About the holy man Brother Felix of Cantalice, Lay Friar

The vocations that God has given men in his service have always varied at various times. Equally various are the gifts given them by the Holy Spirit, as is clear for the Apostle Paul. God chooses some as Apostles, others Teachers of the Holy Church. Enlightened by the Holy Spirit even temporal kings have gone into His service in different states or Orders. Some have been called while in their mother’s womb, as is obvious in the Gospel of Saint Luke regarding Saint John the Baptist. The Saviour of the world, who first had predestined him from eternity, visited and sanctified him in the womb of his mother. Others were called when they were children like the prophet Daniel, Saint Nicholas and many others. What will we say about Saint Peter, with the other Apostles, who were fishermen at a mature age and became Apostles of Christ? There were some others such as Saints Matthew. Zaccheus, Paul and countless others who while in the world we involved in every sort of vice, so that Our Lord shows us the zeal he has for our salvation and that no one should despair of his mercy and goodness and that he always calls us in every age and helps us follow His Majesty’s footsteps. And thus appears recently in our times the miraculous vocation of this servant of God, Brother Felix.

Therefore Brother Felix was from a place called Cantalice in the dominion of His Majesty, King Phillip and in the diocese of Cività Ducale. One must believe that by the special providence of God this holy man was born to a man who had the name ‘Santi di Caratto’ and to a woman likewise surnamed ‘Santa’ – that a truly holy man was born to two who were ‘holy’ by name. Santi and Santa, the parents of Brother Felix, from the aforesaid castle, were not very well off. However they were God fearers and although they had a lowly state in the world, they nonetheless raised this son with the fear of God, just as we can find some kinds of people who live as good Christians live that with rustic simplicity and make present that ancient piety of the holy Patriarchs. These happy parents had four sons in Cantalice, the third of whom they called Felix at his baptism. That name was by the providence of God because he was called Felix in the world and was clothed in the holy Order on the feast of Saint Felix. He led his life happily according to God while he lived, and piously we hope he is happy, blessed in heaven since he died on the on the feastday of the same saint.

Therefore he followed the work of his father, which was the art of the farmer, until he was thirty years old. One day when he was in alpine places to pasture some animals he heard a voice which resounded in the sky. It said to him, “Felix?”

With his innate simplicity he answered it, “What do you want?” The voice answered him, “Know that I am the Angel of God who wants that you go into his service.” Felix answered, “Where does he want me to go?” The Angel answered, “Into the Order of the Minors.” He replied, “And where will I find them?” “Go off to Leonessa,” said the Angel. You will find them there.”

The servant of God wasn’t lazy. Rather he was like John the Evangelist, the Beloved of the Lord. When the Saviour of the world called him with his brother he left his father Zebedee, the boat and the nets and followed him without any objection. So Felix immediately left his animals and went off to Leonessa to the friary of the Capuchin Fathers. When the Father Guardian called he revealed his intention to him with that simplicity of his, though he did not tell him about the revelation of God. However since the Guardian didn’t know him well enough he told him to go to find the Father Vicar. However he could not tell him where he was. Felix was a simple man and not accustomed to hear Angels speaking, he thought no more of it and went back to looking after his animals. Nonetheless he still attended to the strong desire to live in a Christian way. He withdrew as much as he could from the usual dealings with others and from the danger of sin. He held fast in preserving the fragrant flower of his virginity. Similarly divine grace generally guarded him from other sins.

So it is not surprising that the desire for Christian perfection burned so easily in such a ready heart. Once he heard the lives of the holy Fathers read. He thought about their penance and how they sustained their lives with some fruit and vegetables without any bread. He decided that he also wanted to abstain from bread and wine and to imitate those saints in their abstinence. In order do this he deliberated seriously about becoming a Capuchin just as God had revealed to him. He thought that in the Capuchin habit he could do all these things. Although there was no shortage of desire, nonetheless in his simplicity he didn’t know how to go about it.

So the Lord God again did not fail to send him his Angel who said to him, “Felix, I am the Angel of the Lord. He has sent me again to tell you so that you to go into his service.” Felix answered, “I went there and they didn’t want to receive me.” The Angel replied, “Go to Rieti and there it will be told you what you have to do.”

Felix went straight away to Rieti. When he spoke with the Father Guardian of the Capuchins, he led him into the church. He showed him a crucifix all bloody and bruised and said to him, “See young man how much Christ has suffered for us!” That pitiful appearance of Christ crucified and the strong words of the Guardian wounded the heart of the devout Felix. He felt full of loving compunction, evidenced by the tears that flowed abundantly from his eyes and his heavy sigh. The Guardian concluded that this was a clear indication of the holy disposition of his heart, pure and unburdened by sins and worldly affections. He saw these as a sign of his holiness and especially his holy fondness to weep over the passion of our Lord, which had been a very familiar practice for him.

After praying in the church for a good while, the Guardian led him back into the house. When he recognised that the young man was devout and suited to the Order, he directed him to Rome with a letter to the Father Provincial who receive and clothed him kindly. He was sent to the novitiate friary at Anticoli. During his novitiate under the Master Brother Boniface of Anticoli, a man who led a very holy life, the devout young man bore great profit in the service of God. And no wonder because when that holy Master saw that the young man was so well disposed, he engendered in him every good and religious conduct, according to his wish. He instructed him in the perfect observance of the Rule and taught him above all that if we wanted to achieve religious perfection, it was necessary for him to found himself on the sure foundation of holy humility, the perfect footing of every spiritual edifice. This servant of God immersed himself so deeply in good instruction that he did his entire novitiate in a marvellous way. He was so ready and disposed to holy obedience that just a hint sufficed for him. He was so mortified that his Master related how he never had a novice who applied himself so easily to all the virtues as he did. He dedicated himself to prayer in such a way that while he carried out his duties in the friary his mind never departed from the contemplation of God. This because he was so willing to make progress that he only needed to be shown the way and he persevered in it until his death, always growing to greater perfection.

Nevertheless the Lord God wanted to do with him what He has done with most of His friends. In his novitiate he gave him a very grave illness that, according to what the Seraphic Doctor wrote, He also did with our Seraphic Father Saint Francis. This is no wonder because Our Lord wanted to enrich the soul of this servant of His. To do this it was first necessary to weaken and scourge the flesh that resists the spirit so much. His illness was such that the Friars began to whether he was suited for the Order and if they should send him home. However it pleased the Lord God that all this resulted in his favour because when the Friars considered his good life and religious conversation when this servant of God was healthy they were unable to decide to send him away. So he made profession when his time came. His profession and was much more acceptable and proven because the Order had tested him when both healthy and ill, and similarly he had tried out religious life when both sick and healthy.

Not long after the Superiors gave him as the companion of the holy old man Brother Angelus of Collescipoli who was quester at the time in Rome. Shortly after the whole burden fell to this servant of God, Brother Felix. He persevered in it for about forty years continuously and with great edification to everyone that even though there may have been other holy men in the same office who lasted many years. One was Brother Giles of Sant’Angelo in Vado who persevered for thirty years in the same task and always went barefoot all the time and dressed in just one habit. He never ate more than once a day. Nonetheless he did not disclose his holiness as much as this servant of God Brother Felix did. He dealt with so many people of every condition for so many years he never upset anyone. He edified them with his holy life and brought every kind of spiritual benefit as much as possible. He helped pitiful persons with alms. He gave such good example to great lords and noble persons that everyone loved him and regarded him as a holy religious. Although God had given him a rustic nature and he was very simple in his speech and conversation, nonetheless the Holy Spirit worked in this servant of His so that his rusticity resulted in greater benefit for souls, especially noble women and great lords. He conversed so naturally with them like an earthbound Angel. He produced the greatest fruit in them. They liked his manner so much that even though he would often reprimand them very strongly, though with such modesty, that they all bore him engraved into their hearts. When the welcome him into their homes, they felt that they were welcoming Saint Francis.

Because of the great devotion and faith they had towards him, the Lord God worked many miracles at this time. On the one hand, even though this servant of God dealt with many different kinds of people for many years, it was amazing that he was never became defiled in mind or body. The Lord God gave him so much grace that he behaved in the world as if her were in the middle of the woods. In fact he even produced fruit from this. Because when he saw the miseries of the world and since he was full of charity he spent the whole night in the church praying to God for the many needs he saw in poor creatures. This was something great because, since he was acquainted with everyone because of this task, the Holy Spirit had it so that his holiness was never known. Instead everyone thought he was an ordinary man, though a good one. His holiness was unknown not only to seculars but also to the Friars. He knew how to hide it well! It seems as though the servant of God was quite good at this since even though he was full of spirit and perfection, others hadn’t know this.

This servant of God was so prudent and restrained in his conversation with the Friars that he never went to extremes. He did not indulge too much in conversation and waste time. Nor did he hold back when conversation was necessary as an act of charity either for the sick or for the tasks that benefit the community of Friars so that his conversation was always meritorious. He was so united to God through long and intimate prayer it was always his mind was to flee every vain occupation. When he saw himself free from these charitable tasks, he withdrew straight away to the church.

In this servant of God it was no less important that he led life that was both spiritual and purified of every corrupt infection in these times of ours which are so hard and unsuitable for anyone who wants to maintain such a perfect life. Equally it shows the splendour of his perfection since our Order had grown to such a large number and to a great extent missing that first fervour of the early Fathers. For companionship and example very much support the spiritual activity and it is generally obvious that anyone who wants to aspire to contemplation, the perfection of religious life, he avoids as much a possible having dealings with many people. Instead, withdrawn into woods and solitary places, they derive great profit so that even though they have some imperfection within themselves it is not really apparent. It is like a vessel full of very clear water which has some sediment on the bottom. When it is shaken it becomes cloudy. However when the liquid is completely purified, no matter how much it is shaken it always remains clear. This is a very good illustration of the Brother Felix’s holiness and purity of heart. Although he was shaken through conversation with so many imperfect persons and through the tiring and perilous task of quester that he had. Nonetheless for such a long time the vessel of his heart has never shown anything but being full of nothing but purity, spirit and goodness so that for a period of forty years no one could point to a single unreligious act. To be truly good among the good is nothing great. However to be good among the wicked is a sign of great perfection. He was like this with the experience of a cosmopolitan Rome. Over so many years and amid so many obstacles he achieved the end to which the observance of the Seraphic Rule of Saint Francis aspires which is the spirit of the Lord, prayer and devotion. As our Father says in the Rule, “Let the Friars not care about study since the goal of the Rule is not learning. Above all, instead, they should desire to have the spirit of the Lord and His holy working.”

Therefore this was the mine from which Felix the servant of God won the pure gold of the perfect love of God. For just as we mentioned above, he laid a good foundation in the novitiate and he always burned with greater fervour by continuing this most noble practice of prayer. This was how. Even though it was clearly obvious to the Friars that he was exhausted from the effort of questing and from fasting, when they Friars went to sleep he stopped sleeping at two in the night and to church to pray so that the Lord would not be alone. He prayed there until Matins. When the Matins bell range and the Friars began to say the Office, he went to get a little sleep that was physically required. When the prayer after Matins was finished and the Friars went back to bed, he stayed in the church and prayed until dawn. When the dawn bell rang he served at the first Mass that was usually said at dawn and he received Holy Communion. Then when he had prayed for some time he went to his task of questing, or whatever had been imposed on him by obedience.

Not much is known about the way he used to pray because when he entered the church he explored it with a lighted candle to see if it was free of anybody else so that he could speak out loud with Our Lord. However he could not guard against some Friars who wanted to know what he did and crouched in hiding off to the side of the church so that he could not see them. From them we have heard something of the way he prayed.

So once he was seen to enter the cemetery underneath the church. There he burst out in these words, “Dear Brothers,” (he was speaking the dead), “you have done you bit, now it is up to me.” He said this, recalling the great fervour of those servants who were buried there and whom he had known. Then with great fervour he began to take the discipline while saying the Miserere. When he had said two or three verses be broke down in tears. The one who observed him heard him weep as uncontrollably as if with his own eyes he had seen Christ scourged by the torturers. After this lasted a long time, he took up another verse of the psalm. While taking the discipline, he exercised his mind in the contemplation of God and the passion of His Son. He nearly always began his prayer by afflicting his flesh, scourging himself energetically. The wen sat in the middle of the church and was often heard to say, “My Lord, I commend this city to You. Then he included particularly needy people.

Once his weeping was heard to be quite extreme while he was standing up. Then when he calmed down even his breathing couldn’t be heard. The Friar who was listening was amazed at this. To see him standing so still touch him in a way that he knew he was absolutely rigid and frozen like a statue. He understood clearly that his spirit was elevated in ecstasy and his body was insensible.

It would take too long to tell a bout all the happenings that different ones have seen in the prayer of this servant of God. But anyone who thinks carefully about his outward life, which was so good and well ordered, can easily surmise that everything proceeded from that pleasant duty of holy prayer in he occupied himself most of the time and from which every good emerges in the good Religious. It is more pleasing to His Majesty than any other exercise, since prayer is the goal of all the other exercises.

So the foundation for the servant of God Brother Felix was good, since he founded himself on the mortification of the flesh and on true humility. And what is more important is the perfect mortification of ones own will and knowing how to keep the fervour of his spirit calm among so many occupations and so well resigned to the will of God shown him through holy obedience that had assigned him to the office of quester. Never at any time did he try, either directly or indirectly, to have himself removed from it. However with unquestioning faith he accepted it as the will of God and peacefully endured all the physical and spiritual difficulties, hoping in God who amid so many efforts and distractions could preserve him as if he were in the woods where there are no other creatures. This made him great and God guarded him from every evil because the mortification of ones own will is the foundation of perfection. On the other hand, even with one gram of self-will it is impossible to be in true perfection, although one may be in the grace of God.

This servant of God was so resigned to obedience that he never objected to anything that might have been imposed upon him no matter how difficult, inconvenient or arduous it was. However with great humility he embraced and fulfilled everything his Superiors commanded him without regret or complaint. In everything he did he wanted them done under holy obedience. Nor would he have made visits or given alms while questing without the permission of the Father Guardian. He was so good and reliable that all the Friars had the greatest confidence in him. He never failed in obedience to anyone who asked him to do something.

He was a perfect observer of holy poverty. Regarding clothing he never wanted more than one completely patched habit of natural wool. Sometimes he wore a little mantle of the same cloth. There was nothing else in his cell than a board on which he slept with a block of wood for a pillow. Regarding food he usually fasted most of the time while he was young. When he came to the table he never said a word to the cook and when the cook saw him and brought him a little soup, he ate it. However when the cook was not aware of him he ate whatever was provided and whatever water or wine was there. Then he went about his business, accepting from the hand of God whatever there was at the table.

For a long time he wore a very coarse hairshirt and he always went barefoot during both winter and summer until he became old. When it was obvious that he could not longer do this, the Superiors had him wear sandals during winter.

Regarding holy chastity, everyone always regarded him to be a virgin and it seems that he showed this at his death. While he was alive his skin was marred, dark and rough. At his death it became smooth, clear and delicate like the skin of a young boy. His limbs remained flexible as if he were still alive. One cannot believe otherwise for although he had had dealings with people for such a long time there was never a hint of the slightest suspicion.

I will not say much about his humility except that he used to say, “I say with the Friars, but I am not a Friar. I am the Friars’ little donkey.” In all his words, conversation and actions there was nothing but obvious humility. If it had been otherwise the spiritual edifice he had built over so many years would have fallen if he had not had holy humility as its very sound foundation. Nor would have the Lord God displayed so many signs and miracles through his holy merits.

When he reached the end of his life, it was clear that Our Lord God had revealed to him the end of his life. Many seculars verify that he had said openly that he knew about the end of his life as he did in the Palace of the Lord Alexander Olsiati, where he said to a certain gentleman, John, who was the steward of that lord, “I will no longer come here for alms. I commend to you my Brothers.” He said similar words in the house of Lady Julia, the wife of Mr. Francis Cesarini. Our Friars testify to the same, that they knew clearly from the words that came from his mouth, like these and similar, “The Friars’ little donkey has fallen and it will not get up again.” This is not something new because most of the time the Lord God reveals the end of their lives to his dearest servants.

They also say that the infirmarian had put out a mattress for him, as is done with all the sick. Because of his austerity, the servant of got up off that mattress up to three times. According to his custom he wanted to die on a board, that very uncomfortable bed where he always used to lie before. When the infirmarian commanded him to do it, he made no more resistance. He gave told of an example, though with naming who it was. “A sick Friar wanted to stay in his bed but the infirmarian who was taking care of him gave him a mattress. While the sick man was on the mattress the devil appeared to him and said, “Well, you are done for!” The sick man went and took the mattress away and stayed on his hard little bed. When the infirmarian came he returned the mattress and put it back in place. While the sick man was on it the devil appeared to him again and said, “Twice!” The sick Friar went and removed it again. When the infirmarian returned the third time he put the mattress back and the devil appeared to him again, saying, “Three times!” Then the sick man replied, “No go away because I want to stay here out of obedience.”

All the Friars thought that this happened to him. From these and all the other examples that could be written about one may be certain that God revealed to him the end of his life.

He fell ill with fever on the last day of April and in this his last illness he never complained. As if it were not his concern he asked for nothing and did not bother any of the Friars in their duties. Rather to have him take the necessary things usually given to the sick it was necessary to do so through obedience. Although he was getting worse he couldn’t stay in his cell. Instead when he felt some relief from the pain as best he could he went quite often to the church to pray. Indeed it was necessary to compel him under explicit obedience to stay in his cell like a sick Friar. His zeal to suffer for the love of Christ was such that he always treated his body like a donkey he kept, as was his want to say. No did anyone ever see him give his body any rest since he desired to always keep it crucified to the Lord. Once a Friar asked him how he was. He answered, “How do you want me to be? They have put me on this mattress!” In this he showed that he disliked the mattress very much.

He was accustomed to say, “I have no greater enemy than my body.” He disclosed this also to a Friar when he said to him, “Know that the devil has wanted to tempt me and I replied to him, ‘You are not my judge. You are damned and I believe in the Holy Catholic Church.’” He said this inadvertently because he was usually very careful not to show his holiness in any way. When a Friar asked him if the devil gave him any trouble, he answered, “He leaves me be. The devil tempts holy men. Who would want to tempt me, I who am a rotting carcass?” It is impossible that persevering so long alone in the church that he did not suffer many tricks from the infernal enemy, but about these nothing is known.

While he was sick and near to death and because he was very devout towards Our Lady, that kind Mother did not fail to visit this servant of hers. It is believed that she visited him at times in order to console him in his extremity which was the same day that he passed away to the better life. He had eaten a little and was resting however the Friar who had served him did not leave him. Suddenly the servant of God raised his arms into the air and holding them open said, “Oh, oh, oh!” three times. He staid like that for the time it takes to say the Miserere three or four times. The Friar asked him what he could see. He answered, “I see Our Lady with the Angels.” He asked the Friar to leave the cell, which was open. He did this and returned a little later. HE found Brother Felix doing the same thing, raising his arms. However since he wanted to enjoy freely the happy visit of the Queen of heaven who wanted to comfort her servant Felix, he asked the Friar again to leave. So he did so as not to disturb him from these consolations and left him alone with that happy company.

As the happy passage from this world finally drew nearer, with great humility the servant of God asked for the most holy sacraments. After having received some of the them, the Blessed Sacrament of the Eucharist was brought to him. The Father said to him, “Brother Felix, my brother, behold that Lord God has come to visit you.” With great humility he cried out, O sacrum convivium..etc., and with all the reverence he could he received that holy Viaticum. Not long after that very holy soul passed happily to its Creator whom he had served so faithfully for so many years. It was about the twenty third hour on the twentieth of May, in the year of Our Lord 1587, on the second day of the sacred feast of the Holy Spirit, that is, Pentecost. At that time they were celebrating the General Chapter of the Order of Capuchins.

After his blessed death the Lord God wanted to show to the world how much this servant of His pleased Him. It was not without mystery that he should die on the feast of Pentecost and at the time of the General Chapter. Divine Providence was used the Chapter to make him well known to the Order and to the world for benefit of all. The Lord God used his glorious passing over as a sermon, which are usually done at General Chapters. This time hardly anyone gave one since at that time God wanted the holy death of a poor Lay Friar be more valuable that all the learned sermons of the Preachers. His death preached so much better as a witness to his holy life and they did not seek to add their own words. Because when he was dead they saw that his flesh was soft and doughy like that of a child. His limbs were easy to move, bend and turn – much more than when he was alive. They had to remove his habit in order to wash the body and put one back on it again since the first one had been mostly cut off because of the devotion of the people. The undertaker had to remove the old habit and put another on the body and it was done easily, as if he were still alive, if not better. His limbs were so tractable, flexible and yielding. They had a whiteness that was unusual for him. While he was alive his skin was dark and weathered. Just as the roughness changed into softness, his dark complexion became light. His feet that had been as hard as wood had now become fleshy. After he died, his heals that used to used to have those great cracks that looked like wounds had not sign of them. They were perfectly intact. The doctor of the Friars was amazed at these things.

So because of this, which was a sign of the purity of his body and the holiness and blessedness of his soul, and the great reputation that he had in Rome, a special devotion towards this blessed Friar awoke in the hearts of the people to the extent that brought both by the Holy Spirit and by union and concord, they gathered in the church of the Friars where he had been placed for the funeral rites. There was such an attendance of men and women clearly moved by the Holy Spirit, which declared his holiness to the world. The people stood around his holy body and vied to touch the rosary. They cut small pieces from the habit in such a way that it was missing right up to the knees. His sleeves were gone too. His hair and beard were cut because they all regarded him as a saint. Whatever of his they could have, they esteemed as a holy relic.

So the Friars were compelled to move the body inside the chancel where the people could see it but not touch it. They put another habit on him. Therefore he still could not be buried until the twelfth hour on Thursday. Meanwhile so many people were there as well as Roman lords and ladies that not only was the church full, so was the friary, and amazingly, so was the square outside, the streets and all around the friary so that no one could leave or enter. It was necessary for some of the Friars to return home by climbing over the garden wall.

The devotion of the people increased even more because of what happened while his body was in the church. The daughter of a gentleman was possessed. Because the gentleman’s household was devoted to the Order Brother Felix sometimes went to visit. Eight days before he died the girl made a great din saying that that “the sack”, that awful friar that he has to die. While his body was in the church the poor girl was brought there forcibly. As soon as she touched that body she fell in a dead feint and stayed on the floor for sometime while the Priest exorcised her. He said, ‘In the beginning was the Word’ and when he came to the words ‘A man was sent by God whose name was John’ he repeated them a many times and she began to breathe a little. A little while later she opened her eyes and then joined her hand s as if she wanted to pray. When she drew near to the bier she embraced and kissed the body of Brother Felix with great devotion. From there she went some distance to the main altar to thank God for the grace she received. Never again was any wrong heard from her.

Because of this amazing and huge gathering, until it was buried, the body was moved to where the body could not even be seen. Meanwhile the Protector of the Capuchins had it placed in a lead coffin, giving him a resting place. It was transferred into the chapel of the Crucified, which was precisely the mystery to which he had been most devoted, as if God were making clear that He had made him a sharer in heaven in the consolations of His Son, Jesus Christ. For on earth he had been His companion in His sufferings. As Saint Paul says, the one who suffers with Him will reign with Him.

About a month after his death the Lord God wanted to reveal the glory of this servant of His by means of Thomas of Mondavio in the State of Urbino. He was gravely ill in the house of Mr. Peter Valentini near San Pantaleo since he was his beloved servant and who knew he was an outstanding, God-fearing Christian. The illness got worse on the eve of the Feast of Corpus Christi he had received all the most holy sacraments. He stopped speaking at about the twentieth hour and was unconscious until two or three in the morning. Meanwhile it was thought that he would expire. Suddenly he opened his eyes and sat up in bed and began to cry, “Victory! Victory! Viva Cristo! Viva Cristo!” and similar words. There were about ten persons present and they asked him why he was crying out. He said nothing except, “Victory! Victory!” They called Mr. Peter who had gone to supper a little earlier. When he came he asked the sick man what those words meant. To this he replied, “I have won against the devil. I was led into hell. There I saw great things and recognised some, in particular those who had been executed at Porta Latina. The devil accused me of many sins. However Saint Peter, Saint Paul, Saint Augustine, Saint Francis and the blessed Felix appeared to me. They had brought me back and fought for me. By the mercy of God I have won because when the Lord Jesus Christ appeared to me with His most holy Mother the devils fled away and are a good way off now.” When Mr. Peter asked him if he recognised blessed Felix and how was he dressed and what did he say, he answered, “I recognised him very well. He was dressed in a very beautiful and shining white silk gown with an aura of a similar colour but more beautiful and resplendent than his clothing. When the devils were accusing me he said, “Be strong. Do not worry. Believe in Jesus Christ and in the Holy Catholic Church and you will be victorious. So with these words he encouraged and consoled me very much.” Not long after he passed over to the better life.

All this has been written about the blessed Felix but much more could be written. Let this suffice in order to know his holiness.

To the praise and glory of Our Lord Jesus Christ, His most fair Mother and of our Father Saint Francis.

Here are written some miracles that Our Lord God worked through the merits and intercession of blessed Brother Felix.

Because of the great devotion of the people this servant of God began to shine with many miracles. When he heard this, Sixtus V of happy memory ordered his process be written. When those appointed did this there were many proven miracles from which I thought I would take some. So as not to tire the reader I will not go on too long. Therefore the blessed Felix did these miracles during his life and after his death.

First, those done during his life.

When the Roman, lord Bernardine Olsiati, was gravely ill with an abscess on his back, Brother Felix visited him. He asked him to make the sign of the holy cross over him. This was no sooner done and he was completely healed.

Brother Felix asked an alms of wine from Lady Lavinia Carpi. She answered him that there was none in the barrel. When the servant had great difficulty drawing any, he approached and kneeling on the ground prayed for some time. Then taking spigot and widening the barrel bung it miraculously gave out wine, as if it were full. He filled his container and then it was enough for those of that house for a period of three months. He was given a lot of it for the love of God.

In the courtyard of the same house there were some sheaves of corn. When Brother Felix and his companion saw that they were spoiling, they turned them and set them out to dry. The corn was completely restored. The lady made many cakes from this grain and out of devotion to the holy man gave them to many sick people who were healed straightaway when they ate them.

The Roman, Lelio Cicala was riding his horse when the horse put its leg through an iron grate. It was not humanly possible to free it, the more so because it kicked so much that no one dared go near it. When the servant of God Brother Felix arrived he went up and taking his mantle said to the horse, “This is the mantle of Saint Francis.” He put it on the horse’s neck and he settled immediately. Then his leg was pulled very easily out of the grate. Everyone thought that this was a great miracle of God.

In the month of September 1584 Mr. Attilio da Velletri was ill and the pain in his feet was such that he could bear even for the blanket to touch them. It happened that after blessed Felix said both and Our Father and Hail Mary he made the sign of the holy Cross over him. Immediately he was completely healed and the following day he went the Friar’s church to give thanks to God.

The Lady Marchioness della Valle, a Roman, was very ill with a worsening stabbing pain. When the holy man Brother Felix arrived there she begged him with great faith to make the sign of the cross over her. When he did this she was healed straightaway.

The Roman lady Crelia della Valle was ill with a serious fever so that the doctors had no doubt. Blessed Felix visited her and with great insistence she begged him to pray for her and make the sign of the cross over her which gave her so much pain. When this was done, the pain stopped and she was completely healed.

The Roman lord Mutio Mattei was deteriorating with a grave illness and the doctors had given him up for lost, or that at least the sickness would last a long time. The blessed Felix visited him. With great faith he begged the holy man to make the sign of the holy cross over him. With great humility the servant of God commended him to the Lord. When he made the sign of the holy cross he was completely healed to the great amazement of the doctors.

The lord Marius, son of the Lord Mutio was fourteen years old and had deteriorated with fever and catarrh. The doctors had judged that he had no hope since the illness was usually long and incurable. The blessed Felix answered him and the begged him resolutely to pray for him and to touch him. When he did this the boy recovered completely.

The Roman Fulvio Fusco had become totally blind. The blessed Felix visited him and was begged to make the sign of the cross over him. When he did this he recovered completely and from then on he saw the eyes of a young boy.

Sister Felicity, a Tertiary, suffered from a very dangerous abscess on her side. When the blessed Felix made the sign of the holy cross she was completely healed.

Some of the miracles done after his death

with the habit or other relics of the blessed Felix

The Roman Lady Sestilia di Nardi was sick with a pestilent fever and petechia. The doctors had give up. When a small piece of the habit of blessed Felix was put on her she was completely healed.

Maria, the wet nurse of Lady Victoria de Massimi, was ill with a serious sickness. A nose-bleed came upon her and doctors tried many remedies but all were in vane. However she was near death and her mistress the Lady Victoria, after she had lit a candle for her, gave her three threads from the habit of blessed Felix as a last remedy. The were finely ground and drunk with a little wine. She was healed immediately.

When he was about sixteen years old, Dominic Coderoni, the son of the Roman Lady Gieronima Pignatelli, was sick with a very serious rupture which incapacitated him completely and which oozed great quantities. His mother prayer to the blessed Felix to heal her son who would have to go to visit his tomb ten times. However after the second visit the boy was completely healed through the merits of Brother Felix.

Francis was born mute. He was 16 years old. A devout Sienese woman called Lady Portia cared for the child for the love of God. Nonetheless because of poverty he stayed at the Porta della Pace in Rome in order to receive some alms. Moved by compassion and with great faith, the Lady Portia touched his mouth with a small piece of the habit of Brother Felix. Immediately he began to speak and from then on he spoke very well.

The English Brother Constantine, a Capuchin, had suffered a very harmful fever for eleven months. Inspired by God, he went one day with great faith to the tomb of this servant of God. With many tears he commended himself to him, throwing himself upon the tomb. He got up straight away healthy and robust.

Miracles done in Naples

Mr. Francis Janga, a doctor, had a son about seven years old. Along with other infirmities, he was burdened by a continuous fever with chest pain so that he could not speak. Having tried many remedies over a long period of time, nothing worked and there was little hope for the health of the boy. Brother Gregory, a Capuchin of Naples, visited him and touched the boy with a little piece of the habit of the holy man. He was healed immediately.

The same Mr. Francis also had an afflicted daughter. When he saw the miracle God had worked in his son, with great faith he touched her with the same piece of habit and she was freed immediately.

The wife of the same man was afflicted by a life threatening illness. Touching her with that piece of cloth she was healed straight away. It was amazing that through the merits of this servant of His, the Lord God worked three miracles in the same important household at the same time.

In the monastery of Saint Ligorio there was nun, Petronilla, who suffered from a nose-bleed for about two or three years. Because of another infirmity she suffered from such severe haemorrhaging that often left her as good as dead. However around the feast of Saint Anne the sickness seized her with such vehemence that it made her go forty eight hours without speaking or eating anything. Also it so twisted her mouth that it made her frightening to look at. With great faith the Nuns, who got small piece of the habit of the holy man, touched her mouth on both sides and it immediately returned to its normal position. She opened her eyes and spoke very well. They gave her something to eat and she was completely healed.

Peter Paul, the son of Mr. Bernard Bellis, was afflicted with pox or glanders to the extent that the doctors made the judgement that he would die or become completely blind since it so covered his face that he had not opened his eyes for many days. His grandmother, Lady Julia di Prisco touched his eyes with a piece if the habit and his sandals while saying the Our Father and the Hail Mary. When this was done he immediately opened his eyes and lifted his head. When she touched his knees where he suffered much more he was completely healed.

Adrianella, the daughter of the Lord Marquis of Castelnuovo, as a girl suffered from a grave illness in her stomach. Because of this she could not keep down her milk and had deteriorated so much that her eyes had rolled back and everyone in the palace mourned her death. When they touched her with a little piece of the habit she was completely healed immediately.

About the miracles done in Procena, the land of Sister Paola Sforza

The three year old son of Lady Julia, Ambrose often came down with epilepsy. When his mother heard that the Rector of the place had some cloth that the holy man kept over the door of his cell, she had a sash made from it and wrapped upon the boy’s skin and he was completely healed.

Lady Lavinia, the wife of Richard, had deteriorated with pain throughout her body. She had begun to use a walking stick. Many other remedies were tried but the pain increased. With great faith she put on the same sash that the Rector had and she was completely healed. As a sign of this she sent a silver votive offering to Rome.

Croda was the daughter of Joseph Guercetti. She had come down with petechia and had an acute fever. It was not humanly possible for her to recover her health and she had lost her speech. With great faith her mother, Lady Faustina, put the sash on her made from Brother Felix’ cloth and she was completely healed.

Miracles done in other parts

In Gallicano, a castle in the diocese of Pallestrina, Lady Portia had deteriorated from schiantia and was already near death. With great faith Lady Salvaggia Sordi told her to commend herself to the blessed Capuchin, Felix. She said to her, “Kiss this habit of his.” When she did this she was completely healed.

In the city of Modena in Lombardy, the lord Nicholas Sudenti had a daughter, Barbara. For many days she had deteriorated with a serious fever in June 1587. The doctors and everyone considered her lost. The illness got worse and she went part of the day with her eyes clothes and took nothing. When she stopped speaking completely she was mourned as death. When the Capuchins Brother Thomas and Brother Pacificus heard about this, they went to console her mother. When they did this, inspired by god, they said to her, “Lady, have faith in blessed Felix who does many miracles and commend yourself to him.” As they touched the girl with a little piece of his habit the fever stopped immediately and she got up from bed completely healed.

These few miracles are just a few to write about because Our Lord god has worked countless others through the merits of blessed Felix. These were done during his life and after his death with his habit and with other cloths he had touched, as well as his sandals and rosary. A “manna” came from his members and bones and it still comes continuously. It springs from his tomb and many ampules of it were sent to Princes and great persons throughout Christendom. Many miracles have been done with this liquid. There is a large quantity of wax and silver images which demonstrate and testify to the many graces that have been received from God through the merits of this servant of His. Almost every week until to day some of these arrive at his tomb. We hope that through all these that Our Lord, just as he had indicated through his name Felix, that He would have made him happy in heaven. There, fulfilled in charity, he continuously prays for us to Jesus Christ Our Lord to whom be all honour and glory and from whom miracles come.

May everything be written for His praise and glory and that of His most fair Mother and our Father Saint Francis. Amen.