Our Lady of Ransom (24 September) ~ Dom Prosper Guéranger

About this sermon

On September 24, the traditional Roman calendar honors Our Lady of Ransom—also called Our Lady of Mercy—and Mary’s maternal assistance in the deliverance of Christian captives. In this reading from The Liturgical Year, Dom Prosper Guéranger presents Judith and Esther as figures of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Like these heroic women of Scripture, Mary intercedes for God’s people and comes to their assistance in times of grave danger. The reflection recounts the suffering of Christians captured by Saracen raiders and the founding of the Royal, Military and Religious Order of Our Lady of Mercy for the Redemption of Captives—the Mercedarian Order. In 1218, St. Peter Nolasco, St. Raymond of Peñafort and King James I of Aragon cooperated in establishing this extraordinary work of Christian charity. In addition to the traditional religious vows, the Mercedarians professed a fourth vow: when necessary, they would remain as hostages and surrender their own liberty to secure the freedom of Christian captives whose faith was in danger. They collected alms, negotiated ransoms and sometimes offered themselves in exchange for others—living the words of Christ: “Greater love than this no man hath, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” The reading concludes by invoking Mary against every form of captivity. Our Lady can break not only physical chains but also the spiritual bonds forged by sin, deception and the prince of darkness. May Our Lady of Ransom intercede for persecuted Christians, prisoners, victims of trafficking and everyone held captive by sin or injustice. Our Lady of Ransom, pray for us. St. Peter Nolasco, pray for us. St. Raymond of Peñafort, pray for us. 0:00 Our Lady of Ransom 0:20 Judith and Esther as figures of Mary 0:50 Mary surpasses both biblical heroines 1:07 Meaning of the Feast of Our Lady of Ransom 1:16 Saracen piracy and Christian captivity 1:47 Heroism within the prisons 1:55 A new field for heroic Christian charity 2:10 Pope Innocent XII extends the feast 2:26 Founding of the Order of Mercy 2:51 Knights and clerics of the Mercedarian Order 3:07 St. Peter Nolasco, first Grand Master 3:25 The Church recounts the order’s foundation 3:46 Our Lady appears to St. Peter Nolasco 4:17 The highest charity: laying down one’s life 4:41 St. Raymond of Peñafort and King James I 5:20 Establishment of the order in 1218 5:29 The Mercedarians’ extraordinary fourth vow 5:44 Royal approval and papal confirmation 5:59 The order spreads throughout the world 6:14 Members offer themselves as ransom 6:28 The feast and privileges of the order 6:43 Mary, liberator of captives 7:09 The sorrows and injustices of the world 7:40 Mary breaks the chains of darkness 7:48 Final prayer for deliverance https://sensusfidelium.com/the-liturgical-year-dom-prosper-gueranger/september/september-24-our-lady-of-ransom/ #OurLadyOfRansom #OurLadyOfMercy #FeastDay #CatholicFeast #CatholicFaith #CatholicHistory #MarianFeast #Mercedarians #CatholicSaints #DailyReflection #CatholicDevotion #CatholicTradition #QueenOfHeaven 🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴 ✝️ SUPPORT THE MISSION 🙏 Donate https://sensusfidelium.com/donate-support/ 📬 Free Catholic Newsletter https://sensusfidelium.com/newsletter/ 📰 Read on Substack https://sensusfidelium.substack.com/ ──────────────────── 📺 WATCH & READ 📺 Sensus Fidelium App https://sensusfidelium.tv/ 📚 Sensus Fidelium Press https://sensusfideliumpress.com/ 👕 Official Merchandise https://sensusfidelium.com/merchandise/ ──────────────────── 🤝 PARTNER WITH US 📣 Advertise on Sensus Fidelium https://sensusfidelium.com/advertise-with-sensus-fidelium/ 🎤 Invite Steve Cunningham to Speak https://sensusfidelium.com/speaking/ ⛪ Parish Formation & Consultation https://sensusfidelium.com/for-parishes/ ──────────────────── 🌎 CATHOLIC COMMUNITY ✝️ Trusted Catholic Businesses https://sensusfidelium.com/catholic-businesses/ 🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴

Topics

• Jesus Christ