(Also known as the Scapular of Our Lady of Mercy; the Scapular of Our Lady of Ransom)

This Scapular was given by the Blessed Virgin Mary to St.Peter Nolasco on Aug. 2, 1218, for the redemption of captive Christians. The Blessed Virgin Mary appeared in separate visions on the same night to St.Peter Nolasco, to St.Raymond of Penafort, a Spanish Dominican, and to James I, King of Aragon, Spain.

Our Lady's request was for the establishment of an order for  the ransoming of Christian slaves. King James insisted that the shield of Aragon be placed on the scapular. The opposite side bears the "A" & "M" for the Ave Maria.

Today, the Scapular of Mercy is used for the ransoming and redeeming of souls from the devil.

Our Lady of Ransom is a Marian title commemorating the foundation of the Mercedarian religious order by St. Peter Nolasco in 1218. This name derives from the Spanish word for mercy: merced. The complete name of this order is: the Order of the Blessed Virgin Mary for the Ransom of Captives.

St. Peter Nolasco founded the order in response to a request made by the Blessed Virgin during an apparition on Aug 1, 1218. Members of this order took a special vow to act as hostages, if necessary, to free Christian captives whose faith was in danger from the Moors. This was important at the time of the Crusades, but has since been adapted to changing historical circumstances.

Today, the main thrust of the Mercedarians' apostolate is Reconciliation.

The Mercedarians in Barcelona once commemorated this apparition on the first Sunday after September 24. Our Lady of Ransom is the principal Patroness of Barcelona. In 1696, the feast of Our Lady of Ransom was placed on the calendar for the entire Latin Church to be celebrated on September 24. The name for the Marian commemoration on September 24 was changed to Our Lady of Mercy after Vatican II.

The General of the Mercedarians communicates to other priests the faculty of receiving into the confraternity and of blessing and investing with the scapular.

A Constitution of Urban IV issued on March 25, 1263 grants to the laity who wear the scapular of the order, habitum nostrum in the world, many graces and indulgences.

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The Scapular of Our Lady of Mercy