![[Our Lady of Mercy]](mary0013.jpg "Our Lady of Mercy")
![[Mercedian emblem]](order001.gif "23kb gif Mercedarian emblem clipart")
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.
Notable Mercedarians include
- Blessed Margarita de Maturana
- Blessed Mariana of Jesus
- Blessed Mary de Cerevellon
- Blessed Peter Armengol
- Saint Peter Nolasco
- Blessed Peter Paschal
- Saint Raymond Nonnatus
New Catholic Dictionary
