SEPTEMBER 24, 2024 – THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY OF MERCY.

• Our Lady of Ransom (1218). (Traditional)
• St. Pacific of San Severino (1707). Priest. (Historical)

ST. PETER, of the noble family of Nolasco, was born in Languedoc, about 1189. At the age of twenty-five he took a vow of chastity, and made over his vast estates to the Church. Some time after, he conceived the idea of establishing an order for the redemption of captives. The divine will was soon manifested. The Blessed Virgin appeared on the same night to Peter, to Raymund of Pennafort, his confessor, and to James, King of Arragon, his ward, and bade them prosecute without fear their holy designs. After great opposition, the Order was solemnly established, and approved by Gregory IX, under the name of Our Lady of Mercy. By the grace of God, and under the protection of His Virgin-Mother, the Order spread rapidly, its growth being increased by the charity and piety of its members, who devoted themselves not only to collecting alms for the ransom of the Christians, but even gave themselves up to voluntary slavery to aid the good work. It is to return thanks to God and the Blessed Virgin that a feast was instituted which was observed in the Order of Mercy, then in Spain and France, and at last extended to the whole Church by Innocent XII, and the 24th September named as the day on which it is to be observed.

REFLECTION: St. Peter Nolasco and his knights were laymen, not priests, and yet they considered the salvation of their neighbor entrusted to them. We can each of us by counsel, by prayer, but above all by holy example, assist the salvation of our brethren, and thus secure our own.

WORD OF THE DAY

NECESSARY FAITH. The irreducible minimum that everyone must believe as a condition for salvation. Also called the "necessity of means" to be saved, it applies to those who have reached the age of reason. It certainly includes belief that God exists and that he rewards the good and punishes the wicked: "It is impossible to please God without faith, since anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and rewards those who try to find Him" (Vulgate: "who seek Him") (Hebrews 11:6). Probably one must also know and believe, at least implicitly, in the Blessed Trinity and the Incarnation.

Modern Catholic Dictionary, Fr. John Hardon SJ (Get the real one at Eternal Life — don’t accept an abridged or edited version of this masterpiece!)

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