St. Raymond Nonnatus

Raymond was born in 1204 at Portella, Catalonia, Spain. He was delivered by caesarean operation when his mother died in childbirth. Hence his name 'non natus' (not born).

He joined the Mercedarians under St. Peter Nolasco at Barcelona. He succeeded Peter as chief ransomer and went to Algeria to ransom slaves. He remained as hostage for several slaves when his money ran out, and he was sentenced to be impaled when the governor learned that he had converted several Mohammedans. He escaped the death sentence because of the ransom he would bring, but was forced to run the gauntlet. He was then tortured for continuing his evangelizing activities but was ransomed eight months later by Peter Nolasco.

He was canonized in 1657. He is a patron saint of expectant mothers and midwives because of the nature of his own birth. His Feast Day is August 31.