Saint Peter Armengol

Life story

Peter Armengol (Pere Ermengol) was born around 1238, the son of a Catalan nobleman; one source gives his birthplace as La Guàrdia dels Prats, while other sources say the Tarragona area. Devotional accounts say he lived as a young man with a band of robbers. Tradition adds that he was captured and confronted his own father, and that this changed his life; the detail comes only from devotional sources and is not independently verified.

Around 1258 he joined the Mercedarians, the order founded by St Peter Nolasco to ransom Christian captives in Muslim lands. He was ordained a priest and given the work of “redeemer.” figures for the number of captives freed appear only in devotional sources and are not given here.

According to the order's tradition, on one mission in North Africa he remained behind as a hostage for the ransom, and when the money did not arrive in time he was hanged from a tree. The story says he was still alive when his companion arrived late, and he himself credited his survival to the Virgin Mary. This is tradition, not an independently attested event.

In his later years he lived at the Mercedarian house in his home region. He died on 27 April 1304. Innocent XI confirmed the veneration paid to him on 28 March 1686 (an equipollent beatification), and in 1687 permitted the recitation of his Office and the celebration of his Mass. He is therefore a blessed, although some popular sources call him a canonised saint. According to the Order of Mercy his name entered the Roman Martyrology in 1688. The order keeps his feast on 27 April.

Works and witness

• Joined the Mercedarians around 1258 and was given the work of ransoming captives
• By tradition, stayed as a hostage in North Africa to guarantee a ransom
• By tradition, survived being hanged
• Died on 27 April 1304
• His cult was confirmed by Innocent XI in 1686

Saints from the same country

Saint Dominic, Saint Ignatius of Loyola, Saint Teresa of Ávila, Saint Francis Xavier

References

• Order of Mercy: 'Peter Armengol', orderofmercy.org/peter-armengol (confirmation of cult on 28 March 1686; Office and Mass in 1687)
• Catholic.net (Spanish): 'Pedro Ermengol, Santo' (immemorial cult confirmed 28 March 1686, feast 27 April)
• GCatholic.org, beatifications in the pontificate of Innocent XI, gcatholic.org/saints/beati-I11

Written by Anawim from documented history. Some details about ancient saints rest on tradition and are marked as such.