Collection: Ordination and First Mass of St. John of Matha

ARTIST: Museum Religious Art Classics

ARTWORK NARRATIVE:

Artist: Vicente Carducho – c. 1585 – 1638

When St. John of Matha was saying his first mass, there appeared before him an angel clothed in white, with a blue and red cross on his breast, with his hands crossed and resting on the heads of two captives, one a Christian, the other a Moor, as though wishing to make an exchange. The Bishop and others who assisted at this first mass also saw the vision, and consulting together as to what it could mean, resolved to send the young priest to Rome, with full details of the occurrence. On his way, he fell in with St. Felix of Valois, and the two were kindly received by the Pontiff, Innocent III.

His feast day is December 17.