Felix of Cantalica

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Saint Felix of Cantalice
Felix of Cantalica, by Peter Paul Rubens
Born	1515, Cantalice, Italy
Died	1587
Venerated in	Roman Catholicism
Beatified	May 18, 1625 by Pope Urban VIII
Canonized	1709 by Pope Clement XI
Feast	May 18
Attributes	Capuchin habit; holding the Baby Jesus
Patronage	Spello
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St. Felix of Cantalica was born to peasant parents in Cantalice, Italy. As a boy he worked hard as a farm laborer and shepherd, and, in 1543, became a Capuchin lay brother at the Citta Ducale Monastery in Anticoli Corrado.

It is said that he was well noted for his piety. In 1547 he was sent to Rome as questor and spent his remaining 38 years aiding the sick and the poor. In Rome, Felix preached in the street, rebuked corrupt politicians and officials, and exhorted young men to stop leading dissolute lives. He also composed simple teaching canticles, and arranged for children to gather in groups to sing them as a way to teach them catechism. Felix was revered by all and was a companion of St. Philip Neri. He helped to revise St. Charles Borromeo's rules for his order of Oblates.

St. Felix was buried in Rome at Santa Maria della Concezione dei Cappuccini. He was beatified on 1 October 1625 by Pope Urban VIII and canonized on 22 May 1712 by Pope Clement XI. His feast day is May 18.