St. Peter Nolasco (31 January): Butler's Lives of the Saints

About this sermon

St Peter Nolasco (1189–1256) was a saint of heroic charity, total self-sacrifice, and fearless love for the suffering Church. Born into wealth and nobility, he devoted his entire life — and even pledged his own freedom — to redeem Christian captives enslaved by the Moors. In this reading from The Lives of the Saints by Fr. Alban Butler, we hear the extraordinary story of the founder of the Order of Our Lady of Mercy (Mercedarians), whose members vowed not only poverty, chastity, and obedience — but a fourth vow: to give their very lives if necessary for the liberation of Christian slaves. Guided by Our Lady herself, supported by St Raymond of Peñafort, and protected by King James I of Aragon, St Peter spent his inheritance, strength, and health rescuing souls — both physically and spiritually — from captivity. His life stands as a rebuke to modern comfort and a call to radical Christian charity, reminding us that whatever we give to the poor, we give to Christ Himself. 🗓️ Feast Day: January 31 ✝️ Patron: Captives, prisoners, charitable works 📖 Source: Fr. Alban Butler, Lives of the Saints “Our Lord hath sent redemption to His people; He hath commanded His covenant forever.” — Psalm 110 0:00 – Introduction & Feast of St Peter Nolasco 0:22 – Birth, noble family, and early charity 1:03 – Childhood piety and love for the poor 1:15 – Death of his father and renunciation of wealth 1:31 – Vow of celibacy and dedication to God 1:52 – Life at court and deep asceticism 2:42 – Christian captives under Moorish tyranny 3:09 – Spending his entire fortune to redeem slaves 3:33 – Apparition of Our Lady and foundation of the Order 4:06 – The fourth vow: offering one’s own liberty 5:39 – Growth of the Mercedarian Order 6:41 – Victories attributed to St Peter’s prayers 7:13 – Missions to ransom captives among the infidels 7:59 – Sufferings, imprisonment, and desire for martyrdom 8:21 – Humility and service to the poor 9:05 – Holy death and final exhortation 9:32 – Canonization and feast day 9:42 – Meditation on charity and Christian duty https://sensusfidelium.com/the-lives-of-the-fathers-martyrs-and-other-principal-saints/january/saint-peter-nolasco-c-founder-of-the-order-of-our-lady-for-the-redemption-of-captives/ Get Butler's Lives of the Saints here: https://loretopublications.idevaffiliate.com/idevaffiliate.php?id=102&url=1 🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴 Support Catholic Businesses here - https://sensusfidelium.com/catholic-businesses/ Sensus Fidelium Press - https://sensusfideliumpress.com/ Sensus Fidelium Apps - https://sensusfidelium.tv/ Support Sensus Fidelium - https://sensusfidelium.com/donate-support/ 🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴 🙏🏻PLEASE HELP OUR CHANNEL GROW 🙏🏻 ▶ 1. Become a Channel Patron: https://www.patreon.com/SensusFidelium ▶ 2. Visit the website https://www.sensusfidelium.com for Gueranger, Saint of the Day, Apologetics, Meditation by the Saints, Scripture Study and more. ▶ 3. Subscribe to Other Video Platforms 🔴 SpiritusTV - https://spiritustv.com/@SensusFidelium 🔴 BitChute --- https://www.bitchute.com/channel/Sensus_Fidelium/ 🔴 Rumble --- https://rumble.com/c/c-298311 🔴 My Catholic Tube - https://mycatholictube.com/videos/sensus-fidelium-channel/ 🔴 LBRY.tv --- https://lbry.tv/@SensusFidelium:c 🔴 ODYSEE - https://odysee.com/@SensusFidelium:c 🔴 UGETube - https://videos.utahgunexchange.com/@Sensus%20Fidelium 🔴 BrandNewTube - https://brandnewtube.com/@SensusFidelium 🔴 GabTV - https://tv.gab.com/channel/Sensus_Fidelium 🔴 GloriaTV - https://gloria.tv/Sensus%20Fidelium 🔴 Brighteon - https://www.brighteon.com/channels/sensusfidelium ▶ 4. Paypal, Bitcoin, Anedot, Stripe, Square & PO Box donations - https://sensusfidelium.com/donate-support/ ▶ 5. YouTube: Click Subscribe, then Click "Notification Bell" = 🔔 Please "Like" our videos so that Youtube shares it to others by clicking the "Like" thumbs-up under the video = 👍🏻 ▶ 6. Please share this video 📲, and help others find Christ inside the Catholic Church! Please share this video on Facebook and Twitter using the share button. ▶ 7. Follow on Social Media: 🔴 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SensusFidelium/ 🔴 Twitter: https://https://twitter.com/Sensus_Fidelium 🔴 YouTube: Click Subscribe, then Click "Notification Bell" = 🔔 🔴 Parler: https://parler.com/profile/Sensusfidelium/posts 🔴 SP3RN: https://www.sp3rn.com/community/pages/14-sensus-fidelium 🔴 GAB: https://gab.com/Sensus_Fidelium 🔴 Bastyon: https://bastyon.com/sensusfidelium 🔴 GETTR: https://gettr.com/user/sensus_fidelium 🔴 INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/sensusfidelium/ 🔴 Telegram: https//t.me/RealSensusFidelium 🔴 Truth Social - @SensusFidelium ▶ 8. Follow on iTunes: 🔴 https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sensus-fidelium-catholic-podcast/id1477010758 #StPeterNolasco #LivesOfTheSaints #CatholicSaints #CatholicHistory #OrderOfMercy #Mercedarians #ChristianCharity #CatholicMasculinity #SaintBiograph