Raymond Nonnatus
Encyclopedia
Saint Raymond Nonnatus (1204–1240) was a saint
from Catalonia
in Spain
. His surname refers to his birth by Caesarean section
(his mother died during childbirth
). He is the patron saint
of childbirth
, midwives, children, pregnant women and priests who want to protect the secrecy of confession.
, in the Diocese of Urgell
, and became a member of the Mercedarian Order, founded to ransom Christian captives from the Moors
of North Africa
. He was ordained a priest in 1222 and later became master-general of the order. He traveled to North Africa and is said to have surrendered himself as a hostage
when his money ran out.
He suffered in captivity. A legend states that the Moors bored a hole through his lips with a hot iron, and padlock
ed his mouth to prevent him from preaching. He was ransomed by his order and in 1239 returned to Spain
. He died at Cardona
, sixty miles from Barcelona
, either on August 26 or on August 31, 1240. Many miracles were attributed to him before and after his death.
In the historiography and hagiography from 16th century it is repeatedely claimed that upon his return to Spain in 1239 Pope Gregory IX
nominated him Cardinal
-Deacon of Sant'Eustachio
, and that he died en route to Rome However, Italian historian Agostino Paravicini Bagliani
has established that this accounts resulted from a confusion of Raymond Nonnatus with Englishman Robert Somercote, cardinal-deacon of S. Eustachio 1238-1241, and has concluded that St. Raymond was never a cardinal.
, in Canada
, San Ramón de la Nueva Orán
, in Argentina
, and São Raimundo Nonato
and the Roman Catholic Diocese of São Raimundo Nonato
(Raymundianus), in Brazil
, are named after him.
is celebrated, but, since he is included in the Roman Martyrology
for August 31, Mass
and the Liturgy of the Hours
may be recited in his honor on that day as in the pre-1970 General Roman Calendar, which is observed by some traditionalist Catholic
s.
One particular ritual is centered around the padlock that is part of his martyrdom. Locks are placed at his altar to stop gossip, rumours, false testimonies and bad talk. They are also used to keep secrets, stop cursing or lying and to guard priests who want to protect the secrecy of confession. After placing a lock the person takes a seat in the main bench, for all to see.
Saint
A saint is a holy person. In various religions, saints are people who are believed to have exceptional holiness.In Christian usage, "saint" refers to any believer who is "in Christ", and in whom Christ dwells, whether in heaven or in earth...
from Catalonia
Catalonia
Catalonia is an autonomous community in northeastern Spain, with the official status of a "nationality" of Spain. Catalonia comprises four provinces: Barcelona, Girona, Lleida, and Tarragona. Its capital and largest city is Barcelona. Catalonia covers an area of 32,114 km² and has an...
in Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
. His surname refers to his birth by Caesarean section
Caesarean section
A Caesarean section, is a surgical procedure in which one or more incisions are made through a mother's abdomen and uterus to deliver one or more babies, or, rarely, to remove a dead fetus...
(his mother died during childbirth
Childbirth
Childbirth is the culmination of a human pregnancy or gestation period with the birth of one or more newborn infants from a woman's uterus...
). He is the patron saint
Patron saint
A patron saint is a saint who is regarded as the intercessor and advocate in heaven of a nation, place, craft, activity, class, clan, family, or person...
of childbirth
Childbirth
Childbirth is the culmination of a human pregnancy or gestation period with the birth of one or more newborn infants from a woman's uterus...
, midwives, children, pregnant women and priests who want to protect the secrecy of confession.
Life
According to Mercedarian tradition, he was born at La PortellaLa Portella
La Portella is a municipality in the comarca of the Segrià in Catalonia, Spain. It is situated on the right bank of the Noguera Ribagorçana river...
, in the Diocese of Urgell
Diocese of Urgell
The Diocese of Urgell is a Roman Catholic diocese in Catalonia, Spain, with origins in the fifth century AD or possibly earlier. It is based in the region of the historical Catalan county of Urgell, though it has different borders...
, and became a member of the Mercedarian Order, founded to ransom Christian captives from the Moors
Moors
The description Moors has referred to several historic and modern populations of the Maghreb region who are predominately of Berber and Arab descent. They came to conquer and rule the Iberian Peninsula for nearly 800 years. At that time they were Muslim, although earlier the people had followed...
of North Africa
North Africa
North Africa or Northern Africa is the northernmost region of the African continent, linked by the Sahara to Sub-Saharan Africa. Geopolitically, the United Nations definition of Northern Africa includes eight countries or territories; Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, South Sudan, Sudan, Tunisia, and...
. He was ordained a priest in 1222 and later became master-general of the order. He traveled to North Africa and is said to have surrendered himself as a hostage
Hostage
A hostage is a person or entity which is held by a captor. The original definition meant that this was handed over by one of two belligerent parties to the other or seized as security for the carrying out of an agreement, or as a preventive measure against certain acts of war...
when his money ran out.
He suffered in captivity. A legend states that the Moors bored a hole through his lips with a hot iron, and padlock
Padlock
Padlocks are portable locks used to protect against theft, vandalism, sabotage, unauthorized use, and harm. They are designed to protect against some degree of forced and surreptitious entry.- History :...
ed his mouth to prevent him from preaching. He was ransomed by his order and in 1239 returned to Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
. He died at Cardona
Cardona
Cardona is a town ìn Catalonia, Spain, in the province of Barcelona; about 90 km northwest of the city of Barcelona, on a hill almost surrounded by the river Cardoner, a branch of the Llobregat.Near the town is an extensive deposit of rock salt...
, sixty miles from Barcelona
Barcelona
Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...
, either on August 26 or on August 31, 1240. Many miracles were attributed to him before and after his death.
In the historiography and hagiography from 16th century it is repeatedely claimed that upon his return to Spain in 1239 Pope Gregory IX
Pope Gregory IX
Pope Gregory IX, born Ugolino di Conti, was pope from March 19, 1227 to August 22, 1241.The successor of Pope Honorius III , he fully inherited the traditions of Pope Gregory VII and of his uncle Pope Innocent III , and zealously continued their policy of Papal supremacy.-Early life:Ugolino was...
nominated him Cardinal
Cardinal (Catholicism)
A cardinal is a senior ecclesiastical official, usually an ordained bishop, and ecclesiastical prince of the Catholic Church. They are collectively known as the College of Cardinals, which as a body elects a new pope. The duties of the cardinals include attending the meetings of the College and...
-Deacon of Sant'Eustachio
Sant'Eustachio
Sant'Eustachio is a Roman Catholic titular church in Rome, named for the martyr Saint Eustace.-History:The church was founded in the 8th century, or possibly even earlier . The church was recorded as a diaconia at the end of the pontificate of Pope Gregory II...
, and that he died en route to Rome However, Italian historian Agostino Paravicini Bagliani
Agostino Paravicini Bagliani
Agostino Paravicini Bagliani is a prominent Italian historian, with interests in the history of the papacy, in cultural anthropology, in the history of the body and the relationship between nature and society during the Middle Ages.-Biography:He received his Ph.D...
has established that this accounts resulted from a confusion of Raymond Nonnatus with Englishman Robert Somercote, cardinal-deacon of S. Eustachio 1238-1241, and has concluded that St. Raymond was never a cardinal.
Places named in honor of St Raymond
Saint-Raymond, QuebecSaint-Raymond, Quebec
Saint-Raymond, also called Saint-Raymond de Portneuf, is a city in Quebec, Canada, located about north-west of Quebec City. It is the largest city in population and area of the Portneuf Regional County Municipality.- Economy :...
, in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, San Ramón de la Nueva Orán
Orán, Salta
San Ramón de la Nueva Orán is a city in the north-west of the , about 270 km from the provincial capital, Salta...
, in Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
, and São Raimundo Nonato
São Raimundo Nonato
São Raimundo Nonato is a city located in the southern region of the state of the Piauí, Brazil, and is 576 km away from the capital, Teresina. It is known for been the city where the administration the Serra da Capivara National Park is located....
and the Roman Catholic Diocese of São Raimundo Nonato
Roman Catholic Diocese of São Raimundo Nonato
The Roman Catholic Diocese of São Raimundo Nonato is a diocese located in the city of São Raimundo Nonato in the Ecclesiastical province of Teresina in Brazil.-History:...
(Raymundianus), in Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
, are named after him.
Veneration
His feast day is on August 31. Because of his limited importance worldwide, his liturgical celebration is no longer included among those to be necessarily commemorated wherever the Roman RiteRoman Rite
The Roman Rite is the liturgical rite used in the Diocese of Rome in the Catholic Church. It is by far the most widespread of the Latin liturgical rites used within the Western or Latin autonomous particular Church, the particular Church that itself is also called the Latin Rite, and that is one of...
is celebrated, but, since he is included in the Roman Martyrology
Roman Martyrology
The Roman Martyrology is the official martyrology of the Roman Rite of the Roman Catholic Church. It provides an extensive but not exhaustive list of the saints recognized by the Church.-History:...
for August 31, Mass
Mass (liturgy)
"Mass" is one of the names by which the sacrament of the Eucharist is called in the Roman Catholic Church: others are "Eucharist", the "Lord's Supper", the "Breaking of Bread", the "Eucharistic assembly ", the "memorial of the Lord's Passion and Resurrection", the "Holy Sacrifice", the "Holy and...
and the Liturgy of the Hours
Liturgy of the hours
The Liturgy of the Hours or Divine Office is the official set of daily prayers prescribed by the Catholic Church to be recited at the canonical hours by the clergy, religious orders, and laity. The Liturgy of the Hours consists primarily of psalms supplemented by hymns and readings...
may be recited in his honor on that day as in the pre-1970 General Roman Calendar, which is observed by some traditionalist Catholic
Traditionalist Catholic
Traditionalist Catholics are Roman Catholics who believe that there should be a restoration of many or all of the liturgical forms, public and private devotions and presentations of Catholic teachings which prevailed in the Catholic Church before the Second Vatican Council...
s.
One particular ritual is centered around the padlock that is part of his martyrdom. Locks are placed at his altar to stop gossip, rumours, false testimonies and bad talk. They are also used to keep secrets, stop cursing or lying and to guard priests who want to protect the secrecy of confession. After placing a lock the person takes a seat in the main bench, for all to see.
Sources
- Elizabeth Hallam (ed.), "Saints: Who They Are and How They Help You" (New York: Simon & Schuster, 1994), p. 33.
- "Lives of the Saints, For Every Day of the Year, edited by Rev. Hugo Hoever, S.O.Cist., Ph.D., New York: Catholic Book Publishing Co., June 1, 1955, p. 344