TRINITARIANS (from trinity, Lat. trini tas\ number three, trinity, from trines, three fold, from tres, three). The name most com monly applied in English to the members of the Order of the Holy Trinity for the Redemption of Captives, a Roman Catholic religious society founded by Saint John de Matha (1160-1213) and Saint Felix of Valois (1127-1212). Devoted to the work of freeing Christian captives among the infidels, they soon received the approbation of Pope Innocent III. and the permission of Philip Augustus to settle in France. The head quarters of the Order were fixed at Cerfroy, near La Ferte-Milon. in the present Department of Aisne, and the Pope gave them a second convent in Rome. Their first journey resulted in the liberation of 186 captives, who were brought to Paris amid great rejoicings. While Felix re mained at home, caring for the Order's develop ment, John made numerous journeys to North Africa and the coast of Spain. Later, the Trini tarians erected houses for the care of penniless captives after their release, and some of them accompanied the Crusaders to minister to their spiritual needs; they penetrated even to India and Tartary in search of the objects of their charity. It is estimated that in six centuries
at least 900,000 prisoners recovered their free dom through the work of this Order.
The Order spread rapidly, first through France and Spain, until in the fifteenth century it count ed 880 houses; the number diminished from various causes until at the beginning of the eighteenth century there were only 250. The present members are chiefly occupied with other works of mercy. especially the care of the sick, although in the nineteenth century they devoted considerable labor to the work for negro slaves. Besides several branches, due to various reforms, amon the male Trinitarians, there were also two female branches, and a third Order of associates who labored for the cause and had a simple rule of life adapted to persons living in the world. Consult: Cartier. Les Trinitaires de la redemp tion (Lille, 1866) ; Pere Calixte de la Provi dence, Lie de Saint Felix de Valois (3d ed., Paris, 1878) ; iri., Vie de Saint Jean de Matha (2d ed., ib., 1884) ; id., Corsaires et Redcmpteurs (Lille, 1884).