Felice da Nicosia
Encyclopedia
Saint
Felice da Nicosia, or Felix of Nicosia (November 5, 1715 – May 31, 1787), was a Capuchin
friar
, and is a saint in the Roman Catholic Church
.
Born in Nicosia, Sicily
, as a young boy Felix worked in the workshop of a shoemaker, close to a nearby Capuchin friary, getting to know the friars and admire their way of life.
At the age of 20 he asked the superior of the friary in Nicosia to speak for him to the Father Provincial of Messina so that he could be admitted to the Order as a lay brother. Being illiterate, he could not be admitted as a cleric. Seeing his devotion to his cause however, he was at last, admitted to the Order and sent to a friary in Mistretta
.
On October 10, 1743 he began his novitiate
, taking the name of Brother Felix, professing his vows on October 10, 1744.
Against the norm the superiors at the abbey sent him to a friary in Nicosia. Against the norm, because the fear was that novices would find themselves distracted by family and friends, thereby stunting their spiritual growth. Yet the level of his detachment was to such a degree that this fear was largely unwarranted.
He was given the job of collecting alms. Every day he would knock on doors, inviting people to share their prosperity. His nature was such that he would always say 'thank you' and even when he was manhandled he would exclaim: Let it be for the love of God.
He was devoted to Jesus Christ and the Virgin Mary. On Fridays he would contemplate the passion and death of Jesus Christ, on Fridays in March he fasted on bread and water.
He had a particular veneration for the Eucharist, spending hours in front of the tabernacle even after having endured the harsh trials of every day.
In May 1787 he was overtaken by a sudden, raging fever while working the garden. Brother Felix told the doctor who prescribed medicines for him that they were useless, because this was his final illness. He died later that month, on May 31 at two in the morning. So resigned was he to his vow of obedience that he requested for permission from his superiors to die. Most people are still thinking about him.
He was canonized on October 23, 2005 by Benedict XVI.
Saint
A saint is a holy person. In various religions, saints are people who are believed to have exceptional holiness.In Christian usage, "saint" refers to any believer who is "in Christ", and in whom Christ dwells, whether in heaven or in earth...
Felice da Nicosia, or Felix of Nicosia (November 5, 1715 – May 31, 1787), was a Capuchin
Order of Friars Minor Capuchin
The Order of Friars Minor Capuchin is an Order of friars in the Catholic Church, among the chief offshoots of the Franciscans. The worldwide head of the Order, called the Minister General, is currently Father Mauro Jöhri.-Origins :...
friar
Friar
A friar is a member of one of the mendicant orders.-Friars and monks:...
, and is a saint in the Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
.
Born in Nicosia, Sicily
Sicily
Sicily is a region of Italy, and is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Along with the surrounding minor islands, it constitutes an autonomous region of Italy, the Regione Autonoma Siciliana Sicily has a rich and unique culture, especially with regard to the arts, music, literature,...
, as a young boy Felix worked in the workshop of a shoemaker, close to a nearby Capuchin friary, getting to know the friars and admire their way of life.
At the age of 20 he asked the superior of the friary in Nicosia to speak for him to the Father Provincial of Messina so that he could be admitted to the Order as a lay brother. Being illiterate, he could not be admitted as a cleric. Seeing his devotion to his cause however, he was at last, admitted to the Order and sent to a friary in Mistretta
Mistretta
Mistretta is a comune in the Province of Messina in the Italian region Sicily, located about 90 km east of Palermo and about 110 km west of Messina...
.
On October 10, 1743 he began his novitiate
Novitiate
Novitiate, alt. noviciate, is the period of training and preparation that a novice monastic or member of a religious order undergoes prior to taking vows in order to discern whether they are called to the religious life....
, taking the name of Brother Felix, professing his vows on October 10, 1744.
Against the norm the superiors at the abbey sent him to a friary in Nicosia. Against the norm, because the fear was that novices would find themselves distracted by family and friends, thereby stunting their spiritual growth. Yet the level of his detachment was to such a degree that this fear was largely unwarranted.
He was given the job of collecting alms. Every day he would knock on doors, inviting people to share their prosperity. His nature was such that he would always say 'thank you' and even when he was manhandled he would exclaim: Let it be for the love of God.
He was devoted to Jesus Christ and the Virgin Mary. On Fridays he would contemplate the passion and death of Jesus Christ, on Fridays in March he fasted on bread and water.
He had a particular veneration for the Eucharist, spending hours in front of the tabernacle even after having endured the harsh trials of every day.
In May 1787 he was overtaken by a sudden, raging fever while working the garden. Brother Felix told the doctor who prescribed medicines for him that they were useless, because this was his final illness. He died later that month, on May 31 at two in the morning. So resigned was he to his vow of obedience that he requested for permission from his superiors to die. Most people are still thinking about him.
Veneration
He was beatified by Leo XIII on February 12, 1888. In 1891, his relics were translated, or transferred, to the Nicosia Cathedral.He was canonized on October 23, 2005 by Benedict XVI.