Order of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mercy for the redemption of Christian captives

The phrase **"Beatæ Mariæ Virginis de Mercede"** refers to the **Order of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mercy**, also known as the **Mercedarians**. This Catholic mendicant order was established in **1218** by **Peter Nolasco** in **Barcelona**, part of the Crown of Aragon at that time, for the redemption of Christian captives.

Peter Nolasco established the **Order of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mercy** (Mercedarians) in **1218** in **Barcelona, Spain**, aided by **St. Raymond of Peñafort**, his confessor, who based the new order’s rule on **St. Augustine**. The order aimed to redeem captive Christians.

Pope Gregory IX issued a bull of confirmation approving Nolasco’s order on **17 January 1235**. The order lived as a community of friars, composed of both priests and brothers.

The feast of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mercy is observed on September 24th. Initially celebrated within the Order of Mercy, it was later extended to the entire Church by Pope Innocent XII.

The **Order of Mercy**, also known as the **Order of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mercy** or the **Mercedarian Friars**, was founded in **1218** by **Saint Peter Nolasco** in **Barcelona, Spain**. The primary mission was to **redeem Christian captives** from their Muslim captors during frequent warfare between Christian and Muslim territories.

The Order is characterized by its members taking a **fourth vow**: to die, if necessary, for another in danger of losing their faith, in addition to the traditional vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience.

The Mercedarians live a life of prayer and communal fraternity based on the **Rule of Saint Augustine** and the **Constitutions of the Order**. They are active in various ministries, including parishes, chaplaincies, and schools, continuing their mission of proclaiming the freedom of the Gospel message.

Today, the Order exists in **17 countries**, including Spain, Italy, Brazil, India, and the United States. The Mercedarians continue to adapt their mission to address the "new captivities" of our age, such as addiction, human trafficking, and other forms of modern slavery.

For more information, you can visit the Order of Mercy's official website.

The operation to redeem captives has been significant in various historical and religious contexts. Here are a few notable examples:

1. **Biblical Times**: One of the earliest recorded instances of redeeming captives is found in the Bible. Abraham rescued his nephew Lot, who had been taken captive during a war between different groups of petty monarchs. Abraham gathered his family and entourage, pursued the captors, and successfully freed Lot and the others.

2. **Jewish Tradition**: In Jewish culture, redeeming captives is considered a supreme moral value. The commandment to free captives is emphasized in the Torah and has been significant in Jewish communal life throughout history. Maimonides, a prominent Jewish scholar, stated that there is no greater commandment than the redemption of captives.

3. **Operation Entebbe (1976)**: One of the most daring and successful modern rescue missions was Operation Entebbe. On July 4, 1976, Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) executed a meticulously planned operation to free 102 hostages held by terrorists at Entebbe Airport in Uganda. The mission involved a surprise airborne assault, a brief ground engagement, and the rapid extraction of the hostages.