Sat., Aug. 31, 2013
Feast of St. Raymond Nonnatus
Fr. Eugene Raymond, O. de M.
Just a little thought for today’s feast.
How wonderful that we bring the statue of Saint Raymond Nonnatus to our parish of Our Lady of Mercy. And I think it is so important for us to realize a few facts about him.
Saint Raymond Nonnatus is the patron for life, for expectant mothers, and for families.
He was one of the original companions of Saint Peter Nolasco in the early 1200s. He was chosen as a priest and as a ransomer for the Christian captives. Now it is important for us to realize that in the General Chapter, when they chose him, it was because of three factors: he could speak to Moslems, he was very holy, and he was heroic in that he would die for the faith. So, he was chosen.
And as we know, Saint Raymond did go on campaign for the Christian captives – to save them. And while he was there he suffered for the faith – for the truth. And the Pope, because of his great heroic sanctity, made him a cardinal.
Patron for families
Now it is important for us to know that Saint Raymond is not only the patron for life, and for expectant mothers, but also for families. How we need a patron for families! And we need this intercessor because we all must realize, we must know that in our families there are trials, difficulties, crosses and disappointments. Saint Raymond wants to be an advocate for us.
I would like to share with you something about this statue. Notice that he has the palm of martyrdom – Saint Raymond did not suffer death, but he suffered for the truth, and proclaiming that truth. There are three crowns on the top of that palm of martyrdom.
The first crown was that he was confessor to the truth. He proclaimed the truth, he lived the truth, he suffered for the truth and the papacy gave him the office of cardinal because of that. Saint Raymond”s statue is on the Colonnade of St. Peter”s Basilica in Rome.
The second crown is that he was truly a saint, very holy, for he loved the faith. He is shown always with the monstrance because of his true sanctity and his purity which he kept all his life.
A hero to captives
And the third crown, is that he was a hero to the captives. He truly and really suffered for the captives and gave his all. This is important for us to know that he did not own his captives, but that he loved the faith and wanted to give all to the captives, and he wanted also, if he could, to ransom the Moslems from their faith to the Christian faith.
I think it is very important for us to know that he is the patron for families.
Again I mentioned that it is important. I humbly believe, I really do, that we know him for this category, that he is a patron for families. How we need a patron for families! How we need to pray to him. How we need to ask for his intercession in our lives. And so I think it wonderful that we have him, this statue, at and in our parish. We can pray and ask his intercession for our families, we can light candles, we can remember him and ask him for the strength to build up our faith as families, especially in this Year of Faith. May Saint Raymond help us, guide us, and may he strengthen us as a family here as a parish and as the people of God. May Saint Raymond guide us. God bless you. In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Father Eugene Raymond Costa, O. de M., is a priest of the . Read more on their website about .