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How a spider helped St. Felix of Nola escape prison

"Statua di San Felice, Patrono di Pomigliano d'Arco." (LuigiPomi via Wikimedia Commons)

St. Felix of Nola

Feast day: Jan. 14

St. Felix of Nola was a priest in the third century who was persecuted for his faith and died, possibly as a martyr, in A.D. 255. The oldest son of a Syrian soldier who had retired to southern Italy, St. Felix was himself a soldier. But he gave his money to the poor, sold his belongings and became a priest after his father’s death. Known for his humility, he was ordained by St. Maximus, the bishop of Nola, with whom he worked as his right-hand man. In 250, when the Decian persecution broke out, St. Felix was tortured and jailed instead of St. Maximus, who fled to a desert hiding place in order to safely govern the local Church. Like St. Peter, St. Felix miraculously escaped from prison, and he was guided by an angel to rescue St. Maximus, who was near death from cold and hunger. It is said that a spider spun a web to hide him from his persecutors as they tried to recapture him.

After the death of the Emperor Decius in 251, St. Felix devoted himself to caring for persecuted Christians. After the death of St. Maximus, he was offered the bishopric of Nola but refused it, deferring to the seniority of a priest who had been ordained a week before him. Instead, St. Felix retired to a small farm of 3 acres, which he tilled for his own sustenance, giving the land’s additional proceeds to people poorer than himself. He refused to demand back the remnant of his estate lost during the persecution. If he had two coats at any time, he always gave the better one to the poor.

St. Felix died at an old age, more than likely from the effects of the many sufferings he endured for the Church. However, whether he died as a martyr or not, St. Felix has always been venerated as one. His tomb, now the site of Nola Cathedral, became renowned for the many miracles reported there. His relics currently reside in the cathedral’s reliquary chapel, as do those of his mentor, St. Maximus. Five churches also were built outside of Nola to honor St. Felix, and some of his relics are in Rome and Benevento.

Much of what we know about St. Felix comes from the letters and poetry of St. Paulinus of Nola, who was the bishop of Nola in the fourth century and one of the most important Christian Latin poets of his time. Acting as porter to one of the churches dedicated to St. Felix, he composed 14 poems that provide an account of St. Felix’s life and the devotion to him, testifying to the numerous pilgrimages made in his honor. St. Gregory of Tours (538-594) and St. Bede the Venerable (c. 672-735) later drew from St. Paulinus to write biographies of St. Felix. The third-century Pope St. Damasus also composed verses honoring St. Felix.
In one of his poems, St. Paulinus describes how the life of St. Felix was an offering of a sacrifice to God even if he did not die as a martyr:

“For he died as confessor, though he did not avoid execution by choice, since God accepted his inner faith in place of blood. God looks into the silence of hearts, and equates those ready to suffer with those who have already done so, for he considers this inward test as sufficient, and dispenses with physical execution in case of true devotion. Martyrdom without bloodshed is enough for him if mind and faith are ready to suffer and are fervent towards God.”

Reflection

Dear Heavenly Father, help me to do your will each day no matter the consequences. May I live a life devoted to serving my fellow men particularly the poor and the persecuted.

Prayer

O God, who in your saints have given an example and brought us protection in our weakness to help us tread the path of salvation, mercifully grant that we, who honor the heavenly birthday of blessed Felix of Nola, may, through his example, make our way to you. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever.