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Frequently Asked Questions

Who is St. Raymond Nonnatus the patron saint of?

St. Raymond Nonnatus is the patron saint of expectant mothers, pregnant women, midwives, newborns, children, and those who have been falsely accused. His patronage of pregnancy and childbirth flows directly from his own birth: his mother died in labor and he was delivered by caesarean section, an event so remarkable in 13th-century Spain that it became the defining fact of his identity. Catholics who are pregnant, who work in labor and delivery, or who support someone through a difficult pregnancy often seek his intercession and wear his medal as a visible expression of that prayer.

What does the name Nonnatus mean, and why does it matter?

Nonnatus is a Latin surname meaning "not born" — specifically, not born through the birth canal in the ordinary way. Raymond received this name because he was delivered by caesarean section after his mother died during labor, making his very entry into the world an act of survival against the odds. This is not simply a historical curiosity; it is the theological root of his entire patronage over expectant mothers, midwives, and difficult births. When a mother wears a St. Raymond Nonnatus medal, she is invoking a saint whose life began with exactly the kind of danger she is facing.

When is St. Raymond Nonnatus's feast day?

The feast day of St. Raymond Nonnatus is celebrated on August 31. It is a meaningful date for Catholics who are devoted to him, particularly expectant mothers and those in the medical profession who care for pregnant women. Many families mark the day by offering a special prayer for a loved one who is pregnant, and it serves as a natural occasion to give a St. Raymond Nonnatus medal as a gift. If a friend or family member is expecting a baby in late summer or early fall, a medal given around August 31 carries both devotional and seasonal significance.

Is a St. Raymond Nonnatus medal a good baby shower gift?

A St. Raymond Nonnatus medal is one of the most thoughtful and specific gifts you can bring to a baby shower, particularly for a Catholic mother. Unlike general gifts, it carries a direct spiritual intention: the intercession of a saint who was himself born through a dangerous labor, on behalf of a mother preparing to go through her own. It is especially meaningful for a first-time mother, a mother who has experienced prior pregnancy loss, or anyone facing a high-risk pregnancy. Paired with a St. Gerard Majella medal — the other great patron of expectant mothers — it makes a gift set that will be remembered long after the onesies are outgrown.

Who is the patron saint of midwives?

St. Raymond Nonnatus is widely recognized as the patron saint of midwives, alongside his broader patronage of expectant mothers and childbirth. His patronage of midwives is rooted in his own birth story: because no midwife could save his mother, and because he himself survived only through extraordinary intervention, he is seen as a heavenly advocate for all who attend births professionally. A St. Raymond Nonnatus medal makes a deeply meaningful gift for a midwife, a labor-and-delivery nurse, or an OB nurse — acknowledging the sacred weight of a vocation that holds life and death in its hands every day.

Are the St. Raymond Nonnatus medals at rosarycard.net made in the USA?

Yes — every St. Raymond Nonnatus medal sold at rosarycard.net is made in the USA by Bliss Manufacturing, a trusted producer of Catholic religious medals with a long record of quality craftsmanship. Each medal is backed by a lifetime guarantee, meaning that if it ever tarnishes, breaks, or fails under normal wear, we will make it right. Medals are available in sterling silver, 14kt gold filled, and 14kt solid gold, so you can choose a metal that fits your budget and the occasion. Orders over $40 ship free, making it easy to send a medal directly to a new mother, a midwife, or anyone who needs the intercession of this extraordinary saint.

The Story of St. Raymond Nonnatus

Raymond Nonnatus was born around 1204 in Portell, Catalonia, in what is now Spain. His mother died during labor, and he was delivered by caesarean section — an act so unusual in the medieval world that it defined his identity. The surname Nonnatus, from the Latin non natus meaning "not born," was given to him precisely because he had not passed through the birth canal in the ordinary way. This origin story is not a footnote; it is the theological foundation of his entire patronage. Raymond entered the Mercedarian Order, founded to ransom Christians held captive by Moorish rulers in North Africa. He traveled to Ceuta and Algiers, spending his own resources to free captives. When his money ran out, he offered himself as a hostage so that others could go free. His captors, furious at his continued preaching of the Gospel, padlocked his lips shut with a red-hot iron to silence him. He endured this with remarkable fortitude. Pope Gregory IX called him back to Rome and made him a cardinal, but Raymond died en route in 1240, at roughly 36 years of age. He was canonized in 1657 by Pope Alexander VII.

Why Catholics Wear a St. Raymond Nonnatus Medal

The spiritual logic of a St. Raymond Nonnatus medal is immediate and personal: he was born through a life-threatening birth, and he spent his life interceding for those in danger. Catholics wear his medal as a prayer of protection wrapped around the neck — a physical act of entrusting a pregnancy, a labor, or a newborn to his intercession. Traditional depictions of St. Raymond show him vested as a Mercedarian cardinal, often holding a monstrance or the palm of martyrdom, and sometimes depicted with a lock or padlock near his mouth — a direct reference to the iron lock his captors used to silence his preaching. The medal is worn not merely as a symbol of devotion but as a statement of trust: that the God who brought Raymond into the world through extraordinary means can be trusted with the lives of mothers and children today. Midwives and labor-and-delivery nurses often receive this medal from grateful families or wear it themselves as a reminder of the sacred weight of their calling. It is also worn by those who have been falsely accused, another aspect of Raymond's patronage rooted in his unjust imprisonment.

Our St. Raymond Nonnatus Medal Collection

Our St. Raymond Nonnatus medals are made in the USA by Bliss Manufacturing, a family-owned company with decades of experience producing Catholic religious medals to the highest standards of craftsmanship. Every medal in this collection is backed by a lifetime guarantee — if it ever tarnishes, breaks, or fails, we make it right. Choose from three metal options: sterling silver for classic elegance, 14kt gold filled for warm, lasting color at an accessible price, and 14kt solid gold for a heirloom-quality piece meant to be passed down. Medals are available in multiple sizes to suit personal preference, paired with chain lengths appropriate for everyday wear. Orders over $40 ship free. If you are building a devotional gift set, consider pairing a St. Raymond medal with a St. Gerard Majella medal — both saints are patrons of expectant mothers, and together they make a powerful combined intercession. You might also explore St. Anne medals for the grandmother of Jesus and patron of mothers, or St. Gianna Molla medals for the modern physician-saint who gave her life for her unborn child.

Giving a St. Raymond Nonnatus Medal as a Gift

A St. Raymond Nonnatus medal is one of the most intentional gifts you can bring to a baby shower — far more specific and spiritually resonant than a generic blessing. When a friend or family member is pregnant for the first time, or when a pregnancy has been marked by complications, fear, or loss, this medal says something that a card cannot. It is also a natural gift to give just before a mother's due date or on the eve of a scheduled delivery, tucking a prayer into her hospital bag alongside everything else. For midwives, labor-and-delivery nurses, and OB nurses, a St. Raymond Nonnatus medal makes a genuinely meaningful appreciation gift — one that acknowledges the spiritual dimension of the work they do every day, not just the clinical skill. The feast day of August 31 offers another natural occasion: a small gift to a pregnant friend near that date carries both devotional meaning and seasonal timing. Every order from rosarycard.net arrives in gift-ready packaging, and free shipping applies to all orders over $40.