January 14

St. Felix of Nola

Early Life

Saint Felix of Nola was born in the early 3rd century to Hermias in Nola, Italy. He was the elder son, and after his father passed away, he was bequeathed all of his property.

Saint Felix sold off a large percentage of his properties and gave the proceeds to the needy. He then pursued a life of faith. Saint Maximus,the Bishop of Nola, ordained him a priest and made him his right-hand man. From then on, Felix worked closely with Maximus.

St. Felix of Nola giving fresh water to the poor

Dedication and Devotion

It was in the year 250 that Emperor Decius began his reign of terror and decree against Christians. Bishop Maximus fled to a hiding place to escape the Emperor’s slaughter, but continued to govern from this hiding place.

When Emperor Decius realized Bishop Maximus was missing, he ordered the immediate arrest of Saint Felix.

Saint Felix of Nola was jailed and tortured in place of Maximus as punishment for his faith. However, he was able to escape jail, according to reports, with the help of an angel.

The angel directed him to the desert, where Bishop Maximus was. Maximus was gravely ill, and Saint Felix arrived in time to help him. They hid away until the scourge ended with the death of Emperor Decius in 251.

Legacy

After Maximus passed on, the people unanimously requested that Felix be the new Bishop of Nola. Saint Felix, however, declined and asked that Quintus, a fellow priest, be named Bishop in his stead.

Felix continued to serve as a priest and later retired to his remaining farmland, where he lived and planted crops. He continued his charitable work by giving his proceeds to the needy even as he continued to live as a poor man.

He was so admired by many, including Saint Paulinus of Nola, who adopted Saint Felix as his very own patron saint.

Death and Canonization

Saint Felix of Nola died in 255 A.D. How he died, however, remains a debate. Some people speculate that he died a Martyr, sacrificing his life for the cause of his faith, in the year 255 under the rule of Emperor Valerian.

There are others who believe that he died during the persecution of Christians by Emperor Decius.

Saint Paulinus, however, believes that Saint Felix of Nola “died as a confessor,”, as he describes in one of his poems.

Saint Felix was canonized pre-congregation. He was interred within the precincts of Nola, and his tomb became a reported spot for miracles. He is celebrated by the Catholic Church on January 14.

5 Interesting Facts About St. Felix of Nola

Did you know that the remains of Saint Felix are kept at different
locations? Some are kept in the cathedral, close to where he was.
first interred, and some parts are kept in several places, like Rome.
and Benevento.
Do you know that Saint Felix is the Patron Saint of domestic animals?
and spiders? He is also a patron saint against lies, eye diseases,
and false witnesses.
A legend attributes God’s use of spiders to saving Bishop Maximus and
Saint Felix of Nola on two occasions. It claims that as they hid
In the caves, spiders whipped the web over the entrances, causing
Decius’ guards, who came searching, thought it had been abandoned.
for a long time.
Did you know that Saint Felix’s story was preserved by Saint
Paulinus? Saint Paulinus wrote about him almost a century later.
his death.
In one account, Saint Felix found Maximus dying of hunger and
thirst. He miraculously found some grapes in a bush and squeezed
them into the Bishop’s mouth before carrying him to safety.