Trinitarian fathers
were born eight centuries ago in 1198. The reason for the creation and organization of this group of Christians was to make a humanitarian service as an alternative to military service.
They arose in the period of "holy wars", but with the aim to free the prisoners of war.
The founder and charismatic leader of the Trinitarians is St. John de Matha, Provençal, culturally formed in Paris, he become Magister at the University. Besides the prominent role of Freedom, the Trinitarians, as vocation, were interested in the practice of hospitality since their beginning, in fact we find domus : house of hospitality in the thirteenth century, from Portugal to England, from Spain to Belgium, from France to the Middle East.
At present the Trinitarians are almost everywhere in the world: from Chile to Canada, from United States to India, from France to Madagascar, from Germany to Mexico, from Spain to Argentina, India and Brazil. The "Guest House" here in Rome, a stone's throw from the Vatican, wants to be a sign of continuity of the charisma of the Trinitarians as applied in the context of hospitality. The Trinitarians were urged to renovate their hospitality project accomplished by the eighth centenary of their Rule of Life in 1998, and by the beginning of the Third Millennium in 2000, Jubilee year.
They arose in the period of "holy wars", but with the aim to free the prisoners of war.
The founder and charismatic leader of the Trinitarians is St. John de Matha, Provençal, culturally formed in Paris, he become Magister at the University. Besides the prominent role of Freedom, the Trinitarians, as vocation, were interested in the practice of hospitality since their beginning, in fact we find domus : house of hospitality in the thirteenth century, from Portugal to England, from Spain to Belgium, from France to the Middle East.
At present the Trinitarians are almost everywhere in the world: from Chile to Canada, from United States to India, from France to Madagascar, from Germany to Mexico, from Spain to Argentina, India and Brazil. The "Guest House" here in Rome, a stone's throw from the Vatican, wants to be a sign of continuity of the charisma of the Trinitarians as applied in the context of hospitality. The Trinitarians were urged to renovate their hospitality project accomplished by the eighth centenary of their Rule of Life in 1998, and by the beginning of the Third Millennium in 2000, Jubilee year.
Excerpt from The Rule of St. John de Matha:
17. (The care of the guests, the poor and of all travellers) should be entrusted to a monk of the most cautious and benevolent, who listen to them and if it will be the case, give them the comfort of charity. But he also ask those who believe he has to accept, if they are willing to settle for what is served to the monks. It is certainly not convenient that anyone could be admitted to large meals and expensive. But what is there to give, you give with joy, and no offence is made for offence. If anyone, particularly religious person, seek hospitality, must be graciously served by charity, according to the possibilities of the house.
But do not give to the guests oats or anything else instead of oats, if they are in cities or villages, or where it may be for sale, unless the guests are not religious, or if they have not it and can not buy it. If then the guests had not found it for sale and if it is present in the house in which they were received, could be available to them on price.
17. (The care of the guests, the poor and of all travellers) should be entrusted to a monk of the most cautious and benevolent, who listen to them and if it will be the case, give them the comfort of charity. But he also ask those who believe he has to accept, if they are willing to settle for what is served to the monks. It is certainly not convenient that anyone could be admitted to large meals and expensive. But what is there to give, you give with joy, and no offence is made for offence. If anyone, particularly religious person, seek hospitality, must be graciously served by charity, according to the possibilities of the house.
But do not give to the guests oats or anything else instead of oats, if they are in cities or villages, or where it may be for sale, unless the guests are not religious, or if they have not it and can not buy it. If then the guests had not found it for sale and if it is present in the house in which they were received, could be available to them on price.
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