St. John de Matha

St. John de Matha quickly realized that hospitals were needed to treat the ransomed, caring for the sick became  an important charitable work for the Order.  During the 17th and 18th centuries, hospitals were established in several cities of North Africa. Fr. Francisco Jiménez was the founder of the hospital in Tunis and he was regarded even by the Moslems for his kindness toward anyone in need.  When Mercedarian ransomers found themselves short of funds for ransoming captives , he offered himself as guarantor. He had a keen interest in history and wrote several books including a 15 volume work called Historia de Túnez.   

Contributed by Sr. Coraly