Friends of the Rosary,

Today, May 6, the Church honors St. Peter Nolasco (1182-1258), born in France but later settled in Barcelona, Spain. After taking part in the Crusades against the Albigensians, he, together with St. Raymond of Penafort and James I, King of Aragon, founded the Order of Our Lady of Mercy (Mercedarians), devoted to ransoming Christian prisoners held by the Moors. He did so at the request of the Blessed Mary, who appeared to him in 1228.

Around 1,300 Christians would regain their liberty. Peter Nolasco died with these words from Psalm 110 on his lips: "The Lord has sent redemption to His people."

Also, today we remember a miracle at the end of the first century, mentioned by St. Jerome. St. John the Apostle was taken to Rome under the Emperor Domitian and convicted of proclaiming Christ.

Considered a rebellious old man, he was sentenced by a pagan tribunal to an ignominious and cruel death. A huge cauldron of boiling oil was prepared in front of the Latin Gate in Rome, in which he would be plunged.

The executioners seized the old man and threw him into the boiling oil. But suddenly the oil lost all its heat, and by this miracle, St. John came out safe, even feeling that his youthful years were restored to him.

A church was built near the Latin Gate. Since then, we have observed the tradition of St. John before the Latin Gate.

After the attempted torture, an imperial decree banished John to the rugged Isle of Patmos, where God revealed to him the future of the Church to the end of time in the Book of the Apocalypse.

Alleluia! Christ is Risen!

Ave Maria!
Come, Holy Spirit, come!
To Jesus through Mary!

Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will.
Please give us the grace to respond with joy!

+ Mikel Amigot w/ María Blanca | RosaryNetwork.com, New York

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• ⁠May 6, 2026, Today’s Rosary on YouTube | Daily broadcast at 7:30 pm ET