Felix of Cantalica

Infobox Saint
name=Saint Felix of Cantalice
birth_date=1515
death_date=1587
feast_day=May 18
venerated_in=Roman Catholicism


imagesize=250px
caption="Felix of Cantalica", by Peter Paul Rubens
birth_place=Cantalice, Italy
death_place=
titles=
beatified_date=May 18, 1625
beatified_place=
beatified_by=Pope Urban VIII
canonized_date=1709
canonized_place=
canonized_by=Pope Clement XI
attributes=Capuchin habit; holding the Baby Jesus
patronage=Spello
major_shrine=
suppressed_date=
issues=
prayer=
prayer_attrib=

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.

ee also

*Sisters of St. Felix of Cantalice

External links

* [http://www.DSASF.net The enigmatic coats of arms of St. Felix]
* [http://saints.catholic.org/ Index of Roman Catholic Saints]
*cite web|url=http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/06033a.htm|title=St. Felix of Cantalice|work=Catholic Encyclopedia |accessdate=2007-02-18
*cite web|url=http://www.catholic-forum.com/saints/saintf54.htm|title=Felix of Cantalice|work=Catholic Forum |accessdate=2007-05-23
*it icon [http://www.santiebeati.it/dettaglio/53750 San Felice da Cantalice]