Saint John of Matha, priest and confessor (1169-1213)
by VP
Posted on Thursday February 08, 2024 at 12:38AM in Saints
Mass of St. John of Matha, Priest by Juan Carreño De Miranda
"The order of Trinitarians was instituted by this saint, for the redemption of captives, in the year 1198. Pray for all the religious of this holy order, that they may faithfully comply with the spirit of this servant of God. Pray for all those unhappy Christians, who are in slavery amongst infidels; where being exposed to great dangers, through the want of all spiritual help, they stand in need of your charity. Pray for all that are in prison, that God would be their comfort, preserve them from the usual contagion of those places of confinement, and give them grace to sanctify their sufferings. See that you have no hand in making any so unhappy, through passion, malice, revenge, or hardheartedness.
Pray for all that are slaves to sin; that by the power of divine grace, they may use violence to themselves, and break their chains. And let it be your constant care never to be the occasion of drawing any into this state of misery. Ill example and all corrupt discourse must therefore be carefully avoided. For it is by these encouragements that the piety of many
is overthrown; and you communicate your poison to others, which they
too often carry with them to their grave. And however in this case you
pretend to repent, yet by what possible means can you make reparation for the injury
which you have done? How will you prevent their condemnation from being
yours too? It is a very perplexing case; and it ought to make
Christians much more cautious than they are, and not so easy in laying
snares before their brethren, for making them as great slaves as
themselves. Lament the general corruption of Christians in this point, whose common meetings and conversation are but too often the assemblies of Satan,
and schools for propagating iniquity. Lament and beg for mercy; and if
you are any way concerned, pray for grace, and resolve upon amendment.
If you have helped to draw any into slavery, you must labour for their
redemption; and be as courageous in this, as you have been forward in
bringing on the mischief." The Catholic Year by Fr. John Gother
Prayer:
O Glorious St. John of Matha, who, inflamed with an intense love of God and a tender compassion for thy neighbor, hast been chosen by Divine Providence to establish the illustrious Order of the Most Holy Trinity, and spent thus in glorifying this august mystery and redeeming the unfortunate Christians from slavery, graciously obtain for us that we may ourselves also employ our lives in glorifying the Blessed Trinity and doing good to our neighbor by the works of Christian charity, that we may at last deserve to enjoy in heaven the beatific vision of Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Amen
Pope Leo XIII 1897, New Raccolta 1903
