Our Lady of Mercy

Today is the feast of Our Lady of Mercy, which commemorates her apparition. She also is known as Our Lady of Ransom. When she appeared, she carried two bags of coins, which she used to ransom Christians whom the Moors had imprisoned. The Mercedarian Order was founded in Barcelona, Spain, on Aug. 10, 1218, after the appearance, and the order was approved by Pope Gregory IX Jan. 17, 1235. Our Lady of Mercy is patron saint of Barcelona and people named Mercy, Mercedes or Clemency.