Saint Félix de Nole
Prêtre d'origine syrienne (✝ 252)
Sans doute d'origine syrienne, même s'il naquit à
Naples. Durant la persécution de l'empereur Valérien, il fut fait prisonnier.
Libéré à la mort de l'empereur, il se retira plein de simplicité, refusant
d'être choisi comme évêque de Nole.
On retient de lui "qu'il subsista, le reste de sa
vie, au moyen d'un petit jardin et de trois mesures de terre prises à louage
qu'il cultivait de ses propres mains et dont il partageait le produit avec les
pauvres."
A lire aussi: Saint
Félix sur le Pincio (la légende dorée de Jacques Voragine).
À Nole en Campanie, vers 260, saint Félix, prêtre.
Comme le rapporte saint Paulin, quand la
persécution fit rage, il fut jeté en prison, supporta d’affreuses tortures et,
quand la paix fut enfin rétablie, il revint parmi les siens, vivant dans la
pauvreté volontaire jusqu’à sa vieillesse, invincible confesseur de la foi.
Martyrologe romain
Nul, s’il possède la charité, ne hait. On connaît
l’arbre à ses fruits : ainsi ceux qui font profession d’être du Christ se
feront reconnaître à leurs œuvres. Car maintenant l’œuvre qui nous est demandée
n’est pas une simple profession de foi, mais d’être trouvé jusqu’à la fin dans
la pratique de la foi.
Saint Ignace d’Antioche
SOURCE : http://nominis.cef.fr/contenus/saint/424/Saint-Felix-de-Nole.html
Chiesa di San Felice
a Ema (Firenze)
Le martyrologe romain fait aujourd’hui mémoire de saint Félix de Nole,
prêtre d’origine syrienne qui a annoncé l’Evangile en Italie, à Nole (†v. 260).
Saint Félix de Nole, prêtre fidèle en
dépit des tortures
Et ami de son
ange gardien
Félix aurait en effet été fils d'un Syrien chrétien installé à Nole,
près de Naples. Il se prépara très jeune au sacerdoce et reçut l'ordination des
mains de l'évêque Maxime. Celui-ci fut contraint de s'éloigner de la ville lors
des persécutions et il confia à Félix la responsabilité pastorale des fidèles.
Or, Félix fut lui-même arrêté et cruellement torturé : les Romains
voulaient le contraindre à sacrifier aux dieux de Rome. Sa foi ne vacilla pas
sous la douleur. Il aurait alors été délivré miraculeusement par son ange.
Celui-ci le conduisit ensuite au chevet de l'évêque qu'il sauva de la faim.
Il poursuivit ensuite son ministère en dépit de la persécution. A la
mort de l'évêque, et la persécution ayant cessé, il se retira dans la solitude
et la pauvreté, et s'endormit en Dieu.
Saint Paulin, évêque de Nole (354-431), en Campanie, a laissé un récit
enflammé du témoignage de la vénération populaire envers saint Félix. Il
nourrissait en effet envers ce saint une grande dévotion et il a chanté ses
louanges dans deux poèmes.
(14 janvier 2013) © Innovative Media Inc.
La chiesa di San Felice in Pincis, Napoli, vico
della Vicaria.
S. Félix de Nole
14 janvier
Saint Félix était Syrien d’origine, mais né à Nole qui
est une ville dans l’arrière-pays de Naples en Campanie. Prêtre de Nole,
s’attaquant avec véhémence à une idole, il est jeté en prison et subit de
nombreux tourments de la part des infidèles.
Un Ange le délivra pendant la nuit et lui ordonna
d’aller trouver Maximien, évêque de Nole, lequel, accablé de vieillesse et
désespérant de pouvoir supporter le supplice de la persécution, s’était caché
dans une forêt.
Saint Félix, conduit de Dieu, y étant parvenu, trouve
le saint évêque étendu à terre et à demi-mort. Il le ranime, le relève, le
prend sur ses épaules et le confie aux soins d’une veuve fidèle.
Ayant de nouveau accusé d’impiété les adorateurs des
idoles, il est en butte à une agression, et, dans sa fuite, il se cache
dans l’intervalle de deux murailles. Cette retraite apparaît soudain couverte
par des toiles d’araignées, et on ne put se douter que quelqu’un s’y fût
récemment abrité. Saint Félix, ayant ainsi échappé, demeura trois mois dans la
maison d’une pieuse femme.
Lorsque l’Église de Dieu eut commencé à jouir d’un peu
de repos, il revint à Nole, et ayant obtenu, par l’exemple de sa vie, par les
enseignements de sa doctrine et par ses miracles, de nombreuses
conversions à la Foi du Christ, et ayant opiniâtrement refusé l’épiscopat
de sa ville natale,
Il s’endormit dans le Seigneur et fut enseveli
près de Nole, au lieu nommé in Pineis. C’était l’an 256, saint
Étienne Ier étant pape et Valérien empereur.
Des miracles innombrables rendirent célèbre son
tombeau. Au témoignage de saint Paulin qui fut évêque de Nole et qui lui dut sa
conversion, Nole est, après Rome, le second centre des nombreux pèlerinages qui
caractérisent le IVe siècle. Ainsi s’affirme dans Son glorieux
serviteur la puissance divine du Maître.
SOURCE : http://www.cassicia.com/FR/Vie-de-saint-Felix-pretre-de-Nole-pres-de-Naples-en-Campanie-Fete-le-14-janvier-Persecute-pour-avoir-brise-des-idoles-et-accuse-d-impiete-leurs-adorateurs-il-meurt-martyr-l-an-256-No_423.htm
Saint Félix de Nole, prêtre fidèle en dépit des
tortures
Et ami de son ange gardien
JANVIER 14, 2013By Anita BourdinÉcriture
Sainte, théologie
Le martyrologe romain fait aujourd’hui mémoire de
saint Félix de Nole, prêtre d’origine syrienne qui a annoncé l’Evangile en
Italie, à Nole (†v. 260).
Félix aurait en effet été fils d’un Syrien chrétien
installé à Nole, près de Naples. Il se prépara très jeune au sacerdoce et reçut
l’ordination des mains de l’évêque Maxime. Celui-ci fut contraint de s’éloigner
de la ville lors des persécutions et il confia à Félix la responsabilité
pastorale des fidèles.
Or, Félix fut lui-même arrêté et cruellement
torturé : les Romains voulaient le contraindre à sacrifier aux dieux de
Rome. Sa foi ne vacilla pas sous la douleur. Il aurait alors été délivré
miraculeusement par son ange. Celui-ci le conduisit ensuite au chevet de
l’évêque qu’il sauva de la faim.
Il poursuivit ensuite son ministère en dépit de la
persécution. A la mort de l’évêque, et la persécution ayant cessé, il se retira
dans la solitude et la pauvreté, et s’endormit en Dieu.
Saint Paulin, évêque de Nole (354-431), en Campanie, a
laissé un récit enflammé du témoignage de la vénération populaire envers saint
Félix. Il nourrissait en effet envers ce saint une grande dévotion et il a
chanté ses louanges dans deux poèmes.
SOURCE : http://fr.zenit.org/articles/saint-felix-de-nole-pretre-fidele-en-depit-des-tortures/
La chiesa di
San Felice, piazza
San Felice a Firenze, nel quartiere
di Oltrarno.
St Félix, prêtre et martyr
Le culte de St Félix gagna Rome grâce à la basilique dont il était
le titulaire ad Portam Pincianam, sa fête était déjà célébrée sous St Grégoire
le Grand (+604). St Paulin de
Nole contribua beaucoup à la
diffusion du culte de St Félix, qui bien que mort de mort non violente hérita
du titre de martyr à cause des persécutions qu’il subit.
Textes
de la Messe
eodem
die 14 ianuarii
|
S.
Felicis
|
Presb. et Mart.
|
Commemoratio
|
Missa Lætábitur, de Communi unius Martyris 4 loco, cum orationibus ut
infra :
|
|
Oratio
|
Concéde, quǽsumus, omnípotens Deus : ut ad
meliórem vitam Sanctórum tuórum exémpla nos próvocent ; quaténus, quorum
sollémnia ágimus, étiam actus imitémur. Per Dóminum.
|
|
Secreta
|
Hóstias tibi, Dómine, beáti Félicis Mártyris tui
dicátas méritis, benígnus assúme : et ad perpétuum nobis tríbue
proveníre subsídium. Per Dóminum.
|
|
Postcommunio
|
ce
même 14 janvier
|
St
Félix
|
Prêtre et Martyr
|
Commémoraison
|
Messe Lætábitur, du Commun d’un Martyr 4, avec les oraisons
ci-dessous :
|
|
Collecte
|
Accordez-nous, nous vous en supplions, ô Dieu
tout-puissant, que les exemples de vos Saints nous excitent à une vie
meilleure, en sorte que nous imitions aussi les œuvres de ceux dont nous
célébrons la fête.
|
|
Secrète
|
Recevez favorablement, Seigneur, les hosties que
nous vous offrons par les mérites de votre saint Martyr Félix ; faites
qu’elles nous obtiennent votre assistance continuelle.
|
|
Postcommunion
|
Rassasiés par la participation à ces mystères de
salut, nous vous demandons, Seigneur, d’être aidés grâce aux prières de votre
bienheureux Martyr Félix dont nous célébrons la solennité.
|
Office
Leçon des
Matines avant 1960
Neuvième
leçon. Félix,
Prêtre de Nole, s’étant élevé avec force contre le culte des idoles, fut
persécuté de diverses manières par les infidèles, puis jeté en prison. Délivré
la nuit par un Ange, il reçut l’ordre de chercher Maximien, Évêque de
Nole : celui-ci, se voyant accablé de vieillesse, et craignant de ne
pouvoir supporter les supplices des persécuteurs, s’était caché dans une forêt.
Félix, conduit par Dieu, parvint au lieu où se trouvait le saint Évêque, il
l’aperçut gisant à terre et presque sans vie ; après l’avoir ranimé, il le
prit sur ses épaules, et le confia, pour le rétablir, aux soins d’une veuve
chrétienne. Comme Félix reprenait de nouveau de leur impiété les adorateurs des
idoles, ils voulurent se précipiter sur lui, mais fuyant leur poursuite, il se
cacha dans l’intervalle étroit de deux murailles. L’entrée de ce lieu parut
soudain couverte de toiles d’araignées, en sorte que personne ne put soupçonner
qu’on était venu s’y cacher à l’heure même. Félix, s’évadant de cette retraite,
demeura caché trois mois dans la maison d’une pieuse femme. Lorsque l’Église de
Dieu commença à jouir d’un peu de repos, il revint à Nole, où il fit beaucoup
de conversions par les exemples de sa vie, ses enseignements et ses miracles.
Il refusa constamment l’épiscopat de cette ville, s’endormit dans le Seigneur,
et fut enseveli près de Nole au lieu appelé in Princis.
La chiesa di San Felice, piazza San Felice a Firenze, nel quartiere di Oltrarno.
Dom
Guéranger, l’Année Liturgique
Aux
splendeurs radieuses de son Épiphanie l’Emmanuel associe en ce jour, avec Hilaire de Poitiers, un
humble amant des vertus de la crèche. Soustrait par Dieu même à la rage des
persécuteurs, Félix n’en a pas moins obtenu le titre de martyr pour son courage
invincible dans des tourments et une captivité qui devaient naturellement
aboutir à la mort. Déjà inscrit au ciel dans la blanche armée des athlètes du
Seigneur, il devait encore longtemps réjouir et fortifier l’Église par
l’exemple de cette pauvreté admirable, de cette humilité, de cette charité
ardente qui lui donnent place, sur le cycle sacré, près de l’humble berceau du
Roi pacifique.
Il a aimé,
il a suivi l’Enfant-Dieu dans son obscurité volontaire ; et voilà
qu’aujourd’hui ce Roi des anges et des hommes, manifesté au monde, adoré par
les rois, partage avec lui la gloire de sa triomphante Épiphanie. Au vainqueur
je donnerai de s’asseoir avec moi dans mon trône, dit le Seigneur. (Apoc. III,
21.) En qui plus qu’en Félix de Noie s’est réalisée sur terre la promesse bénie
du divin chef à ses membres ? Un pauvre tombeau venait de recevoir la
dépouille mortelle de l’humble prêtre de Campanie, qui semblait devoir y
attendre, dans le silence et l’obscurité qu’il avait tant aimée, le signal de
la trompette de l’Ange au jour de la Résurrection. Soudain des miracles éclatants
et nombreux illustrent cette tombe ; le nom de Félix, porté en tous lieux,
opère en tous lieux les mêmes prodiges de grâce ; à peine la paix est-elle
rendue à l’Église et au monde par l’avènement de Constantin à l’empire, que de
toutes parts les peuples s’ébranlent ; des foules sans nombre affluent au
tombeau du martyr ; Rome elle-même se dépeuple à certains jours, et
l’antique voie Appienne, dont le sol disparaît sous les pas pressés des
pèlerins, semble n’avoir jamais eu d’autre destination que de porter aux pieds
de Félix les hommages, la reconnaissance et l’amour du monde entier. Cinq
basiliques ne suffisent pas à l’immense concours ; une sixième s’élève, et
une ville nouvelle couvre le champ solitaire où furent autrefois déposés les
restes précieux du martyr. Pendant tout le quatrième siècle, qui à tant
d’autres grandeurs joignit celle de donner son extension entière au grand
mouvement des pèlerinages, la ville de Noie en Campanie demeure pour l’Occident
le principal centre, après Rome, de ces manifestations si catholiques de la foi
chrétienne. « Heureuse ville de Nole », s’écrie un contemporain,
témoin oculaire de ces merveilles, « heureuse ville, qui, par le
bienheureux Félix, est devenue la seconde après Rome même, Rome la première
autrefois par son empire et ses armes victorieuses, la première encore
aujourd’hui par les tombeaux des Apôtres ! » (Paulini, De S. Felice
natalitium carmen II.)
Nous
venons de citer Paulin, l’illustre consulaire dont le nom est à jamais
inséparable de celui de Félix, Paulin que nous retrouverons, au Temps
après la Pentecôte, donnant lui aussi au monde, sous le souffle du
divin Esprit, d’admirables exemples de renoncement. Dans la fleur de sa brillante
jeunesse, prévenu déjà par les honneurs et la gloire, Paulin, un jour, s’est
rencontré près du tombeau de Félix ; il a compris à ce tombeau la vraie
grandeur et pénétré le néant des gloires humaines : le sénateur romain, le
consul, le descendant des Paul-Émile et des Scipion, se voue à son
vainqueur ; il sacrifiera tout, richesses, honneurs, patrie, à l’ambition
d’habiter près de cette tombe ; doué d’un talent poétique admiré dans
Rome, il n’aura plus d’inspiration que pour chanter chaque année, au jour de sa
fête, la gloire du bienheureux Félix, et se proclamer l’esclave, l’humble
portier du serviteur du Christ. Tel est en ses saints le triomphe de
l’Emmanuel ; telle est la gloire des membres, en ces jours où le divin
chef ne semble se manifester lui-même que pour les montrer, selon sa promesse,
assis dans un même trône et recevant comme lui les hommages des peuples et des
rois.
Ce jour,
dirons-nous avec le noble chantre de vos grandeurs, ô Félix, est le vingtième
après celui où l’Emmanuel naissant dans la chair, soleil nouveau vainqueur des
frimas, ramena la lumière et fit décroître les nuits. Sa splendeur est la
vôtre. Faites qu’échauffés par ses rayons fécondants, nous croissions comme
vous en lui. Redevenus enfants à la crèche, la semence du Verbe est en
nous ; qu’elle fructifie dans l’innocence d’un cœur nouveau. Par vous, le
joug du Christ est léger aux faibles ; par vous l’Enfant-Dieu s’adoucit,
et rend ses caresses aux âmes pénitentes. Ce jour donc aussi doit nous être
cher qui vous vit naître au ciel ; car par vous, nous mourons au monde et
naissons à l’Emmanuel.
Bhx
Cardinal Schuster, Liber Sacramentorum
Station à Saint-Félix « in
Pincis ».
Dans
l’antiquité, la dévotion des fidèles envers ce martyr de Nole était si grande
que, au dire de saint Paulin, à l’approche de son natale, le long de la voie
Appienne c’était tout un va-et-vient de pèlerins qui, de Rome, se rendaient à
Nole. Son culte ne demeura pas limité à l’Italie, car des lointaines plages
africaines, saint Augustin envoyait ses clercs se disculper en prêtant serment
sur le tombeau de saint Félix. Le pape Damase composa en l’honneur de ce saint
une magnifique épigraphe votive ; Rome lui éleva de très bonne heure sur
le mont Pincio une basilique, l’antique oratoire domestique de la domus Pinciana
des Anicii.
Bien que
l’éponyme de la fête de ce jour ne soit pas mort dans les tourments, la messe
de saint Félix, à l’exception des collectes, est celle du Commun des martyrs,
comme pour la fête de saint Saturnin. Cependant, dans l’antiquité, les lectures
étaient propres, et le Lectionnaire romain de Würzbourg, du milieu du VIIe
siècle, prescrit pour ce jour la lecture de l’évangile selon saint Luc (X,
16-20) : « Celui qui vous écoute, etc. ... que vos noms soient écrits
dans le ciel. » [1].
Maintenant,
la fête de saint Félix, tombant le même jour que celle de saint Hilaire, est
réduite pour l’Église universelle à une simple commémoraison ; mais à
Rome, lors d’une nouvelle réforme du calendrier diocésain, il semblerait
vraiment opportun de restituer à l’antique honneur les fêtes traditionnelles
des martyrs romains, en attribuant à ceux-ci, selon la tradition liturgique, la
préséance sur les autres saints du cycle sanctoral.
Ainsi
seraient remis en honneur les églises stationnales et les sanctuaires élevés
par les premiers pontifes à la mémoire des plus célèbres champions de la
Foi ; toute une histoire très glorieuse de piété liturgique, éminemment
romaine, serait remise en lumière, et les reflets de cette vive lumière
ajouteraient une nouvelle splendeur à la Chaire apostolique.
La prière
a un caractère général, mais elle exprime très élégamment le fruit que nous
devons retirer des fêtes des saints : « Accordez-nous, ô Dieu
tout-puissant, que les exemples de vos saints nous provoquent à une vie
meilleure, afin que, célébrant leur solennité, nous imitions aussi leurs œuvre.
Par notre Seigneur, etc. »
La secrète
est la suivante : « Accueillez favorablement, Seigneur, les hosties
qui vous sont offertes en l’honneur des mérites de votre bienheureux martyr
Félix, et faites qu’il en résulte pour nous un secours pour l’éternité. »
Quelques sacramentaires donnent encore cette autre collecte : « Vous
offrant, Seigneur, ce sacrifice en la fête de votre martyr Félix nous vous
supplions de nous accorder à nous une immense miséricorde, comme vous lui
concédâtes une immense foi (fidei largitatem). »
Autrefois
il y avait aussi une préface propre pour cette fête. ...Et confessionem sancti
Felicis memorabilem non tacere, qui nec haereticis pravitatibus, nec saeculi
blandimentis a sui status rectitudine potuit immutari, sed inter utraque
discrimina, veritatis assertor, firmitatem tuae fidei non reliquat.
Après la
communion on récite la collecte suivante : « Enivrés par le Mystère
du salut, nous vous supplions, Seigneur, de permettre que nous soyons aidés par
les prières de votre bienheureux martyr Félix dont aujourd’hui nous célébrons
la fête. Par notre Seigneur, etc. »
Ce furent
les magnifiques miracles qui s’accomplissaient continuellement sur la tombe de
saint Félix, qui déterminèrent le grand saint Paulin de Noie à se consacrer
entièrement à Dieu et au service du sanctuaire du martyr. Par les soins du
saint Évêque, s’élevèrent rapidement autour du sépulcre de Félix un baptistère,
deux splendides basiliques, un monastère et de vastes habitations pour les
pèlerins qui y venaient en foule de toute l’Italie.
Saint
Paulin avait coutume de composer chaque année un poème à l’occasion du dies
natalis de son patron, et un grand nombre en a été conservé, ce qui contribua
sans doute beaucoup à répandre le culte de Félix.
Le pape
Damase, lui aussi, en un poème émouvant, professe sa reconnaissance envers le
martyr Félix qui lui avait obtenu de triompher de ses calomniateurs :
CORPORE -
MENTE • ANIMO • PARITERQVE • ET • NOMINE • FELIX
SANCTORVM • IN • NVMERO • CHRISTI • SOCIATE • TRIVMPHIS
QVI • AD • TE • SOLLICITE • VENIENTIBVS • OMNI • PRAESTAS
NEC • QVEMQVAM • PATERIS • TRISTEM • REPEDARE • VIANTEM
TE • DVCE • SERVATVS . MORTIS • QVOO • VINCVLA • RVPI
HOSTIBVS • EXTINCTIS • FVERANT • QVI • FALSA • LOCVTI
VERSIBVS • HIS • DAMASVS • SVPPLEX • TIBI • VOTA • REPENDO
O toi Félix (heureux) de corps, d’âme, de cœur et de nom. Que le Christ associa
au triomphe de ses saints ; Toi qui accordes tout à celui qui vient
solliciter ton intercession, Ne permets pas que le pèlerin reprenne tristement
sa route ; Puisque sous ta protection j’ai échappé à la mort, Et qu’au
contraire ne sont plus ceux qui m’avaient calomnié, Moi, Damase, suppliant, par
mes vers j’ai voulu te rendre grâces.
La
basilique de Saint-Félix in Pincis se trouvait peu éloignée de l’église
actuelle de la Trinité-des-Monts. L’auteur anonyme du catalogue turinois des
églises de Rome au XIVe siècle, la compte parmi les églises abandonnées :
Ecclesia sancti Felicis non habet servitorem ; toutefois ses ruines sont
encore indiquées dans le plan de Rome fait par Bufalini.
[1] MENSE IANUARI
XIIII DIE NAT. SCI. FELICIS IN PINCIS lec. sci. euan. sec.
Lucam k. CXVI In illo tempore dixit Ihs discipulis suis qui vos audit
usq. nomina uestra scripta sunt in cælis.
Les
réformes du Missel Romain ont fait disparaître la plupart de ces leçons
spéciales assignées anciennement aux fêtes de cette espèce. On s’est contenté
de retenir les trois oraisons du sacramentaire en renvoyant pour tout le reste
à quelqu’une des messes du commun des saints : pour s. Félix, par exemple,
à la messe Lætabitur. Il en est résulté un réel appauvrissement et une
déperdition regrettable de la tradition concernant les péricopes. (Dom Morin, Liturgie
et basiliques de Rome au milieu du VIIe siècle d’après les listes d’Évangiles
de Würzburg, Revue bénédictine, XXVIII, 1911, p. 238, note 3).
Pressano (Lavis, Trentino) - Chiesa di San Felice di
Nola, interno - Affresco raffigurante san Felice
Dom
Pius Parsch, le Guide dans l’année liturgique
Saint
Félix. — Jour de mort : 14 janvier 260. Tombeau : à Nole
(Campanie) ; au-dessus de ce tombeau s’élève une église célèbre.
Image : On le représente enchaîné et en prison ou bien dans une caverne
avec une toile d’araignée. Sa vie : Le prêtre Félix de Nole, après avoir
été torturé sur le chevalet, fut jeté en prison. Là, chargé de chaînes, il dut
se coucher sur des coquillages et des tessons. Mais, dans la nuit, apparut un
ange qui fit tomber ses chaînes et l’emmena hors de la prison. Plus tard,
lorsque la persécution -fut finie, il parvint, par ses prédications et ses
saints exemples, à convertir beaucoup de gens à la foi chrétienne. Mais ensuite,
comme il montrait de nouveau son zèle contre le culte impie, il se produisit
contre lui un soulèvement. Il s’enfuit et se réfugia dans une cachette située
entre deux murs. Soudain l’entrée de la cachette fut recouverte d’une épaisse
toile d’araignée, si bien que personne ne put soupçonner qu’il se trouvait là
Après avoir quitté cette cachette, Félix se réfugia, pendant trois mois, chez
une femme pieuse. Il mourut en paix (260). Saint Paulin de Nole (v. 22 juin)
a composé en l’honneur de ce saint, pour lequel il avait de la prédilection,
quatorze hymnes (carmina natalicia). Au temps, de saint Paulin (4e siècle), son
tombeau était visité par des foules de pèlerins qui venaient des contrées les
plus éloignées, et des guérisons miraculeuses le rendirent glorieux.
Pratique :
Soyons persuadés que, lorsque nous travaillons et combattons pour Dieu, nous
pouvons être assurés de sa protection. Dieu nous protège de nos ennemis, quand
bien même il lui faudrait tendre une toile d’araignée.
SAINT FÉLIX SUR LE PINCIO
Félix est surnommé in
pinci, ou bien du lieu où il repose, ou des stylets avec lesquels on prétend
qu'il souffrit, car pinca signifie stylet.
On dit que saint Félix
était maître d'école, et que sa sévérité était par trop grande. Ayant été pris
par les païens il confessa ouvertement J.-C. et fut livré à ses écoliers qui le
tuèrent à coups de stylet et de poinçon. Cependant l’Eglise paraît croire qu'il
ne fut pas martyr, mais confesseur. Toutes les fois qu'il était mené à une
idole pour lui sacrifier, il soufflait dessus et à l’instant elle était
renversée. On lit, dans une autre légende, que Maxime, évêque de Nole, fuyant
la persécution, tomba par terre, saisi par la faim et la gelée. Félix lui fut
envoyé par un ange; et comme il n'avait rien à lui donner à manger, il vit une
grappe de raisin pendant à un églantier, il lui en exprima le jus dans la
bouche, le mit sur ses épaules et l’emporta. Après la mort de Maxime, Félix fut
élu évêque. S'étant livré ensuite à la prédication, il fut recherché par le
persécuteur; alors il se cacha dans des décombres de murailles en se glissant
par un petit trou, et aussitôt des araignées conduites par la main de Dieu
vinrent tendre leurs toiles sur cette ouverture. Les persécuteurs, qui les
aperçoivent, jugent qu'il n'y a là personne et passent outre. Félix s'en
vint de là en un autre lieu où il fut nourri pendant trois mois par une veuve
dont il ne regarda jamais la figure. Enfin le calme ayant été rendu, il revint
à son église et il y reposa en paix. Il fut enseveli auprès de la ville dans un
lieu appelé Pincis. Il avait un frère, comme lui nommé Félix. Comme on le
forçait aussi d'adorer les idoles, il dit : « Vous êtes les ennemis de vos
dieux, car si vous me conduisez vers leurs images, je soufflerai sur eux comme
mon frère et ils tomberont. » Saint Félix cultivait un jardin, dont
quelques-uns voulurent prendre les légumes. En pensant commettre leur vol,
pendant toute la nuit, ils cultivèrent parfaitement le jardin. Le matin Félix
les salua; alors ils confessèrent leur péché et retournèrent chez eux. Les
gentils vinrent pour s'emparer de Félix; mais une douleur grave les saisit à la
main. Comme ils poussaient des hurlements, Félix leur parla en ces
termes : « Dites : « J.-C. est Dieu » et la douleur cessera aussitôt. »
Après avoir prononcé ces paroles, ils furent guéris. Le pontife des idoles vint
le trouver et lui dire : « Seigneur, voici mon Dieu; dès qu'il vous voit venir,
à l’instant il prend la fuite, et comme je lui disais: « Pourquoi fuis-tu ?» il
répondit « Je ne puis supporter la vertu de ce Félix. » Si donc mon Dieu vous
craint ainsi, à combien plus forte raison dois-je vous craindre moi-même. »
Félix l’ayant instruit dans la foi, il se fit baptiser. Félix disait à ceux qui
adoraient Apollon : « Si Apollon est le vrai Dieu, qu'il me dise ce que je
serre en ce moment dans ma main? » Or il tenait un petit billet sur lequel
était écrite l’oraison dominicale. Comme il ne répondait rien, les
gentils se convertirent. Enfin après avoir célébré la messe, et avoir donné la
paix au peuple, il se coucha sur le pavé, se mit en prières et mourut dans le
Seigneur.
La Légende dorée de Jacques de
Voragine nouvellement traduite en français avec introduction,
notices, notes et recherches sur les sources par l'abbé J.-B. M. Roze, chanoine
honoraire de la Cathédrale d'Amiens, Édouard Rouveyre, éditeur, 76, rue de
Seine, 76, Paris mdcccci
Lorenzo Lotto. San Felice in cattedra
St. Felix of Nola
St. Felix was the son of Hermias, a Syrian who had
been a Roman soldier. He was born on his father’s estate at Nola near Naples,
Italy. On the death of his father, Felix distributed his inheritance to the
poor, was ordained by Bishop 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. St. Felix hid St. Maximus
from soldiers in a vacant building. When the two were safely inside, a spider
quickly spun a web over the door, fooling the imperial forces into thinking it
was long abandoned, and they left without finding the Christians. The two
managed to hide from authorities until the persecution ended with the death of
Decius in 251.
When Maximus died, the people unanimously selected
Felix as their Bishop, but he declined the honor in favor of Quintus, a senior
priest. Felix spent the rest of his life on a small piece of land 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
in the intervening century. His feast day is January 14th.
SOURCE : http://www.ucatholic.com/saints/saint-felix-of-nola/
La statua di San Felice nella villa comunale di Nola (NA)
St. Felix of Nola
Born
at Nola, near Naples, and lived in the third century.
After his father's
death he distributed almost all his goods
amongst the poor, and
was ordained priest by Maximum
Bishop of Nola. In the year 250, when the Decian persecution broke out, Maximus
was forced to flee. The persecutors seized on Felix
and he was cruelly scourged, loaded with chains, and cast into prison. One night an angel appeared to him and bade him go to
help Maximus. His chains fell off, the
doors opened, and the saint was enabled to bring relief to the bishop, who was then speechless from cold
and hunger. On the persecutors
making a second attempt to secure Felix,
his escape was miraculously
effected by a spider weaving her web over the opening of a hole into which he
had just crept. Thus deceived, they sought
their prey elsewhere. The persecution ceased the following year, and Felix,
who had lain hidden in a dry well for six months, returned to his duties. On the death of Maximus
he was earnestly desired as bishop, but he persuaded the people to
choose another, his senior in the priesthood. The remnant of his estate having
been confiscated in the persecution, he refused to take it back, and
for his subsistence rented three acres of land, which he tilled with his own hands.
Whatever remained over he gave to the poor, and if he had two coats at any
time he invariably gave them the better. He lived to a ripe old age and died 14
January (on which day he is commemorated), but the year of his death is
uncertain. Five churches were built in his honour, outside Nola, where his remains are kept, but
some relics are
also at Rome and Benevento. St. Paulinus, who acted
as porter to
one of these churches, testifies to
numerous pilgrimages
made in honour of Felix.
The poems and letters of Paulinus on Felix
are the source from which St. Gregory of
Tours, Venerable Bede, and the priest Marcellus
have drawn their biographies (see PAULINUS OF
NOLA). There is
another Felix of Nola, bishop and martyr under a Prefect
Martianus. He is considered by some to be
the same as the above.
Coleman, Ambrose. "St. Felix of Nola." The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 6.
New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1909. 14 Jan. 2017 <http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/06033b.htm>.
Transcription. This article was transcribed for New
Advent by Joseph P. Thomas.
Ecclesiastical approbation. Nihil
Obstat. September 1, 1909. Remy Lafort, Censor. Imprimatur. +John M. Farley, Archbishop of New York.
Copyright © 2020 by Kevin Knight. Dedicated to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Tomba del santo nella basilica paleocristiana di Cimitile
Felix of Nola M (RM)
Born in Nola (near Naples), Italy; died in Nola on January 14, 260. Hermias, a
Syrian officer of the Roman army, retired at Nola, where he had some land. Upon
his death he bequeathed his property to his two sons. The younger, like his
father before him, joined the Roman army and followed Caesar; the elder, Felix,
happy by name and nature, distributed his inheritance, was ordained priest by
Bishop Saint Maximus of Nola, and became a soldier of Christ. After his
ordination he served the aged bishop as his assistant. When the persecution
broke out under Decius in 250, the old man escaped to the hills, leaving his
diocese in charge of Felix and nominating him as his successor.
When a search was made for Maximus and he was not to be found, Felix was
arrested in his place, and thrown into prison. Maximus, meanwhile, a fugitive
in the mountains, was perishing from cold and hunger, and suffering all the
more on account of his great age.
In prison Felix was treated with brutality, but, in
course of time, and following a vision, Felix escaped with the help of an angel
and sought out his old friend. After prolonged and difficult search he found
Maximus, alone, prostrate with illness, and helpless. Felix revived him with
food and wine, and carried him on his back, under cover of night, to the home
of a pious and aged woman who took him into her care. Felix himself then went
into hiding until the outbreak of persecution had passed with the death of
Decius in 251.
When, later, there was a fresh outburst of hostility
against the Christians, his life was again in danger. He was accosted in the
street by a search party, but fortunately went unrecognized. After this narrow
escape he concealed himself in a ruined building, creeping in through a small
hole which he found in its broken walls and finding an inner and secret hiding
place. We are told that there came a spider who let down a thread and weaved
its web over the entrance, so that when the search party was going through the
building, they were deceived by the cobweb and passed by the place where he lay
hidden.
For some months Felix lay in hiding, most of the time
living among the same ruins in a unused well. When the persecution had ceased,
he resumed his ministry in Nola. On the death of Maximus he was naturally
elected bishop but declined the honor in favor of Quintus, a senior priest,
though he had been ordained but seven days before him. This was characteristic
of his graciousness and humility. Felix lived out the rest of his days as a
simple priest, revered for his goodness and his sufferings under persecution.
His own property having long been confiscated, he
rented a plot of some three acres of barren ground, which he tended with his
own hands, growing his own food, supporting himself so far as he could, and
giving generously to the poor.
He lived to a good age and had a brave and gallant
spirit. While he didn't actually die a martyr's death, Saint Felix is venerated
as such because of the sufferings he underwent during the persecution.
The little that is known about Saint Felix derives
chiefly from the poems of Saint Paulinus of Nola, who wrote over 100 years
later, and built a church in honor of Saint Felix. Paulinus incorporated
legendary material the had accumulated around Felix's name in the intervening
century. Paulinus relates that Felix was tortured but not killed in time of
persecution, and afterwards enjoyed a fruitful apostolate, notable for
conversions and miracles. (The Venerable Bede wrote a summary of Paulinus's
work.) Soon after Felix's death crowds of people came from distant parts to
visit Saint Felix's tomb. In fact, a miraculous cure at his tomb was the cause
of Saint Paulinus's own conversion.
The cultus of Felix is recognized in the martyrologies
of Jerome and of Carthage and by many ancient sacramentaries. His church at
Nola, decorated by murals of Old Testament subjects, was a notable pilgrimage
center from the 4th century. Hagiographers have often confused things by
attributing his work to many people or consolidating many of the 66 Roman
Martyrology entries of "Felix" into one. Felix of Nola can be found
in the Sarum calendar and in 15 English Benedictine ones (Delaney, Farmer).
Usually Felix is portrayed by artists with a spider,
or with an angel removing his chains, or with a bunch of grapes symbolizing his
care of the aged Maximus, or bearing the old man upon his shoulders (Attwater,
Benedictines, Delaney, Encyclopedia, Gill). His emblem is the cobweb which
concealed his hiding place. Normally he is a young priest in all these
pictures. He may also be shown chained in prison with a pitcher and potsherds
near him. Occasionally he is dressed as a deacon, rather than a priest.
He is the patron of domestic animals, and invoked
against eye troubles (Roeder).
SOURCE : http://www.saintpatrickdc.org/ss/0114.shtml
St. Felix of Nola, Priest and Confessor
IT is observed by the judicious Tillemont, with regard
to the life of this saint, that we might doubt of its wonderful circumstances,
were they not supported by the authority of a Paulinus; but that great miracles
ought to be received with the greater veneration, when authorized by
incontestable vouchers.
St. Felix was a native of Nola, a Roman colony in
Campania, fourteen miles from Naples, where his father Hermias, who was by
birth a Syrian, and had served in the army, had purchased an estate and settled
himself. He had two sons, Felix and Hermias, to whom at his death he left his
patrimony. The younger sought preferment in the world among the lovers of
vanity, by following the profession of arms, which at that time was the surest
road to riches and honours. Felix, to become in effect what his name in Latin
imported, that is happy, resolved to follow no other standard
than that of the King of kings, Jesus Christ. For this purpose, despising all
earthly things, lest the love of them might entangle his soul, he distributed
the better part of his substance among the poor, and was ordained Reader
Exorcist, and, lastly, priest, by Maximus, the holy bishop of Nola; who,
charmed with his sanctity and prudence, made him his principal support in those
times of trouble, and designed him for his successor. 1
In the year 250, the Emperor Decius raised a bloody
persecution against the church. Maximus, seeing himself principally aimed at,
retired into the desert, not through the fear of death, which he desired, but
rather not to tempt God by seeking it, and to preserve himself for the service
of his flock. The persecutors not finding him, seized on Felix, who in his
absence was very vigilant in the discharge of all his pastoral duties. The
governor caused him to be scourged; then loaded with bolts and chains about his
neck, hands, and legs, and cast into a dungeon, in which, as St. Prudentius
informs us, 2
the floor was spread all over with potsherds and pieces of broken glass, so
that there was no place free from them, on which the saint could either stand
or lie. One night an angel appearing in great glory, filled the prison with a
bright light, and bade St. Felix go and assist his bishop, who was in great
distress. The confessor seeing his chains fall off, and the doors open,
followed his guide, and was conducted by heaven to the place where Maximus lay,
almost perished with hunger and cold, speechless, and without sense: for,
through anxiety for his flock, and the hardships of his solitary retreat, he
had suffered more than a martyrdom. Felix, not being able to bring him to
himself, had recourse to prayer; and discovering thereupon a bunch of grapes
within reach, he squeezed some of the juice into his mouth, which had the
desired effect. The good bishop no sooner beheld his friend Felix, but he
embraced him, and begged to be conveyed back to his church. The saint taking
him on his shoulders, carried him to his episcopal house in the city, before
day appeared, where a pious ancient woman took care of him. 3
Felix, with the blessing of his pastor, repaired
secretly to his own lodgings, and there kept himself concealed, praying for the
church without ceasing, till peace was restored to it by the death of Decius,
in the year 251. He no sooner appeared again in public, but his zeal so
exasperated the pagans, that they came armed to apprehend him; but though they
met him, they knew him not; they even asked him where Felix was, a question he
did not think proper to give a direct answer to! The persecutors going a little
further, perceived their mistake, and returned; but the saint in the mean time
had stept a little out of the way, and crept through a hole in a ruinous old wall,
which was instantly closed up by spiders’ webs. His enemies never imagining any
thing could have lately passed where they saw so close a spiders’ web, after a
fruitless search elsewhere, returned in the evening without their prey. Felix
finding among the ruins, between two houses, an old well half dry, hid himself
in it for six months; and received during that time wherewithal to subsist by
means of a devout Christian woman. Peace being restored to the church by the
death of the emperor, the saint quitted his retreat, and was received in the
city as an angel sent from heaven.
Soon after, St. Maximus dying, all were unanimous for
electing Felix bishop; but he persuaded the people to make choice of Quintus,
because the older priest of the two, having been ordained seven days before
him. Quintus, when bishop, always respected St. Felix as his father, and
followed his advice in every particular. The remainder of the saint’s estate
having been confiscated in the persecution, he was advised to lay claim to it,
as others had done, who thereby recovered what had been taken from them. His
answer was, that in poverty he should be the more secure of possessing Christ. 4
He could not even be prevailed upon to accept what the rich offered him. He
rented a little spot of barren land, not exceeding three acres, which he tilled
with his own hands, in such manner as to receive his subsistence from it, and
to have something left for alms. Whatever was bestowed on him, he gave
immediately to the poor. If he had two coats, he was sure to give them the
better; and often exchanged his only one for the rags of some beggar. He died
in a good old age, on the fourteenth of January, on which day the Martyrology,
under the name of St. Jerom, and all others of later date mention him. Five
churches have been built at, or near the place, where he was first interred,
which was without the precincts of the city of Nola. His precious remains are
at present kept in the cathedral; but certain portions are at Rome, Benevento,
and some other places. Pope Damasus, in a pilgrimage which he made from Rome to
Nola, to the shrine of this saint, professes, in a short poem which he composed
in acknowledgment, that he was miraculously cured of a distemper through his
intercession.
St. Paulinus, a Roman senator in the fifth age,
forty-six years after the death of St. Damasus, came from Spain to Nola,
desirous of being porter in the church of St. Felix. He testifies, that crowds
of pilgrims came from Rome, from all other parts of Italy, and more distant
countries, to visit his sepulchre on his festival: he adds, that all brought
some present or other to his church, as wax candles to burn at his tomb,
precious ointments, costly ornaments, and such like; but that for his part, he
offered to him the homage of his tongue, and himself, though an unworthy victim. 5
He everywhere expresses his devotion to this saint in the warmest and strongest
terms, and believes that all the graces he received from heaven were conferred
on him through the intercession of St. Felix. To him he addressed himself in
all his necessities; by his prayers he begged grace in this life, and glory
after death. 6
He describes at large the holy pictures of the whole history of the Old
Testament, which were hung up in the church of St. Felix, and which inflamed
all who beheld them, and were as so many books that instructed the ignorant. We
may read with pleasure the pious sentiments the sight of each gave St. Paulinus. 7
He relates a great number of miracles that were wrought at his tomb, as of
persons cured of various distempers and delivered from dangers by his
intercession, to several of which he was an eye-witness. He testifies, that he
himself had frequently experienced the most sensible effects of his patronage,
and, by having recourse to him, had been speedily succoured. 8
St. Austin also has given an account of many miracles performed at his shrine. 9
It was not formerly allowed to bury any corpse within the walls of cities. The
church of St. Felix, out of the walls of Nola, not being comprised under this
prohibition, many devout Christians sought to be buried in it, that their faith
and devotion might recommend them after death to the patronage of this holy
confessor, upon which head St. Paulinus consulted St. Austin. The holy doctor
answered him by his book, On the Care for the Dead: in which he
shows, that the faith and devotion of such persons would be available to them after
death, as the suffrages and good works of the living in behalf of the faithful
departed are profitable to the latter. See the poems of St. Paulinus on his
life, confirmed by other authentic ancient records, quoted by Tillemont, t. 4.
p. 226. and Ruinart, Acta Sincera, p. 256. Muratori, Anecd. Lat.
Note 1. St.
Paulin. Carm. 19, 20. See Natali. 4. [back]
Note
2. De Cor. hymn. 5. [back]
Note 3. Paulin.
Carm. 19. [back]
Note
4. Dives egebo Deo; nam
Christum pauper habebo.
Paulin.
Carm. 20. Natali S. Felicis 5. [back]
Note
5.
————————— Ego munere linguæ.
Nudus opum,
famulor, de me mea debita solvens,
Meque ipsum pro
me, vilis licet hostia, pendam
Note 6. Nat. 1, 2, &c. [back]
Note 7. Nat. 9,
10. [back]
Note 8. St. Paulin. Ep. 28 and 36. Carm. 13. 18. 21, 22, 23. 29. &c. [back]
Note 9. St. August. Ep. 78. olim 137. and lib. De curâ pro
mortuis, c. 16. [back]
Rev. Alban Butler (1711–73). Volume I:
January. The Lives of the Saints. 1866.
Chiesa di San Felice da Nola e chiesa di Sant'Anna, Pressano
(Lavis, Trentino)
Also known as
- Felix the Martyr
- Felix of Inpincis
- Felice….
- Flin….
Profile
After Maximus‘ death, Felix was chosen as bishop of Nola, but declined, favoring Quintus, a “senior” priest who had seven days more experience than Felix. He worked to farm his remaining land, and gave most of the proceeds to people
even poorer than himself. Much of the little information we have about
Felix came from the letters and poetry
of Saint
Paulinus of Nola, who served at a porter at the door of a church dedicated to Saint
Felix, and who gathered information about him from churchmen and pilgrims.
Chiesa di San Felice da Nola, San Felice (Fierozzo,
Trentino)
Article
Here beginneth the Life
of Saint Felix, said Inpincis
Felix was surnamed
Inpincis, and is said of the place where he resteth, or of the pointelles of
greffes. A greffe is properly called a pointel to write in tables of wax, by
which he suffered death. And some say that he was a schoolmaster and taught
children, and was to them much rigorous. After he was known of the paynims, and
because he confessed plainly that he was christian and believed in Jesu Christ
he was delivered to be tormented into the hands of the children his scholars,
whom he had taught and learned, which scholars slew him with their pointelles,
pricks, and greffes, and yet the church holdeth him for no martyr but for a confessor. And the paynims said
to him that he should do sacrifice to the idols, but he blew on them and anon
they fell to the earth. It is read in a legend that when Maximus, bishop of
Nola, and Valerian, fled the persecution of the paynims, the bishop was
tormented with hunger and thirst so much that he fell down to the ground,
wherefore Felix was sent of an angel to him, and he bare nothing with him for
to give to him, and he saw by him a cluster of raisins hanging on a tree, which
he laid on his shoulders hastily, and bare it with him. And when the bishop was
dead. Felix was elected and chosen to be bishop. And as he preached on a time
the persecutors sought him, and he hid him in the clefts of a broken wall, and
incontinent by the will of God came spincops and made their work and nets
before him that they might not find him. And when the tyrants could not find
him they went their way, and he went thence and came to the house of a widow,
and took there his refection of her three months, and yet he saw her never in
the visage. And at last when the peace was made he went him in to his church
and there died and rested in our Lord and was buried by the city in a place
that was called Pincis.
And this Felix had a
brother which was in likewise named Felix, and when this Felix was constrained
to adore the idols he said: Ye be enemies unto your gods, for if ye bring me to
them like as my brother did, and they shall fall to the earth and break.
On a time this Felix did
do labour his garden where he had set coles and worts for his use, and some of
his neighbours would have stolen away these coles and worts, and hoed in the
garden all the night and digged, and on the morning Saint Felix saluted them,
and anon they confessed their sin, and he pardoned them and then they went
their way.
And a little while after
the paynims came for to take Saint Felix, and anon so great dolour and pain
took them that they began to howl as dogs. And he said to them: Believe ye in
God and say ye that Jesu Christ is very God, and do you to be baptized, and ye
shall be whole, and your pain shall cease, and so they did, and anon they were
all whole. And after, the bishop of the idols came to him and said: Sire, as
soon as our God saw thee he fled, and when I said Why fleest thou? he said: I
may not suffer the virtue of Felix, and when my God doubteth thee, much more I
ought to doubt thee, and when Felix had confirmed him in the faith he baptized
him. And Felix said to them that adored Apollo: If Apollo be very God, let him
say to me what I hold in my hand. And he had in his hand a schedule wherein was
written the orison of our Lord, that is the Paternoster. And he might not
answer, wherefore the paynims were converted to our Lord. And at last when he
had sung his mass and the peace given to the people, he fell down in prayer
upon the pavement of the church and passed out of this life unto our Lord.
SOURCE : https://catholicsaints.info/golden-legend-saint-felix-inpincis/
San Felice da Nola Sacerdote e
martire
Nola, III sec. – 14 gennaio 313?
La vita
del prete Felice ci è narrata da san Paolino di Nola, a cui si deve anche
l'importante complesso di basiliche paleocristiane a Cimitile, a sei chilometri
dalla località campana. Qui erano state deposte le spoglie di Felice, morto
probabilmente dopo il 313. Nato a Nola nel III secolo da un ricco padre di
origini orientali, aveva sofferto le persecuzioni ed era stato imprigionato,
torturato e poi liberato miracolosamente da un angelo che lo condusse in un
luogo deserto (per questo, pur non essendo stato ucciso è stato venerato come
martire). Grazie alla pace costantiniana Felice era rientrato in diocesi. Qui,
pur essendo stato indicato come successore dal vescovo Massimo, alla morte di
questi rifiutò l'elezione e visse in povertà fino alla fine dei suoi giorni. In suo onore si tengono due feste con processioni dal 5 al 14 gennaio,
data della sua memoria liturgica. (Avvenire)
Etimologia: Felice = contento, dal latino
Martirologio Romano: A Nola in Campania, san Felice, sacerdote, che,
come riferisce san Paolino, durante l’imperversare delle persecuzioni, patì in
carcere atroci torture e, una volta ristabilita la pace, fece ritorno tra i
suoi, ritirandosi in povertà fino ad avanzata vecchiaia, invitto confessore
della fede.
sei km da Nola, a Cimitile vi è uno dei più importanti complessi
paleocristiani del Mezzogiorno d’Italia; fino al II secolo d.C. esisteva una
necropoli pagana, vicino alla quale i primi cristiani della zona, seppellirono
i loro morti in un ‘cæmeterium’, termine da cui deriva il toponimo di Cimitile.
In
seguito i nolani vi deposero le spoglie del prete s. Felice, la fama dei
miracoli che si verificarono sulla tomba del santo, fece della località, una
meta di pellegrinaggio. Già nel IV secolo, nel recinto erano presenti diverse
basiliche, divenute sei nei tempi successivi, esse sono adiacenti fra loro,
alcune sovrapposte e sono: San Felice in Pincis, Santo Stefano, San Giovanni,
San Paolino, Santissimi Martiri e San Gaulonio, ad esse si aggiunge la parrocchiale
del 1789, posta in alto sul sito archeologico e dedicata anch’essa a San Felice
in Pincis.
L’origine di questi importanti luoghi di culto e di preghiera, si collega ad un
‘monasterium’ fatto costruire dal vescovo di Nola s. Paolino, originario di
Bordeaux, il quale stabilendosi nel 394 a Cimitile ne determinò la crescita,
infatti presso il ‘monasterium’ si riunirono molti amici del santo vescovo,
divenuto poi il santo patrono di Nola e a cui è dedicata, nel giorno della sua
festa il 22 giugno, la grande e celebre Festa dei Gigli di Nola; questi uomini,
conducendo una vita di lavoro e di preghiera, anticiparono di un secolo la
Regola di s. Benedetto.
S. Paolino divenuto vescovo di Nola nel 409, lasciò il ‘monasterium’, ingrandì
il cimitero e fece costruire la Basilica Nuova (400-403) inglobata poi nel XVI
secolo nella Basilica di S. Giovanni; questa comunicava mediante un passaggio a
triplice arcata, con quella di San Felice in Pincis.
Quest’ultima è senz’altro la più importante delle sette basiliche, edificata
nel IV secolo, sui resti della necropoli dei “gentili” di Nola, custodisce il
sepolcro del prete martire s. Felice, custodito in un’arca formata da una
celletta, in cui furono deposti anche i resti di altri due vescovi.
La piccola costruzione divenne un “martyrium” con una apertura che serviva di
passaggio ai fedeli che introducevano nella tomba degli unguenti, ritenuti
miracolosi e protettivi contro le malattie, dopo il contatto con il corpo del
santo.
Il sepolcro è inserito in un’edicola monumentale, sorretta da colonne e
decorata da un mosaico del V secolo, il tutto incastonato nella più ampia
Basilica; il sepolcro-altare, inizialmente piccolo e povero, divenne come la
sorgente di edifici spaziosi e rimane adesso come una gemma incastonata in cinque
basiliche, i cui tetti, visti da lontano danno l’immagine di una grande città;
così come lo descriveva s. Paolino nel carme 18.
Tutto quello che si conosce di s. Felice, ci è trasmesso dal santo vescovo
Paolino, il quale già devoto del santo, quando arrivò a Nola ed a Cimitile, gli
dedicò ben 14 dei suoi carmi, che sono detti ‘natalizi’ (carmina natalizia)
perché scritti dal 395 al 409 nella ricorrenza del ‘dies natalis’ della festa
del santo, il 14 gennaio.
Il racconto poetico di Paolino è il primo documento storico della vita di s.
Felice, cioè la prima elaborazione scritta della tradizione orale, da lui
appresa in zona.
Felice nacque a Nola nel III secolo da padre siro, trasferitosi dall’Oriente in
Italia, molto ricco; aveva un fratello Ermia che scelse la carriera militare,
mentre lui si consacrò a Cristo come presbitero.
Divenne fedele collaboratore del vescovo di Nola, Massimo, che durante l’ultima
persecuzione contro i cristiani, lasciò Nola per rifugiarsi in luogo deserto,
lasciando in città il prete Felice che voleva come suo successore.
Ma Felice fu imprigionato e torturato, poi liberato miracolosamente da un
angelo che lo condusse nel luogo deserto, dove il vecchio vescovo Massimo era
moribondo, consumato dagli stenti e dalle sofferenze. Lo rifocillò con il succo
di uva miracolosa e poi caricatolo sulle spalle, lo riportò a Nola, affidandolo
alle cure di una anziana cristiana.
Durante la sospensione della persecuzione, poté riprendere il suo ministero
sacerdotale, ma quando la persecuzione riprese, Felice fu di nuovo ricercato,
ma egli sfuggì alla cattura rifugiandosi in una cisterna disseccata, dove per
sei mesi fu alimentato, senza essere conosciuto, da una pia donna.
Cessata definitivamente la persecuzione con la pace di Costantino (313), Felice
ritorna a Nola, dove morto il vecchio vescovo Massimo viene candidato a
succedergli, ma egli rifiuta a favore del prete Quinto, rinuncia anche ai beni
che gli erano stati confiscati e trascorre il resto dei suoi giorni nella
povertà e nel lavoro.
Non si consce l’anno della sua morte, alcuni dati dicono sotto Valeriano (258),
ma come spiegare che sia lui, che il vescovo Massimo non furono uccisi, è
probabile quindi che siano morti dopo la pace di Costantino, quindi dopo il
313.
S. Felice fu comunque sempre venerato come martire, anche se non era stato
ucciso, ma certamente aveva tanto sofferto e solo miracolosamente aveva avuto
salva la vita. La sua tomba fu detta “Ara Veritatis”, perché gli si attribuiva
particolare efficacia per il trionfo della verità, contro gli spergiuri.
Al santo patrono di Cimitile, sono dedicate dai fedeli ben due feste con
processioni, che iniziate il 5 gennaio, vengono completate il 14 gennaio,
giorno della sua festa liturgica; la prima parte dall’antichissimo sepolcro nell’area
delle basiliche paleocristiane e finisce nell’ultima in ordine di tempo, cioè
nella chiesa parrocchiale di S. Felice in Pincis; l’altra percorre il paese di
Cimitile.
San Paolino resta il suo più grande cantore, con i ‘carmina’ ne descrive i numerosi
miracoli operati, il culto che riceveva, la descrizione particolareggiata dei
luoghi, delle primitive basiliche; ma nonostante ciò San Felice, forse per il
suo nome, così numeroso nell’agiografia cristiana, fu confuso spesso con altri
santi omonimi, che portarono ad un culto fuori della zona nolana, anche a Roma
(in Pincis); inoltre la presenza di un presunto protovescovo di Nola (festa il
15 novembre) di nome s. Felice, ha complicato l’identificazione.
Ma è fuori discussione che il s. Felice, prete martire di Nola, è quello
celebrato il 14 gennaio.
Autore: Antonio
Borrelli
