Life of Saint Peter Nolasco

Peter Nolasco died in 1256 in Barcelona.

1256

In 1248, when Ferdinand III of Castile took the city of Seville, Pedro Nolasco accompanied him and, shortly after, founded the Convent of Merced Calzada

1248

LIts members were obliged, by a fourth vow, to give themselves as hostages for the liberation of captives if they did not have the money necessary for their ransom. The Mercedarians pronounced four vows: poverty, chastity, obedience and, fourthly,

1235

On tehe night of 1° and 2° of august of 1218,the Virgin appeared to him,asking him to found an order dedicated to the redemption of captives

1218

Born in Barcelona Spain in Aquitania

1180

Saint Peter Nolasco

The life of

Diego Hernández Galán

Pedro Nolasco founded the Order of La Merced in 1218. The order was dedicated to mediating to free Christian prisoners who fell into the hands of the Taifa kingdoms during the Reconquista, or the Muslim kingdoms of the Mediterranean.

Order of Merced

They were willing to give themselves up as hostages if that were the only way to fulfill their promise. Many Christians were then captured and sold as slaves to the Muslims in Africa.

Liberations

Nolasco died in 1256 in Barcelona, seven years after having resigned as Superior. According to tradition he died on 25 December, but recent studies of the Royal Archives of Barcelona have indicated that he died on 6 May.

Death

Although there has been speculation about his birth in Barcelona, ​​in 1180, according to historians, he was born in Aquitaine, a French region, which at that time was a duchy. When Barcelona is mentioned it is because his family moved there when he was born.

Birth

The building that houses the museum was built as the Convent of Merced. This order was founded by Saint Peter Nolasco in 1218. After the conquest of Seville in 1248, Ferdinand III gave the order some houses for the installation of the convent and granted it income.

Convent of Merced