together on the bank of a spring, John disclosed to
Felix the design he had conceived on the day on which he said his first
mass, to succor the Christians under the Mahometan slavery, and spoke so
movingly upon the subject that Felix was convinced that the design was
from God, and offered him his joint concurrence to carry it into
execution. They took some time to recommend it to God by prayer and
fasting, and then set out for Rome in the midst of a severe winter,
towards the end of the year 1197, to obtain the pope's benediction. They
found Innocent III. promoted to the chair of St. Peter, who being
already informed of their sanctity and charitable design by letters of
recommendation from the bishop of Paris, his holiness received them as
two angels from heaven; lodged them in his own palace, and gave them
many long private audiences. After which he assembled the cardinals and
some bishops in the palace of St. John Lateran, and asked their advice.
After their deliberations he ordered a fast and particular prayers to
know the will of heaven. At length, being convinced that these two holy
men were led by the spirit of God, and that great advantages would
accrue to the church from such an institute, he consented to their
erecting a new religious order, and declared St. John the first general
minister. The bishop of Paris, and the abbot of St. Victor, were ordered
to draw up their rules, which the pope approved by a bull, in 1198. He
ordered the religious to wear a white habit, with a red and blue cross
on the breast, and to take the name of the order of the Holy Trinity. He
confirmed it some time after, adding new privileges by a second bull,
dated in 1209.

The two founders having obtained the pope's blessing and certain indults
or privileges, returned to France, and presented themselves to the king,
Philip Augustus, who authorized the establishment of their Order in his
kingdom, and favored it with his liberalities. Gaucher III., lord of
Chatillon, gave them land whereon to build a convent. Their number
increasing, the same lord, seconded by the king, gave them Cerfroid, the
place in which St. John and St. Felix concerted the first plan of their
institute. It is situated in Brie, on the confines of Valois. This house
of Cerfroid, or De Cervo frigido, is the chief of the order. The two
saints founded many other convents in France, and sent several of their
religious to accompany the counts of Flanders and Blois, and othe