Feast of St. Raimondo Nonnato, the Pope: entrusting oneself to him for the nascent life

Lisa Zengarini – Vatican City

“I remember my meetings there in those days of celebration, the blessings of mothers, children, couples who ask for a child … a true hymn to the life to come”. It is with a personal memory of when he was archbishop of Buenos Aires that he begins the message of Pope Francis to Father Rubén Ceraci, parish priest of the Bonaerense community of San Ramón Nonato, on the occasion of his patronal feast, on 31 August.

The figure of Saint Raymond

“Even today, when at the audience a couple asks me for the blessing for a child to come – writes the Pope – I tell them to pray to San Raimondo Nonnato and, if they are Argentine, I recommend that they stop at the Sanctuary of Via Cervantes.” San Raimondo Nonnato (that is not – born to a living mother, but extracted from her lifeless body with a caesarean section), he is in fact also the patron saint of midwives due to the dramatic circumstances in which he came into the world from his mother’s lifeless body.

Referring to the next patronal novena that will begin this Saturday 22 August, Francis wishes the faithful of the community of San Raimondo Nonnato “a beautiful celebration” despite the restrictions due to Covid-19: “I am sure – he says – that grace, peace, health and fertility will be abundant ”.

The motto that accompanies this year’s celebrations is “Together with San Raimondo we embrace hope”. Each day will be marked by a moment of prayer in the evening. On 31 August, at 7.30 pm, Mass presided over by the Cardinal Primate Mario Poli, Archbishop of Buenos Aires.

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