ST. RAYMOND OF NONNATUS

The Church of St. Raymond is named for St. Raymond of Nonnatus, who was born in Catalonia, Spain in the year 1204, and was descended from a gentleman's family of small fortune. After his mother died in childbirth, Raymond was taken from her womb (non natus, not born); hence his name.

Raymond joined the new Order of Our Lady of Mercy for the redemption of captives, and was admitted to the order at Barcelona by its founder, St. Peter Nolasco. Within two or three years after his profession, Raymond was sent into North Africa with a considerable sum of money, where in Algiers he purchased the freedom of a great number of slaves. When his money ran out, he gave himself up as a hostage for the ransom of others. This magnanimous sacrifice served only to anger the Muslims, who treated him with uncommon barbarity. However, fearing that if he died in their hands they would lose the ransom that was to be paid for the slaves for whom he remained a hostage, they gave orders that he should be treated with more humanity.

He was then permitted to go freely about the streets, which he took advantage of to comfort and encourage the Christians in their chains, and he converted and baptized some Muslims. The governor, who was enraged, ordered our Saint to be barbarously tortured and imprisoned until his ransom was brought by some religious men of his Order, who were sent with it by St. Peter. Upon his return to Spain, he was nominated cardinal by Pope Gregory IX, and the Pope, being desirous to have so holy a man about his person, called him to Rome. The Saint obeyed, but went no further than Cardona, when he was violently attacked, which proved fatal.

He died in the year 1240, at thirty-six years of age. His feast day is August 31. He is the patron saint of childbirth, expectant mothers, and infants.