| Saint Felix of Nola | |
|---|---|
Saint Felix of Nola beaten and hidden by a spider's web |
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| Priest | |
| Born | c. early 3rd century Nola, Campania, Italy |
| Died | c. 250[1] Nola, Campania, Italy |
| Honored in | Roman Catholic Church |
| Canonized | Pre-Congregation |
| Feast | 14 January |
| Patronage | Nola, Italy |
Saint Felix of Nola (d. ca. 250) was a priest of Nola in Italy, who though once listed in the General Roman Calendar as a martyr, was instead a confessor of the faith.[1]
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Felix was the elder son of Hermias, a Syrian soldier who had retired to Nola, Italy. After his father's death, Felix sold off most of his property and possessions, gave the proceeds to the poor, and pursued a clerical vocation. Felix was ordained by, and worked with, Saint Maximus of Nola.
When Maximus fled to the mountains to escape the persecution of Decius, Felix was arrested and beaten for his faith instead. He escaped prison, according to legend being freed by an angel, so he could help his sick bishop, Maximus. Felix found Maximus alone, ill, and helpless, and hid him from soldiers in a vacant building. When the two were safely inside, a spider quickly spun a web over the door, fooling the imperial forces into thinking it was long abandoned, and they left without finding the Christians. A subsequent attempt to arrest Felix followed, which he avoided by hiding in a ruined building where a spider's web spun across the entrance convinced the soldiers the building was abandoned. The two managed to hide from authorities until the persecution ended with the death of Emperor Decius in 251.
After Maximus's death, the people wanted Felix to be the next bishop of Nola, but he declined, favoring Quintus, a "senior" priest who had seven days more experience than Felix. Felix himself continued as a priest. He also continued to farm his remaining land, and gave most of the proceeds to people even poorer than himself.
Legend assigns to Felix a martyr's death either in the year 255 under Emperor Valerian (253-260) or, in another version, in the general persecution instigated by the Emperor Decius (249-251).
Much of the little information we have about Felix comes from the letters and poetry of Saint Paulinus of Nola, who served at the door of a church dedicated to Saint Felix, and who gathered information about him from churchmen and pilgrims.
In time a new church in Nola was dedicated in the name of St Felix. People travelled from far away to see the burial place of this revered saint.
The Roman Martyrology gives 14 January as the feast day of "Saint Felix, priest, who, as reported by Saint Paulinus, was imprisoned at a time of furious persecutions and underwent harsh torture. When at length peace was obtained, he returned home and in poverty lived a withdrawn life until old age, an unconquered confessor of the faith".[2]
He should not be confused with another Saint Felix of Nola, of about a century later, whose feast is on 15 November