📚 Our Lady of Mercy (OL of Ransom)
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About
Our Lady of Mercy , also known as Our Lady of Ransom , is a title of the Blessed Virgin Mary that emphasizes her compassion and intercession for those in captivity—both physical and spiritual. The devotion began in the 13th century when the Blessed Virgin appeared to St. Peter Nolasco, encouraging him to found the Order of Our Lady of Mercy (the Mercedarians) to ransom Christians enslaved during the conflicts of the time. Under this title, Mary is honored as a source of deliverance, hope, and maternal care for all who suffer. Her example calls the faithful to works of mercy, compassion, and freedom in Christ. Origin: 1218 (Barcelona, Spain) | Feast Day: September 24 | Canonized: Title approved by Pope Innocent XII in 1696 Patronage: Captives, prisoners, the oppressed, and those seeking mercy and freedom.