ST FELIX OF NOLA - FEASTDAY 14TH JANUARY

Felix was the son of Hermias, a Syrian who had been a Roman soldier. He was born at Nola near Naples, Italy. On the death of his father, Felix distributed his inheritance to the poor, was ordained by St. Maximus of Nola and became his assistant. When Maximus fled to the desert at the beginning of Decius’ persecution of the Christians in 250, Felix was seized in his stead and imprisoned. He was reputedly released from prison by an angel, who directed him to the ailing Maximus, whom he brought back to Nola. Even after Decius’ death in 251, Felix was a hunted man but kept well hidden until the persecution ended. When Maximus died, the people unanimously selected Felix as their Bishop, but he declined the honour in favour of Quintus, a senior priest. Felix spent the rest of his life sharing what he had with the poor and died there on January 14. His tomb soon became famous for the miracles reported there, and when St. Paulinus became bishop of Nola almost a century later (410), he wrote about his predecessor, the source of our information about him, adding legendary material that had grown up about Felix.