Trinitarian Cross of the Two Colors

Order of the Most Holy Trinity and of the Captives

The Trinitarian Order

Glory to the Trinity and freedom to the captives

A Catholic religious order of priests and brothers, founded at Cerfroid and approved by Pope Innocent III on 17 December 1198. For more than eight centuries its members have joined contemplation of the Most Holy Trinity to a ministry of redemption and mercy.

Who we are → Vocations →

Interior of Santissima Trinita degli Spagnoli, the Trinitarian church in Rome
Santissima Trinità degli Spagnoli, the Trinitarian church in Rome. Photo: LivioAndronico2013, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Explore

Identity About the Order The charism, the two-color cross, the habit, and the difference between the Order and the wider Trinitarian Family. History Eight Centuries Cerfroid, the medieval redemptions, the 1599 reform, suppression, restoration, and the mission today. Family The Trinitarian Family Contemplative nuns, sister congregations, oblates, hermits, and lay Trinitarians. Holiness Saints & Blesseds The canonized saints, the beatified, and the patrons associated with the Order. Liturgy Feast Days The Order’s proper calendar, with notes, links, a today marker, and a downloadable calendar. Prayer The Trisagion What the prayer is, how Trinitarians pray it, and the English and Italian forms. Vocation How to Join Priesthood and brotherhood, contemplative nuns, sisters, and the lay Third Order.

The Order today

A worldwide family

4provinces, with 1 vice-province and 4 vicariates (Curia, 2026)
559religious in the male Order (Curia, 2026)
32countries where the International Trinitarian Solidarity (SIT) is present
15,000lay Trinitarians, with some 250,000 friends and collaborators (SIT)

Trinitarians serve in parishes, schools, prisons, hospitals, missions, and projects for Christians and others who suffer persecution or new forms of slavery. The International Trinitarian Solidarity (SIT) coordinates much of this work from Rome.

Numbers are date-stamped because published figures change. See Sources & editorial policy.

Start here

New to the Trinitarians?

Begin with a short introduction to the Order’s identity and charism, then read the story of its foundation and reform. Inquirers can go directly to the vocations page or contact the U.S. Province and the Third Order.

Read the introduction → Contact details →

Sources for this page

Items marked Secondary are academic or reference works, not official publications of the Order. Official texts are normative where they differ.