The White Scapular of the Most Blessed Trinity (Prayer)

Almighty Everlasting God

God, whom it has pleased to found, through your saints John and Felix, the Order of the Most Holy Trinity for ransoming captives from the power of the Saracens; grant, we pray, that by their merits and intercession, and by your aid, we may be delivered from the slavery of both body and soul, and so be free to ever adore the Most Holy Trinity.

Amen.

St. John de Matha and St. Felix of Valois, holy founders, pray for us.

Its color is white, with a cross of red and blue in the center.

About seven or eight centuries ago the Moors were very powerful; they often landed on the coast of Southern Europe, seized upon many defenseless Christians, and sold them as slaves. They also attacked Christian vessels, plundered them, and sold the crew into bondage. There lived at this time in Paris a holy priest name John de Matha. During the first Mass (1190) he was honored by a heavenly vision. He beheld a bright angel, clad in a robe of snowy whiteness; on his breast shimmered a cross of blue (transverse) and crimson (vertical). He held his hands extended over a Moor and a Christian who stood beside him. The saint understood from this vision that he was called by God to ransom the Christian captives. In order, then, to prepare himself for this generous undertaking, he quitted Paris and retired to a wilderness, where he sought the company of St.Felix, a holy hermit, who was heir to the crown of France, but had quitted all to secure his salvation.

As these holy men were one day seated near a cool spring

that gushed forth beside their hermitage, and were discoursing of heavenly things, they suddenly beheld a snow-white stag. Between it’s antlers glittered a brilliant cross of blue and crimson. St John de Matha now told his astonished companion the vision he had seen during his first Mass.

The two holy men then agreed to obey the voice of Heaven and to found an order for the redemption of the Christian captives. They therefore set out for Rome to receive the approbation of the Pope. On their arrival they were graciously received, and on the following morning the Pope also, during Mass, had the same vision which John de Matha beheld in Paris. The Holy Father then approved the new order, and gave it the name of the Order of the Most Holy Trinity. As the faithful were desirous of partaking in the merits and good works of this order, the Scapular of the Most Holy Trinity was instituted and approved of and enriched by the Church with many indulgences.