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The Order of the Most Holy Trinity and of the Captives, usually shortened to The Order of the Most Holy Trinity, is a Catholic religious Order founded near the end of the 12th century in France. Although Church documents refer to the Order's founder only as Brother John, tradition identifies him as Saint John de Matha. Other members of the Trinitarian Family include The Order of the Most Holy Trinity, the Trinitarian Contemplative Sisters, the Trinitarian Sisters of Valence, the Trinitarian Sisters of Rome, Valencia, Madrid, Mallorca and Seville, as well as the Oblates of the Most Holy Trinity, the Third Order Secular, and other Trinitarian Laity, each of which are distinguished by a cross of red and blue. The Scapular of the Holy Trinity is a devotional scapular associated with the Confraternity of the Holy Trinity and the Third Order Secular of the Most Holy Trinity. It is a white scapular with a cross, on which the transverse shaft is blue, while the longitudinal shaft is red. The patroness of the Order of the Most Holy Trinity is Our Lady of Good Remedy, and the Order has a special dedication to the mystery of the Holy Trinity. Its rule is the Trinitarian Rule, which has been revised several times over the years. At the time that the Order was founded, medieval Europe was in a state of war between the Christian kingdoms in southern Europe and the Muslims of North Africa, Southern France, Sicily, and parts of Spain. The chief purpose of the Order was the redemption, by ransom, of Christians who were held captive by the Muslims. In addition, the Order was involved in caring for the sick and poor, educating the poor, establishing churches, and evangelization. King (Saint) Louis IX chose the Trinitarians as his chaplains, and they accompanied him on his crusades. The Missionary Servants of the Most Blessed Trinity, founded by Thomas Augustine Judge in 1909, is unrelated to the Trinitarian Family, but will be listed here as well, for the purposes of categorization.

 

 

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