International. An Order Of Our Lady Of Mercy Mercedarian, Grand Commander

Cross in silver with red and white enamels, mounted to a silver eight-pointed star base, each star point with five faceted rays vertical pinback flanked by dual stays, measuring at 84.45mm in diameter and weighing at 58.4 grams; Commander’s Cross in silver gilt, consisting of an enameled white four armed cross, obverse centre featuring a partially enameled red Order’s insignia, mirrored reverse, adorned by Royal Crown with interior red enamels orb, measuring 53.95 mm (w) x 88.70 (h - inclusive of Royal Crown and horizontally pierced ball suspension adorned by cross), weighing at 40.5 grams, suspended by original neck ribbon, with a miniature and a boutonniere in original case of issue.  

Footnote: The Royal, Celestial and Military Order of Our Lady of Mercy and the Redemption of the Captives (Latin: Ordo Beatae Mariae de Mercede Redemptionis Captivorum, abbreviated O. de M.), also known as the Mercedarians, is a Catholic mendicant order established in 1218 by St. Peter Nolasco in the city of Barcelona, at that time in the Principality of Catalonia (Crown of Aragon), for the redemption of Christian captives. Its members are most commonly known as Mercedarian friars or nuns. One of the distinguishing marks of the Order of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mercy is that, since its foundation, its members are required to take a fourth vow to, if necessary, to die for another who is in danger of losing their faith. At first, the Order of Mercy had, at the same time, religious and military characteristics and that the first Masters General were lay knights. With the passing of time, the knightly and military aspects lost the importance that they had, especially in the first century of the Order. However, in the course of history and particularly in Spain, there were investitures and groups of lay knights, never contested by the Holy See or any civil or ecclesiastical authority. In 1926, the Order’s Master General, Juan del Carmelo Garrido, reformed the Statutes of the association and established new norms for secular knights whom he divided into five classes or ranks: Great Cross, Commander with badge and title, Honorary Commander, Knights and Donates, setting up emblems for each category, uniforms, honors and precedence. Two years later, the King of Spain, Alfonso XIII, Great Commander of Our Lady of Mercy, issued a decree placing the Order of Mercy on the same level as other Spanish Orders of Knights and authorizing the use of badges and titles. According to the Knights’ Statutes, their main objective was the profession and practice of the Catholic faith, practicing Christian virtues, charitable works for missions and anti-slavery propaganda. In his 1931 report to the General Chapter, the Master General confirmed that, at that time, there were 300 knights. Later on, in 1936, due to complaints from other military orders whose emblems were eclipsed by the beauty, historical and heraldic transcendence of the Mercedarians’, though it recognized in practice the Order’s right to confer these emblems, the Holy See asked the Order to refrain from conferring them. Although the King of Spain offered to intervene, in obedience to the Church’s voice, the Order never granted them again. On the same occasion, Pope Pius XI removed from the Mercedarian title theappellatives of Royal and Military which the Order had since its origin. The Order exists today in seventeen countries.