Tuesday, July 24, 2018

319. SAN RAMON NONATO: The Unborn



The fairly-popular saint, San Ramon Nonato, was delivered by ceasarian section in 1204, as his mother died during childbirth. Thus, his last name –non natus—not born. Due to the nature of his birth, he is invoked for safe childbirth by mothers and midwives. The saint joined the Mercedarian order in Barcelona, under San Pedro Nolasco, whom he succeeded.



San Ramon went to Algeria to ransom slaves, offering himself as hostage for their release. While there, he converted several Mohammedans that caused his capture and torture. On his return to Spain in 1239, he was named Cardinal by Pope Gregory IX, but died on his way to Rome.

He is often depicted wearing a the habit of a Mercedarian, wearing a cardinal's red mozzetta. He is also shown  holding a monstrance and a palm symbolizing his martyrdom.



This chapel-size Philippine San Ramon Nonato, stands 18 inches tall (missing a base). It shows the saint wearing the red short cape of a cardinal. He is outfitted with glass eyes. He retains his original monstrance made of tin on his right hand. The santo, with its original paint,  was purchased from Cristobal Antiques at the Mabini Art Center in the 1980s.


In Latin American art, he is shown with a padlock on his lips. This is in one reference to a legend that  San Ramon continued to preach the Christian faith while imprisoned, so his lips were sealed by his jailors  who bored a hole through saint's lips with a hot iron, and attached a padlock to silence him. Because of this, he is also invoked against false accusations, lies, gossip, slander, ill talk and secrecy of confessions.



There are several parishes in the Philippines under the patronage of San Ramon Nonato, including the parish of Su-ay in Negros Occidental and in Sorsogon City. There is also a shrine dedicated to him in Tagas, Daraga. Albay.  Feast day: August 31.

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