St. Raymond Nonnatus

Raymond was born in 1204 in Catalonia, Spain. His mother died while in labor and to save him, attendants performed a caesarean section. Because of this, people began calling him non-natus which means not born. His family was wealthy and his father wanted a secular career for his son, but Raymond joined the Mercedarians, receiving the habit from St. Peter Nolasco, the order's founder. He ransomed slaves in Africa and became a hostage in return for the ransom of many slaves. When the governor learned that he had converted some Moslems, he ordered Raymond impaled. Because he would bring a high ransom, the death sentence was waived, but he was tortured. After eight months, he was ransomed by St. Peter Nolasco. In 1239, he was appointed Cardinal but died at Cardona on August 31, 1240 while on his way to Rome. He was canonized in 1657 and his feast is August 31. He is the patron of women in childbirth, children, obstetricians, midwives, and expectant mothers because the way he was born