Saint Felix of Valois

Felix (c. 1127–1212) lived for many years as a hermit in the forest of Cerfroid, northeast of Paris. There the young priest John of Matha joined him, sharing his dream of freeing Christians held captive in North Africa and the Mediterranean. Together they founded the Order of the Most Holy Trinity, approved by Pope Innocent III in 1198. Felix guided the first house at Cerfroid while the friars raised money to ransom prisoners, and he died there in 1212.

According to tradition, a white stag with a red and blue cross between its antlers appeared to the two founders, and these colors became the Trinitarian habit. Trinitarian friars ransomed Miguel de Cervantes, author of Don Quixote, in 1580. His feast was kept on November 20 for centuries, though the Roman Martyrology now lists him on November 4.