St. John of Matha, Priest, Founder of the Trinitarians

St. John of Matha (1160-1213) was a French Catholic priest and the founder of the Order of the Most Holy Trinity, also known as the Trinitarians. Born in Faucon, France, he dedicated his life to the redemption of Christian slaves from captivity under the Moors. After a divine vision, he established the Trinitarians in 1198 to carry out this mission. John spent much of his life traveling to North Africa to negotiate the release of captives, often using the order's funds to pay their ransoms. He is venerated as the patron saint of captives, slaves, and prisoners.