(A.D. 1256.)
[Roman Martyrology. Authority: life by Franciscus Zumel.]
Peter Nolasco sprang from one of the first families of Languedoc. He was
born in the year 1189, in the village of Mas des Saintes Pucelles. His
pious parents took pains to give him a good education, and to cultivate
the germs of virtue which appeared early in his soul. They saw with
gladness his compassion for the poor, and his love of prayer. The child
was wont to distribute his pocket-money in alms, and he went regularly
to the matin office sung shortly after midnight. When he was aged 15, he
lost his father, who left him heir to a large estate, but he remained
with his mother, a pious woman, who laboured to strengthen and confirm
in him those graces which grew and expanded daily. Being solicited to
marry, he remained some little while in hesitation, but at last, rising
one night he cast himself before his crucifix in prayer, and remained
till day broke in the east, imploring God's guidance, and then feeling a
clear call, he resolved to devote his patrimony to the honour and glory
of God, and himself to celibacy. He followed Simon de Montfort, in the
crusade against the Albigenses, an heretical, or rather heathen sect,
holding two Gods, one good, the other evil, and who had devastated
Navarre, burning churches and massacring priests and monks. The crusade
was conducted with too much of worldly ambition, and without that
compassionate love which should seek to win by gentleness rather than
force by the sword. But the cruel massacres which took place were not
the work of the crusaders, but of a mixed multitude of camp-followers,
who obeyed no officers but such as they chose to appoint, as appears
from the contemporary accounts of that war. However, Peter Nolasco was
in no way responsible for the barbarities which sullied this terrible
war. In the battle of Muset, the King of Aragon, who headed the
Albigenses, was killed, and his son, aged six, fell into the hands of
Simon de Montfort, who appointed Peter Nolasco, then aged twenty-five,
to be his tutor, and sent both together into Spain. In the court of the
King of Barcelona, where the Kings of Aragon resided, Peter led the life
of a recluse. The Moors at that time were possessed of a considerable
portion of Spain, and great numbers of Christians groaned under their
tyranny in miserable slavery both there and in Africa. Whenever Peter
saw a Christian slave, he was moved with sorrow; and he resolved to
devote his life to the redemption of captives. He endeavoured to found a
religious order for a constant supply of men and means whereby to carry
on so charitable an undertaking. This design met with great obstacles in
the execution; but the Blessed Virgin appearing to the king, S. Raymund
of Pennaforte, and S. Peter Nolasco, the same night, in visions,
encouraged the prosecution of this charitable scheme.
In the year 1223 S. Peter took the vows before the Bishop of Barcelona,
and he became first general of the new order, which was entitled "the
Order of Our Lady of Mercy for the redemption of captives." It was
confirmed by Pope Gregory IX. in 1225. The habit is white, with a white
scapular, and the arms of Aragon were worn on the breast, by desire of
the king.
S. Peter, after his religious profession, renounced all his business at
court, and no entreaties of the king could prevail on him to appear
there again, except once, when called to reconcile two powerful nobles,
who by their dissension had kindled a civil war.
He made several journeys along the coasts, and to Algiers to purchase
captives; on one of these expeditions he underwent imprisonment for the
faith. He died on Christmas day, 1286. Almost his last words were those
of the Psalmist, which summed up the efforts of his life, "The Lord hath
sent redemption unto His people; He hath commanded His covenant for
ever."