Saint John of Matha
A priest from Provence, co-founder of the Trinitarians to ransom captives
- Rank
- Saint
- Kind
- Founder, Priest
- Life
- 1160 – 1213
- Era
- 13th century
- Feast
- 17 December
- Countries
- France, Italy
Life story
John was born in 1160 at Faucon in Provence, in the south of France. He studied at Aix and Paris, where he was ordained a priest, and tradition says his first Mass was attended by bishops and professors of the university. Tradition also says he had a vision during that Mass and resolved to give his life to ransoming prisoners.
Together with Felix of Valois, whom historians today doubt ever existed, he founded the Order of the Most Holy Trinity, the Trinitarians, with its mother house at Cerfroid in northern France. In 1198 Pope Innocent III approved the rule. The order's purpose was to use a share of its income to ransom Christians held captive in the wars around the Mediterranean. According to tradition John himself travelled to Tunis to negotiate ransoms.
He later lived in Rome, in the monastery of San Tommaso in Formis given to the order by the pope. He died there on 17 December 1213. The Church confirmed his veneration in 1666 under Alexander VII. The Trinitarians still exist today and continue charitable work. His feast was formerly kept on 8 February and is now 17 December.
The Trinitarians grew quickly in France, Spain and Italy, and for centuries their ransom work continued in cooperation with the Mercedarians. The order's emblem, a cross in red and blue, recalls their devotion, and the church of San Tommaso in Formis in Rome stayed associated with their story.
Works and witness
- Studied at Aix and Paris and was ordained a priest in Paris
- With Felix of Valois, founded the Trinitarian Order at Cerfroid
- Rule confirmed by Pope Innocent III in 1198
- By tradition, travelled to Tunis to ransom Christian captives
- Died in Rome on 17 December 1213
Saints from the same country
References
- Martyrologium Romanum
- Encyclopaedia Britannica – St. John of Matha
- Trinitarian Order – historical profile
Written by Anawim from documented history. Some details about ancient saints rest on tradition and are marked as such.