Saint John of Matha, Confessor

Friends in Christ,

Saint John of Matha was born in Provence and studied in the University of Paris and decided to devote himself to the service of God and his neighbour in the Priesthood. During his first Mass he was rapt in ecstasy and had a vision which led him to found, with the help of Saint Felix of Valois, the order of the Trinitarians for the redemption of Christian captives from slavery under the Moors. Saint John of Matha died in Christ in 1213.

The subject of Visions, yes it can be a touchy one. A lot of Catholic Christians dont really believe that Visions can occur in the times that we live in. I, personally believe that they can occur. It is not that I have seen one myself, should I be that blessed indeed ! But.. I ll take the opportunity to share a Vision had by an Anglican Priest I used to know. This Father preached years ago in the Anglican Church of Saint Luke in Waikanae, which is north of Wellington, New Zealand. Before he came to the Priesthood, who owned a printing business in the city of Wanganui. One afternoon he was in his warehouse and he was called by a voice, which he identified as the voice of God. God spoke to him and told him that he was to leave his job, his career and train for the Anglican Priesthood and on top of all that, once ordained he was to travel to Port Elizabeth in South Africa to work as a Missionary amongst the poor blacks. And all this was fullfilled.

What can we learn from the life of this Saint today? And perhaps also from the true story I just told you? God still speaks to us in many different ways, we can still be called to serve Him in particularly capacity. Are you ready to receive His call ? Are you ready to obey His call?

With every good wish in Christ,

Ed Bakker, Postulant TAC New Zealand

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