The Principal Patron of Barcelona: The Proper Office was extended to Barcelona (1868) and to all Spain (Double of The Second-Class, 1883).

Sicily, which had suffered so much from the Saracens, took up the old date of The Feast (Sunday nearest to 1 August) by permission of The Congregation of Rites, since 31 August 1805 (Double Major), Apparition of Our Lady to Saint Peter Nolasco in The Choir of Barcelona, on The Sunday after 24 September.

In England, The Devotion to Our Lady of Ransom was revived in modern times to obtain the rescue of England as Our Lady’s Dowry.

Our Lady Of Ransom, Whose Feast Day Is, Today, 24 September.

Text from The Saint Andrew Daily Missal,
unless otherwise stated.

Our Lady of Ransom.
   Feast Day 24 September.

Greater-Double.

White Vestments.

Our Blessed Lady of Mercy.
Illustration: TRANSALPINE REDEMPTORISTS
The Web-Site of The Mercedarian Friars is at
THE ORDER OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY OF MERCY

The Blessed Virgin appeared in the 13th-Century to Saint Peter Nolasco (Feast Day 28 January), to Saint Raymund of Pennafort (Feast Day 23 January), and to James, King of Aragon, requesting them to found a Religious Institute with the object of delivering Christian captives from the barbarous Saracens (Collect), who then held a great part of Spain.

In consequence of this, on 10 August 1218, King James of Aragon established The Royal, Military and Religious Order of Our Lady of Ransom (Editor: The Mercedarian Friars), and granted to its Members the privilege of bearing on their breasts his own Coat-of-Arms.

Most of them were Knights, and while the Clerics recited The Divine Office in The Commanderies, they guarded the coasts and delivered prisoners. This pious work spread everywhere and produced heroes of Sanctity and men of incomparable Charity and Piety, who devoted themselves to the collection of Alms for The Ransom of Christians, and who often gave themselves up as prisoners to deliver captives.

This Feast, originally kept only by The Order, was extended to the whole Church by Pope Innocent XII in the 17th-Century.

Mass: Salve, Sancta Parens.
Creed.
Preface: Of The Blessed Virgin Mary: "Et te in Festivitáte".

Royal, Celestial and Military Order of Our Lady of Mercy and The Redemption of Captives. Ordo Beatæ Mariæ de Mercede redemptionis captivorum.

English: Coat-of-Arms of The Mercedarians

Català: Escut de la Orde de la Mercè

Español: Escudo de la Orden de la Merced

Date: 6 April 2011.

Source: [1]

Author: Heralder

(Wikimedia Commons)

The following Text is from Wikipedia - the free encyclopædia.

The Feast of Our Lady of Ransom is a Roman Catholic Liturgical Marian Feast on 24 September, a Double Major Ranking of Liturgical Days in The Roman Rite, commemorating The Foundation of The Mercedarians.

On 10 August 1223, The Mercedarian Order was legally constituted at Barcelona, Spain, by King James of Aragon, and was approved by Pope Gregory IX on 17 January 1235.

The Mercedarians Celebrated their Institution on the Sunday nearest to 1 August (on which date, in the year 1233, The Blessed Virgin was believed to have shown Saint Peter Nolasco The White Habit of The Order), and this custom was approved by The Congregation of Rites on 4 April 1615 (Anal. Juris Pont., VII, 136).

But The Calendar of The Spanish Mercedarians of 1644 has it on 1 August as a Double. The Proper Lessons were approved on 30 April 1616. The Feast was granted to Spain (The Sunday which was nearest to 1 August) on 15 February 1680; to France, 4 December 1690. On 22 February 1696, it was extended to the entire Latin Church, and the date changed to 24 September.

The Mercedarians keep this Feast as a Double of The First-Class, with a Vigil, Privileged Octave, and Proper Office, under the Title: “Solemnitas Descensionis B. Mariæ V. de Mercede”.

Our Lady of Ransom is The Principal Patron of Barcelona: The Proper Office was extended to Barcelona (1868) and to all Spain (Double of The Second-Class, 1883).

Sicily, which had suffered so much from the Saracens, took up the old date of The Feast (Sunday nearest to 1 August) by permission of The Congregation of Rites, since 31 August 1805 (Double Major), Apparition of Our Lady to Saint Peter Nolasco in The Choir of Barcelona, on The Sunday after 24 September.

In England, The Devotion to Our Lady of Ransom was revived in modern times to obtain the rescue of England as Our Lady’s Dowry.

Our Lady Of Ransom, Whose Feast Day Is, Today, 24 September.

Text from The Saint Andrew Daily Missal,
unless otherwise stated.

Our Lady of Ransom.
   Feast Day 24 September.

Greater-Double.

White Vestments.

Our Blessed Lady of Mercy.
Illustration: TRANSALPINE REDEMPTORISTS
The Web-Site of The Mercedarian Friars is at
THE ORDER OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY OF MERCY

The Blessed Virgin appeared in the 13th-Century to Saint Peter Nolasco (Feast Day 28 January), to Saint Raymund of Pennafort (Feast Day 23 January), and to James, King of Aragon, requesting them to found a Religious Institute with the object of delivering Christian captives from the barbarous Saracens (Collect), who then held a great part of Spain.

In consequence of this, on 10 August 1218, King James of Aragon established The Royal, Military and Religious Order of Our Lady of Ransom (Editor: The Mercedarian Friars), and granted to its Members the privilege of bearing on their breasts his own Coat-of-Arms.

Most of them were Knights, and while the Clerics recited The Divine Office in The Commanderies, they guarded the coasts and delivered prisoners. This pious work spread everywhere and produced heroes of Sanctity and men of incomparable Charity and Piety, who devoted themselves to the collection of Alms for The Ransom of Christians, and who often gave themselves up as prisoners to deliver captives.

This Feast, originally kept only by The Order, was extended to the whole Church by Pope Innocent XII in the 17th-Century.

Mass: Salve, Sancta Parens.
Creed.
Preface: Of The Blessed Virgin Mary: "Et te in Festivitáte".

Royal, Celestial and Military Order of Our Lady of Mercy and The Redemption of Captives. Ordo Beatæ Mariæ de Mercede redemptionis captivorum.

English: Coat-of-Arms of The Mercedarians

Català: Escut de la Orde de la Mercè

Español: Escudo de la Orden de la Merced

Date: 6 April 2011.

Source: [1]

Author: Heralder

(Wikimedia Commons)

The following Text is from Wikipedia - the free encyclopædia.

The Feast of Our Lady of Ransom is a Roman Catholic Liturgical Marian Feast on 24 September, a Double Major Ranking of Liturgical Days in The Roman Rite, commemorating The Foundation of The Mercedarians.

On 10 August 1223, The Mercedarian Order was legally constituted at Barcelona, Spain, by King James of Aragon, and was approved by Pope Gregory IX on 17 January 1235.

The Mercedarians Celebrated their Institution on the Sunday nearest to 1 August (on which date, in the year 1233, The Blessed Virgin was believed to have shown Saint Peter Nolasco The White Habit of The Order), and this custom was approved by The Congregation of Rites on 4 April 1615 (Anal. Juris Pont., VII, 136).

But The Calendar of The Spanish Mercedarians of 1644 has it on 1 August as a Double. The Proper Lessons were approved on 30 April 1616. The Feast was granted to Spain (The Sunday which was nearest to 1 August) on 15 February 1680; to France, 4 December 1690. On 22 February 1696, it was extended to the entire Latin Church, and the date changed to 24 September.

The Mercedarians keep this Feast as a Double of The First-Class, with a Vigil, Privileged Octave, and Proper Office, under the Title: “Solemnitas Descensionis B. Mariæ V. de Mercede”.

Our Lady of Ransom is The Principal Patron of Barcelona: The Proper Office was extended to Barcelona (1868) and to all Spain (Double of The Second-Class, 1883).

Sicily, which had suffered so much from the Saracens, took up the old date of The Feast (Sunday nearest to 1 August) by permission of The Congregation of Rites, since 31 August 1805 (Double Major), Apparition of Our Lady to Saint Peter Nolasco in The Choir of Barcelona, on The Sunday after 24 September.

In England, The Devotion to Our Lady of Ransom was revived in modern times to obtain the rescue of England as Our Lady’s Dowry.

Our Lady Of Ransom, Whose Feast Day Is Today, 24 September.

Text from The Saint Andrew Daily Missal,
unless otherwise stated.

Our Lady of Ransom.
   Feast Day 24 September.

Greater-Double.

White Vestments.

Our Blessed Lady of Mercy.
Illustration: TRANSALPINE REDEMPTORISTS
The Web-Site of The Mercedarian Friars is at
THE ORDER OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY OF MERCY

The Blessed Virgin appeared in the 13th-Century to Saint Peter Nolasco (Feast Day 28 January), to Saint Raymund of Pennafort (Feast Day 23 January), and to James, King of Aragon, requesting them to found a Religious Institute with the object of delivering Christian captives from the barbarous Saracens (Collect), who then held a great part of Spain.

In consequence of this, on 10 August 1218, King James of Aragon established The Royal, Military and Religious Order of Our Lady of Ransom (Editor: The Mercedarian Friars), and granted to its Members the privilege of bearing on their breasts his own Coat-of-Arms.

Most of them were Knights, and while the Clerics recited The Divine Office in The Commanderies, they guarded the coasts and delivered prisoners. This pious work spread everywhere and produced heroes of Sanctity and men of incomparable Charity and Piety, who devoted themselves to the collection of Alms for The Ransom of Christians, and who often gave themselves up as prisoners to deliver captives.

This Feast, originally kept only by The Order, was extended to the whole Church by Pope Innocent XII in the 17th-Century.

Mass: Salve, Sancta Parens.
Creed.
Preface: Of The Blessed Virgin Mary: "Et te in Festivitáte".

Royal, Celestial and Military Order of

Our Lady of Mercy and The Redemption

of Captives. Ordo Beatæ Mariæ de Mercede redemptionis captivorum.

English: Coat-of-Arms of The Mercedarians

Català: Escut de la Orde de la Mercè

Español: Escudo de la Orden de la Merced

Date: 6 April 2011.

Source: [1]

Author: Heralder

(Wikimedia Commons)

The following Text is from Wikipedia - the free encyclopædia.

The Feast of Our Lady of Ransom is a Roman Catholic Liturgical Marian Feast on 24 September, a Double Major Ranking of Liturgical Days in The Roman Rite, commemorating The Foundation of The Mercedarians.

On 10 August 1223, The Mercedarian Order was legally constituted at Barcelona, Spain, by King James of Aragon, and was approved by Pope Gregory IX on 17 January 1235. The Mercedarians Celebrated their Institution on the Sunday nearest to 1 August (on which date, in the year 1233, The Blessed Virgin was believed to have shown Saint Peter Nolasco The White Habit of The Order), and this custom was approved by The Congregation of Rites on 4 April 1615 (Anal. Juris Pont., VII, 136).

But The Calendar of The Spanish Mercedarians of 1644 has it on 1 August as a Double. Proper Lessons were approved on 30 April 1616. The Feast was granted to Spain (The Sunday which was nearest to 1 August) on 15 February 1680; to France, 4 December 1690. On 22 February 1696, it was extended to the entire Latin Church, and the date changed to 24 September.

The Mercedarians keep this Feast as a Double of The First-Class, with a Vigil, Privileged Octave, and Proper Office, under the Title: "Solemnitas Descensionis B. Mariæ V. de Mercede".

Our Lady of Ransom is The Principal Patron of Barcelona: The Proper Office was extended to Barcelona (1868) and to all Spain (Double of The Second-Class, 1883).

Sicily, which had suffered so much from the Saracens, took up the old date of The Feast (Sunday nearest to 1 August) by permission of The Congregation of Rites, since 31 August 1805 (Double Major), Apparition of Our Lady to Saint Peter Nolasco in The Choir of Barcelona, on The Sunday after 24 September.

In England, The Devotion to Our Lady of Ransom was revived in modern times to obtain the rescue of England as Our Lady's Dowry.

Our Lady Of Ransom, Whose Feast Day Is Today, 24 September.

Text from The Saint Andrew Daily Missal,
unless otherwise stated.

Our Lady of Ransom.
   Feast Day 24 September.

Greater-Double.

White Vestments.

Our Blessed Lady of Mercy.
Illustration: TRANSALPINE REDEMPTORISTS
The Web-Site of The Mercedarian Friars is at
THE ORDER OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY OF MERCY

The Blessed Virgin appeared in the 13th-Century to Saint Peter Nolasco (Feast Day 28 January), to Saint Raymund of Pennafort (Feast Day 23 January), and to James, King of Aragon, requesting them to found a Religious Institute with the object of delivering Christian captives from the barbarous Saracens (Collect), who then held a great part of Spain.

In consequence of this, on 10 August 1218, King James of Aragon established The Royal, Military and Religious Order of Our Lady of Ransom (Editor: The Mercedarian Friars), and granted to its Members the privilege of bearing on their breasts his own Coat-of-Arms.

Most of them were Knights, and while the Clerics recited The Divine Office in The Commanderies, they guarded the coasts and delivered prisoners. This pious work spread everywhere and produced heroes of Sanctity and men of incomparable Charity and Piety, who devoted themselves to the collection of Alms for The Ransom of Christians, and who often gave themselves up as prisoners to deliver captives.

This Feast, originally kept only by The Order, was extended to the whole Church by Pope Innocent XII in the 17th-Century.

Mass: Salve, Sancta Parens.
Creed.
Preface: Of The Blessed Virgin Mary: "Et te in Festivitáte".

Royal, Celestial and Military Order of

Our Lady of Mercy and The Redemption

of Captives. Ordo Beatæ Mariæ de Mercede redemptionis captivorum.

English: Coat-of-Arms of The Mercedarians

Català: Escut de la Orde de la Mercè

Español: Escudo de la Orden de la Merced

Date: 6 April 2011.

Source: [1]

Author: Heralder

(Wikimedia Commons)

The following Text is from Wikipedia - the free encyclopædia.

The Feast of Our Lady of Ransom is a Roman Catholic Liturgical Marian Feast on 24 September, a Double Major Ranking of Liturgical Days in The Roman Rite, commemorating The Foundation of The Mercedarians.

On 10 August 1223, The Mercedarian Order was legally constituted at Barcelona, Spain, by King James of Aragon, and was approved by Pope Gregory IX on 17 January 1235. The Mercedarians Celebrated their Institution on the Sunday nearest to 1 August (on which date, in the year 1233, The Blessed Virgin was believed to have shown Saint Peter Nolasco The White Habit of The Order), and this custom was approved by The Congregation of Rites on 4 April 1615 (Anal. Juris Pont., VII, 136).

But The Calendar of The Spanish Mercedarians of 1644 has it on 1 August as a Double. Proper Lessons were approved on 30 April 1616. The Feast was granted to Spain (The Sunday which was nearest to 1 August) on 15 February 1680; to France, 4 December 1690. On 22 February 1696, it was extended to the entire Latin Church, and the date changed to 24 September.

The Mercedarians keep this Feast as a Double of The First-Class, with a Vigil, Privileged Octave, and Proper Office, under the Title: "Solemnitas Descensionis B. Mariæ V. de Mercede".

Our Lady of Ransom is The Principal Patron of Barcelona: The Proper Office was extended to Barcelona (1868) and to all Spain (Double of The Second-Class, 1883).

Sicily, which had suffered so much from the Saracens, took up the old date of The Feast (Sunday nearest to 1 August) by permission of The Congregation of Rites, since 31 August 1805 (Double Major), Apparition of Our Lady to Saint Peter Nolasco in The Choir of Barcelona, on The Sunday after 24 September.

In England, The Devotion to Our Lady of Ransom was revived in modern times to obtain the rescue of England as Our Lady's Dowry.

Our Lady Of Ransom, Whose Feast Day Is Today, 24 September.

Text from The Saint Andrew Daily Missal,
unless otherwise stated.

Our Lady of Ransom.
   Feast Day 24 September.

Greater-Double.

White Vestments.

Our Blessed Lady of Mercy.
Illustration: TRANSALPINE REDEMPTORISTS
The Web-Site of The Mercedarian Friars is at
THE ORDER OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY OF MERCY

The Blessed Virgin appeared in the 13th-Century to Saint Peter Nolasco (Feast Day 28 January), to Saint Raymund of Pennafort (Feast Day 23 January), and to James, King of Aragon, requesting them to found a Religious Institute with the object of delivering Christian captives from the barbarous Saracens (Collect), who then held a great part of Spain.

In consequence of this, on 10 August 1218, King James of Aragon established The Royal, Military and Religious Order of Our Lady of Ransom (Editor: The Mercedarian Friars), and granted to its Members the privilege of bearing on their breasts his own Coat-of-Arms.

Most of them were Knights, and while the Clerics recited The Divine Office in The Commanderies, they guarded the coasts and delivered prisoners. This pious work spread everywhere and produced heroes of Sanctity and men of incomparable Charity and Piety, who devoted themselves to the collection of Alms for The Ransom of Christians, and who often gave themselves up as prisoners to deliver captives.

This Feast, originally kept only by The Order, was extended to the whole Church by Pope Innocent XII in the 17th-Century.

Mass: Salve, Sancta Parens.
Creed.
Preface: Of The Blessed Virgin Mary: "Et te in Festivitáte".

Royal, Celestial and Military Order of

Our Lady of Mercy and The Redemption

of Captives. Ordo Beatae Mariae de Mercede redemptionis captivorum.

English: Coat-of-Arms of The Mercedarians

Català: Escut de la Orde de la Mercè

Español: Escudo de la Orden de la Merced

Date: 6 April 2011.

Source: [1]

Author: Heralder

(Wikimedia Commons)

The following Text is from Wikipedia - the free encyclopaedia.

The Feast of Our Lady of Ransom is a Roman Catholic Liturgical Marian Feast on 24 September, a Double Major Ranking of Liturgical Days in The Roman Rite, commemorating The Foundation of The Mercedarians.

On 10 August 1223, The Mercedarian Order was legally constituted at Barcelona, Spain, by King James of Aragon, and was approved by Pope Gregory IX on 17 January 1235. The Mercedarians Celebrated their Institution on the Sunday nearest to 1 August (on which date, in the year 1233, The Blessed Virgin was believed to have shown Saint Peter Nolasco The White Habit of The Order), and this custom was approved by The Congregation of Rites on 4 April 1615 (Anal. Juris Pont., VII, 136).

But The Calendar of The Spanish Mercedarians of 1644 has it on 1 August as a Double. Proper Lessons were approved on 30 April 1616. The Feast was granted to Spain (The Sunday which was nearest to 1 August) on 15 February 1680; to France, 4 December 1690. On 22 February 1696, it was extended to the entire Latin Church, and the date changed to 24 September.

The Mercedarians keep this Feast as a Double of The First-Class, with a Vigil, Privileged Octave, and Proper Office, under the Title: "Solemnitas Descensionis B. Mariæ V. de Mercede".

Our Lady of Ransom is The Principal Patron of Barcelona: The Proper Office was extended to Barcelona (1868) and to all Spain (Double of The Second-Class, 1883).

Sicily, which had suffered so much from the Saracens, took up the old date of The Feast (Sunday nearest to 1 August) by permission of The Congregation of Rites, since 31 August 1805 (Double Major), Apparition of Our Lady to Saint Peter Nolasco in The Choir of Barcelona, on The Sunday after 24 September.

In England, The Devotion to Our Lady of Ransom was revived in modern times to obtain the rescue of England as Our Lady's Dowry.