What happens when a person is persecuted for the faith, but does not die? That person is called a “confessor”. That is our saint today, St. Felix of Nola. Nola is near Naples. He was ordained a priest by the bishop, St. Maximus of Nola, and became his right-hand man. During the persecution of the Emperor Decius in A.D. 250 the bishop went into hiding so he could better administer the diocese. However, upon not finding him, the Roman troops turned upon St. Felix, torturing and imprisoning him. According to legend, St. Felix was released from prison by an angel. He was then guided to St. Maximus, who was sick and near death, and returned him to Nola. St. Maximus died soon after the persecution ceased in 251 and the people acclaimed St. Felix as bishop. He declined, retiring to a farm where he raised crops for himself and the poor. He died around 260.
Much of what we know about St. Felix comes from St. Paulinus of Nola, who took him as his patron. St. Paulinus wrote a poem each year to celebrate Felix’s feast day: “This festive day celebrates Felix’s birthday, the day on which he died physically on earth and was born for Christ in heaven, winning his heavenly crown as a martyr who did not shed his blood. For he died as a confessor, though he did not avoid execution by choice, since God accepted his inner faith in place of blood.”
We can learn two things from St. Felix: one, doing God’s will does not always require martyrdom, although it can involve suffering; two, we need to lean on our patron saints, men and women who intercede for us and can help us do God’s will throughout our lives. St. Felix, pray for us!
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