November 20 + Saint Felix of Valois

Felix was born in 1127 to the royal family of France, the great grandson of King Henry I. While carrying the future saint, his mother had a vision where she saw the Child Jesus holding a cross and another child holding a garland of flowers. The two boys traded their objects. The mother understood that the boy with the flowers was her soon to be born son.

Because of troubles in the family, as a young man, Felix left his home and went to the court, where he became a crusader to follow the King in the Crusade. During the preparatory training, the King fell from his horse and died. Felix approached the fallen monarch and ordered: “In the name of the Holy Trinity, arise.” Instantly the King obeyed, alive and well.

During the Crusade, Felix gave proof of his great courage and virtue. In the military quarters he maintained the austere life of a Cistercian religious. He was notable in all the battles he took part in.

When he returned to Paris, he was determined to give himself to God. Even though he was a close heir to the throne, he exchanged the fleur-de-lys of France for the cross of Our Lord and became a hermit. The vision of his mother was confirmed.

Word of this holy man spread and Saint John of Matha sought him out for advice. Upon meeting Felix, John confided with him the vision he had on his ordination in 1192. He told him that God gave him a sign to start a missionary order dedicated to ransoming captive Christians. Together, John and Felix contemplated this sign for forty days and on the 41st day of prayer, fasting, and contemplation, Felix saw a stag with a red and blue cross on its antlers confirming John’s vision.

Felix and John founded the Order of the Trinitarians with the purpose of this Order being to take captive Christian slaves away from the Mohammedans in Spain and in North Africa. So pleased was the Blessed Virgin Mary with this Order of Trinitarians, that when Felix was dying, she appeared to him wearing the habit of his Order. He was 85 years old when he died.