Mercedarians

Article

Formally known as the Order of Our Lady of Mercy for the Ransom of Captives. A congregation founded at Barcelona in 1218 by Saint Peter Nolasco, especially devoted to the ransom of captives from the Moors, and following the rule drawn up by Saint Augustine. The development of the order was immediate and widespread throughout France, England, Germany, Portugal, and Spain. As the Moors were driven back, new convents of Mercy were established at Montpellier, Perpignan, Toulouse, and Vich. Columbus brought some members of the Order of Mercy with him to America, and they founded houses in Mexico, Cuba, Brazil, Peru, Chile, and Ecuador, and took an active part in the conversion of the Indians. Toward the end of the 18th century the Mercedarians erected houses for the training of missionaries, and in the beginning of the 19th century they undertook elementary teaching in their convents. The mother-house is in Rome, Italy.

Profiled Mercedarians

• Blessed Alfonso de Meneses
• Blessed Antonio Vallesio
• Blessed Bartholomew of Olmedo
• Blessed Berengar de Alenys
• Blessed Chiara de Ugarte
• Blessed Claudio Gallo
• Blessed Dionisio de Vilaregut
• Blessed Ludovico de la Pena
• Blessed Marco Mattia
• Blessed Margarita de Maturana
• Blessed Mariana of Jesus
• Blessed Peter Armengol
• Blessed Peter Paschal
• Blessed Thomas Vives
• Mercedarian Martyrs of Africa
• Saint Peter Nolasco
• Saint Raymond Nonnatus

MLA Citation

• “Mercedarians“. Congregations of the Faith. Saints.SQPN.com. 14 March 2013. Web. 20 May 2013. <>