Order of the Most Holy Trinity (Order of the Most Holy Trinity for the Redemption of Captives)
Founded by Sts. MALTA (v.) Valois (v.), it was approved by Innocent III with a bull dated 17 December 1198, and is the first regular Order to arise in the Church with its own Rule distinct from that of St. Augustine.
Its purpose was the redemption of Christian slaves imprisoned by the Saracens and exposed to the danger of losing their faith. To this end, the Order was obliged to divide its goods or revenues of any origin into three parts: two were to be used for the sustenance of the community and the exercise of common works of mercy, and the third was to be devoted exclusively to the redemption of the aforementioned slaves. In the conventual Chapter, which was to meet every week, the superior and the subjects rendered account of their observance of this prescription. Infidel slaves were occasionally redeemed as well, but with a view to future conversions of Christian slaves. The habit of the religious was of white wool with a red and blue cross on the scapular and cloak. The priests wore a wide tonsure; the lay brothers were allowed to grow beards. The Rule prescribed the common recitation of the Divine Office, special suffrages for the dead every week, numerous abstinences and fasts, great silence, and in general a notably austere way of life in food, clothing, and bedding. It also contained special norms and recommendations for charitable and cordial assistance to the sick and guests. The superiors were called Ministers, and were elected by common vote; if necessary, they could be deposed by a college of superiors appointed for this purpose. Each convent could receive and educate novices: a remnant of monastic usage. It was forbidden to exact any compensation for their admission into the Order; they could, however, accept what the postulant had given voluntarily.
Since the new Order responded to a grave social need of the time, it received approval and support from popes, bishops, kings, princes, and the faithful. Proof of this general favor was the many privileges and graces that the Holy See granted not only to the Order, but also to the Confraternities of the Most Holy Trinity established by it everywhere for the purpose of facilitating the collection of alms for the redemption of slaves. The Order spread rapidly in Europe and Asia Minor, so much so that by 1240 it already numbered more than 600 houses with about 5,000 religious, a number that increased in the following centuries. However, as a result of the schisms that afflicted the Church in the 16th century and the various suppressions of religious Orders in the 18th and 19th centuries, it was reduced to very small proportions. It began to recover at the end of the last century, and now has an apostolic prefecture in Madagascar and just over 50 houses scattered throughout Europe and the Americas. Besides the two saintly founders, the Order includes among its members St. Michael of the Saints, Bl. John Baptist of the Conception, Bl. Mark Criado, Bl. Simon de Roxas, and others. The Third Order of the Most Holy Trinity boasts, among other illustrious members, Bl. Anna Maria Taigi (d. 1837) and Ven. Elizabeth Canori (d. 1825). Some female institutes of Trinitarian sisters, one of enclosure and the others of a hospital or teaching character, are connected with the Order of the Most Holy Trinity in origin and spirit, although they do not depend on it juridically.
The First Order had various branches: the Reformed branch (1578) in France, which in 1769 merged with the original branch under the name of Canons Regular of the Most Holy Trinity, and with it became completely extinct in 1894; the Reformed Discalced branch, which originated in Spain in 1599 through the work of Bl. John Baptist of the Conception, and which survives today.
Since the original purpose of the Order has ceased due to the evolution of times—an Order that for five centuries had written pages of glory in the field of Christian charity—its members today devote themselves to various forms of priestly apostolate, both at home and in the missions; and in particular to the propagation of the cult and devotion to the Mystery of the Most Holy Trinity, through the Third Order, the confraternity of the same name, the "Perpetual Adoration," and various publications. — See pl. XII.
Order of the Order of the Most Holy Saviour and of St. Bridget
Founded between 1344 and 1346 under the title of "Order of the Most Holy Saviour of St. Bridget of Sweden," who dictated its Rule. It comprised religious men and women with double monasteries, dependent on the abbess. The motherhouse at Vadstena was erected by the foundress herself.
For more than two centuries the Order was a center of spiritual life for all Sweden. Bl. Urban V approved its Rule vivae vocis oraculo at Montefiascone in the spring of 1367; Urban VI confirmed it with the bull His quae pro divini cultus augmento (3 December 1378); further confirmations were given by John XXIII (1415) and Martin V (1419). The Order spread especially in Scandinavia and Germany; the first two foundations in Italy were at Florence (1394) and Rome (1396), in the house where St. Bridget had died. The 15th century marked the period of its diffusion; in 1515 the Order numbered 27 monasteries, but its development was not without crises.
The Lutheran Reformation of the 16th century destroyed it almost everywhere; only a few foundations were transferred to France and Portugal. In Belgium there arose the Fratres novissimi Brigittini approved by Gregory XVI, and in Spain around 1600 Marina d'Escobar founded the Brigittines of the Recollection. At present only the female monasteries of Altomünster; Sion, at Stouth-Brent; Uden and Weert in the Netherlands survive. In Spain: Valladolid, Vitoria, Ascoitia, Paredes de Nava, Palencia. There are two in Mexico.
Through the work of Mother Elizabeth Hesselblad in Rome in 1911, a new Congregation of Sisters of the ancient Order of the Most Holy Saviour began, which soon spread to England, Sweden, Switzerland (Lugano), and India. On 7 July 1940 it received the decree of praise and temporary approval of its Constitutions. By rescript of 12 September 1942, it was recognized as the Order of the Most Holy Saviour (commonly called of St. Bridget), which later became the Order of the Most Holy Saviour and of St. Bridget. On 2 December of the same year it passed under the jurisdiction of the Sacred Congregation of Propaganda Fide, which on 17 July 1947 approved the statutes of the Secular Oblates and on 2 December 1949 revised the Constitutions and approved them "ad septennium."
The purpose of the Order is the work of the conversion of the brethren of Scandinavia and also of those who have separated from the unity of the Church.