| Saint Pedro Nolasco | |
|---|---|
St. Peter Nolasco as found in the Generalate of the Mercedarian Order |
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| Confessor | |
| Born | 1189 Mas-des-Saintes-Puelles, Languedoc, France |
| Died | 6 May 1256 Valencia, Spain |
| Honored in | Roman Catholic Church |
| Feast | 6 May |
Saint Peter Nolasco (1189–1256), Pere Nolasc in Catalan, Pierre Nolasque in French and Pedro Nolasco in Spanish, is a Catholic saint, born at Mas-des-Saintes-Puelles, Languedoc, today's France, although some historians claim he was born in Barcelona (see Encyclopædia Britannica).
It is clear is that he was in Barcelona when he was a teenager, became part of an army fighting the Moors in the Iberian peninsula, and was appointed tutor to the young king, James I of Aragon. In 1218 he formed a congregation of men that became the Royal and Military Order of Our Lady of Mercy of the Redemption of the Captives with approval by Pope Gregory IX in 1230.
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St. Peter Nolasco was the first Superior and also held the position of Ransomer, the order being concerned with the freeing of Christian prisoners from the Moors. Saint Raymond Nonnatus later succeeded to this position.
He died in 1256 in Barcelona, seven years after having resigned as Superior. The order flourished in France, England, Germany, Portugal, and Spain. According to tradition he died on 25 December, but recent studies of the Royal Archives in Barcelona have indicated that he died on 6 May.
St. Peter Nolasco was canonized by Pope Urban VIII. His festival was appointed by Pope Clement VIII but Clement VIII died in 1605 so this cannot be correct as he was followed as Pope by Urban VIII who was Pope from 1623 to 1644 - to be kept on January 31, which was later moved to 28 January, when the former date was assigned to the liturgical celebration of Saint John Bosco (see General Roman Calendar as in 1954). He is inscribed in the Roman Martyrology, the official list of saints, on 25 December, the day of his death according to tradition.