circa 1218
It was the time when the larger and more fertile part of Spain was oppressed under the yoke of the terrible Saracen. Great numbers of the faithful languished in cruel servitude in grave dangr of losing their eternal salvation by denying their Christian faith. The most blessed Queen of Heaven hastened to remedy these great evils and to show Her condrous charity by ransoming the captives. It was then She showed Herself with a radiant countenance to Peter Nolasco. He was a man widely known for his great welath and pity. Having time for holymeditation, he had been turning over in his mind plans for helping the vast number of christins living in hardship as captives of the Morrs. The Blessed Virgin told him thatit would be most pelasing to Her and to Her only Son were a religious order founded in Her honor, whose members would dedicate themselves to ransoming captives from the tyranny of the Turks.
The same night the holy Virgin appeared also to Blessed Ramond of Pennafort, and to James, King of Aragon, charging them to found an order, urging them to aid in inaugurating this great undertaking.
