St. Felix of Valois was born in 1127 in the French province of Valois. St. Felix gave up his possessions as a young man and retired to a dense forest near Meaux, where he spent his life as a hermit. He was already 71 when St. John of Matha, 33 years his junior, came to his retreat and suggested the foundation of a religious Order for redeeming Christian captives from the Moors in Spain and North Africa. In obedience to a vision, the two saints set out for Rome in 1198, and after the matter had been considered in several solemn conclaves of Cardinals and Papal advisers, Pope Innocent III confirmed the "Order of the Holy Trinity for the Redemption of Captives." Returning to France, Felix was enthusiastically welcomed, and King Philip Augustus helped to establish the new Order at the site of St. Felix's hermitage. From there, the Trinitarians spread with amazing rapidity, and within 40 years, 600 monasteries were established in all parts of the world. Felix remained in France, establishing the new Order there and in Italy, while his co-founder, St. John of Matha, traveled to Spain and Barbary. St. Felix died amongst his fellow Trinitarians at their motherhouse in Cerfroid on 4 November 1212. Although no bull of his Canonisation is extant, it is the tradition of his institute that Pope Urban IV canonized him on 1 May 1262. On 21 October 1666, Pope Alexander VII confirmed his status as a saint because of his immemorial cult.
O God, Who by a voice from Heaven
Did vouchsafe to summon Thy blessed Confessor Felix from the desert
To undertake the work of the ransoming of captives: Grant, we beseech Thee, That by Thy grace we may be freed From the bondage of our sins, Through His intercession, And may be guided safely to our Heavenly country,
Through our Lord, Jesus Christ, Thy Son,
Who liveth and reigneth with Thee,
In the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God,
World without end.
Amen.
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