How ironic. For Catholics, 24th September has been celebrated since 1696 as the feast of Our Lady of Ransom, which commemorates the founding of the Mercedarian congregation in 1218 by St Peter Nolasco. Their main objective was the rescue of Christian captives from the Muslim Moors. In England it is now the feast of Our Lady of Walsingham, with special prayers for the return of England to the Catholic Faith.