Felix, once called Hugh, was born in France of the royal family of the Valois. From his earliest years he gave many indications of his future sanctity, especially that he would be charitable to the poor. While still a small child, he would distribute with his own hand, money to the needy just as though he were grown up and had reached years of mature judgment. A little older, he sent them food from his own table, and delighted poor young children with those dishes they liked best. More than once, after he had reached manhood, he stripped himself of his own garments to clothe the destitute. From his uncle Theobald, Count of Champagne and Blois, he begged the life of a criminal condemned to death, predicting that this man, hitherto a notorious criminal would, if set free, reform and become a holy man. The result showed the truth of this prophecy.
After a youth spent in a most praiseworthy fashion, his zeal for heavenly contemplation led Felix to think of retiring into solitude. He decided to take Holy Orders first, however, and so to cut himself off from all possibility of succeeding to the crown, for according to Salic Law Felix was not far removed from the succession. Ordained a priest, he said his first Mass with great devotion. Shortly after he retired into a desert where he lived a life of strictest abstinence, fed mostly by an abundance of heavenly graces. In company with the saintly doctor John of Matha, a Parisian who had been directed by divine inspiration to seek and find Felix, he lived a most holy life for some years. Then counseled by an angel of God, both set out for Rome to receive a special rule of life from the Sovereign Pontiff. About this time, Pope Innocent III, during a Solemn Mass, received a revelation about a religious order and society for the ransoming of captives. The Pope personally clothed Felix and his company in a white habit, marked with a cross of two colours, similar to the one the Angel of the revelation had worn. The Pope specified, moreover, that because of the three colours of the habit, the new Order should bear the Name of the most Holy Trinity.
After receiving the approval of their particular rule from the Supreme Pontiff Innocent, Felix enlarged the first monastery of the Order. This he and his companions had built shortly before in a place called Cerfroid, in the diocese of Meaux. There Felix cultivated in a truly marvellous way religious observance and the ransoming of captives. From this monastery he zealously directed the propagation of his Order by sending disciples into other provinces. It was here, too, he received an extraordinary favour from the Blessed Virgin Mary. During the night watch on the Feast of the Nativity of the Mother of God, while the brethren slept, and in the providence of God did not wake for midnight office, Felix who had been watching, as was his habit, in anticipation of reciting the Office, entered the choir. There he found the Blessed Virgin in the middle of the choir, robed in the habit and cross of the Order. Around her was a company of heavenly beings, clothed in similar attire. Felix took his place among them, and as the Mother of God intoned the Office, sang with them and duly rendered praises unto God. Then, as if already he was being summoned from an earthly choir to an heavenly one, an Angel informed him that death was at hand. Felix exhorted his children to have love for the poor, especially the captives, then full of years and merits, he gave back his soul to God. This was in the year 1212 after the birth of Christ, and in the pontificate of the same Innocent III.
After a youth spent in a most praiseworthy fashion, his zeal for heavenly contemplation led Felix to think of retiring into solitude. He decided to take Holy Orders first, however, and so to cut himself off from all possibility of succeeding to the crown, for according to Salic Law Felix was not far removed from the succession. Ordained a priest, he said his first Mass with great devotion. Shortly after he retired into a desert where he lived a life of strictest abstinence, fed mostly by an abundance of heavenly graces. In company with the saintly doctor John of Matha, a Parisian who had been directed by divine inspiration to seek and find Felix, he lived a most holy life for some years. Then counseled by an angel of God, both set out for Rome to receive a special rule of life from the Sovereign Pontiff. About this time, Pope Innocent III, during a Solemn Mass, received a revelation about a religious order and society for the ransoming of captives. The Pope personally clothed Felix and his company in a white habit, marked with a cross of two colours, similar to the one the Angel of the revelation had worn. The Pope specified, moreover, that because of the three colours of the habit, the new Order should bear the Name of the most Holy Trinity.
After receiving the approval of their particular rule from the Supreme Pontiff Innocent, Felix enlarged the first monastery of the Order. This he and his companions had built shortly before in a place called Cerfroid, in the diocese of Meaux. There Felix cultivated in a truly marvellous way religious observance and the ransoming of captives. From this monastery he zealously directed the propagation of his Order by sending disciples into other provinces. It was here, too, he received an extraordinary favour from the Blessed Virgin Mary. During the night watch on the Feast of the Nativity of the Mother of God, while the brethren slept, and in the providence of God did not wake for midnight office, Felix who had been watching, as was his habit, in anticipation of reciting the Office, entered the choir. There he found the Blessed Virgin in the middle of the choir, robed in the habit and cross of the Order. Around her was a company of heavenly beings, clothed in similar attire. Felix took his place among them, and as the Mother of God intoned the Office, sang with them and duly rendered praises unto God. Then, as if already he was being summoned from an earthly choir to an heavenly one, an Angel informed him that death was at hand. Felix exhorted his children to have love for the poor, especially the captives, then full of years and merits, he gave back his soul to God. This was in the year 1212 after the birth of Christ, and in the pontificate of the same Innocent III.
