Saint John of Matha
Founder of the Order of the Most Holy Trinity.
He was born into Provencal nobility in 1154 at Faucon-de-Barcelonnette, France. As a youth, he was educated at Aix-en-Provence, and later studied theology at the University of Paris. While in Paris, he was urged by a vision during his first Mass to dedicate his life to the service of the captive Christian slaves. He offered service to and was instructed by the hermit, St. Felix of Valois, in the region of Soissons, and went to Rome with him in 1198.
On December 17, 1198, he obtained the preliminary approval of Pope Innocent III for a new order dedicated in honor of the Blessed Trinity for the redemption of Christian captives. This order was fully approved in 1209. The Order of the Most Holy Trinity’s first monastery was established at Cerfroid (just north of Paris) and the second at Rome at the church of San Tommaso in Formis. Christian slaves were first rescued by the Order in 1201. In 1202 and 1210 John traveled to Tunisia himself and brought back countless Christian slaves.
St. John of Matha died on December 17, 1213 in Rome. In 1655, his relics were transferred from Rome to Madrid. His cultus was approved in 1665.
