ON S. FELIX IV, POPE.
Year of Christ 530.
CommentaryFelix IV, Pope (S.)
From various sources.
[1] S. Gregory testifies in Homily 38 on the Gospels and in book 4 of the Dialogues, chapter 16, that his great-great-grandfather was Felix, Bishop of the Roman Church, as we said on the 5th of January, when there was a discussion of the same Gregory's aunt, the Virgin Aemiliana. John the Deacon, at the beginning of his Life of S. Gregory, considers this Felix to have been the fourth of that name; for he writes thus: He, born of Senatorial stock, traced his most noble as well as most devout lineage so that Felix the fourth, Pontiff of the Apostolic See, a man of great reverence in the Church of Christ, who most beautifully constructed the basilica of SS. Cosmas and Damian the Martyrs on the Sacred Way, next to the temple of Romulus, as is still seen to this day, was his great-great-grandfather. But Baronius in his Notes to the Martyrology under 25 February contends that he was not the fourth but the third to be S. Gregory's great-great-grandfather; because this one, like Gregory, was a Roman, while the other was from Samnium, not from Samos, as Platina indicates; and because the reckoning of times seems altogether to demand this, since only 60 years intervened between the death of Felix and the pontificate of Gregory. But the proper place for discussing this matter will be when we treat of Felix III on 25 February. Felix IV is venerated on 30 January. For thus it reads in the tables of the Roman Martyrology, revised by the authority of Pope Urban VIII, under 25 February: The feast of S. Felix IV, At Rome, the birthday of S. Felix, Pope III, who was the great-great-grandfather of S. Gregory the Great; and previously it read: At Rome, the birthday of S. Felix, Pope IV, who was the great-great-grandfather of Pope S. Gregory. But on 30 January formerly it read: At Rome, S. Felix, Pope the Third, who labored greatly for the Catholic faith. Now the word "Third" has been omitted. In many Martyrologies on 30 December S. Felix, Bishop of Rome, is recorded; but some expressly call him the Third. But on 28 May this Fourth is recorded in the manuscript Florarium with these words: At Rome, the birthday of S. Felix, Pope IV, who instituted that the dedication of a church should be celebrated each year. These few things about the Fourth have been committed to writing by Anastasius the Librarian in his book On the Roman Pontiffs:
[2] Felix, a Samnian by nation, son of Castorius, sat for four years, two months, and fourteen days. He lived in the times of King Theodoric Life from Anastasius, and of the Emperor Justin, from the consulship of Mamortinus to the consulship of Lampadius and Orestes, from the fourth of the Ides of July to the fourth of the Ides of October. He built the basilica of SS. Cosmas and Damian in the city of Rome, at the place called the Sacred Way, next to the temple of the city of Rome. In his times the basilica of the holy Martyr Saturninus on the Via Salaria was consumed by fire, which he rebuilt from the ground. He was also ordained with tranquility, and lived until the times of King Athalaric. He performed two ordinations in the city of Rome during the months of February and March: fifty-five Priests, four Deacons, and Bishops in various places numbering thirty-nine. He was also buried in the basilica of the Blessed Apostle Peter on the fourth of the Ides of October, and the bishopric was vacant for one month and fifteen days.
[3] These things are from Anastasius, from which some points must be briefly elucidated, especially his election and public works. The year, day, and manner of his election must be indicated. King Theodoric the heretic, as the same Anastasius writes, with great deceit and hatred received Pope John and the Senators (Theodorus, Importunus, Agapitus, ex-Consuls, who had been sent to Constantinople), whom he also wished to put to the sword; but he feared the indignation of the Emperor Justin: yet he tortured all of them in custody, afflicting them so severely that the most blessed John, Bishop of the First See, Pope, wasting away in custody from affliction, died. He passed away at Ravenna in custody on the 15th of the Kalends of June, a Martyr. His body was translated from Ravenna and buried in the basilica of the Blessed Apostle Peter on the 6th of the Kalends of June, in the consulship of Olybrius, and the bishopric was vacant for 58 days. Felix was elected, as has already been said from Anastasius, on the 4th of the Ides of July. And so from the 15th of the Kalends of June, or 18 May, to 12 July, On 12 July, there are exactly 56 days. Baronius, for the year 526, holds that John died on the 6th of the Kalends of June and was buried on the 6th of the Kalends of July; and that Felix was elected on 24 July: and he considers the codex to be corrupt in which John is said to have been buried on the 6th of the Kalends of June: but he does not persuade us to depart from Anastasius, unless he brings forward more certain testimony or an irrefutable argument.
[4] These events occurred in the consulship of Olybrius, in the year of Christ 526. He is said, however, to have sat from the consulship of Mamortinus, Year 526, or rather Mavortius, because his first year coincided for the most part with the consulship of Mavortius. Moreover, since it is established that John died in the consulship of Olybrius; and since the same Anastasius writes that Theodoric died 98 days after his death, that is, as we reckon, on 23 August; nevertheless Felix was imposed upon the Romans by that same tyrant -- worthy indeed of that rank, yet through the utmost tyranny, usurped by none of the previous Emperors except the equally heretical Constantius in the case of Felix II: Elected by command of Theodoric, so that those who derogate from the sacrosanct liberty of that Church may perceive whom they follow; and may know that they too must fear the fatal ends of those men. But all these circumstances -- Felix's integrity, universally known, the conspiring wishes of the Romans for another candidate, the election made at the tyrant's discretion but afterwards approved by the Roman Clergy and Senate -- all these, I say, can be perceived from the letter of King Athalaric to the Roman Senate, which is found in Cassiodorus, book 8 of the Variae, number 15, and reads as follows:
[5] Athalaric the King to the Senate of the city of Rome. We profess it most pleasing to our heart that you responded to the judgment of our lord grandfather of glorious memory in the election of the Bishopric. For it was fitting that the decision of a good Prince be obeyed, who, after wise deliberation, although in a religion not his own, A good man: seemed to have chosen such a Pontiff as ought rightly to displease no one; so that you may recognize that he desired this above all, that through good Priests the religion of all the Churches might flourish. You have therefore received a man both commendably trained by divine grace and praised by the royal examination. Let no one hereafter be held by former contention. He who was overcome bears no shame, whose preference happened to be surpassed by the Prince. Indeed, he who shall have loved him with sincerity makes it his own cause. For what reason is there for grief, when he finds in this man too what he wished, having been drawn to another's party? These are civic contests, a fight without the sword, a quarrel without hatred: this matter is conducted with shouts, not with wounds. For even if the person has been set aside, yet nothing is lost by the faithful when the desired priesthood is obtained. Wherefore, upon the return of your Legate, the illustrious Publianus, we have thought it reasonable to direct words of greeting to your assembly. For we enjoy the greatest pleasure whenever we exchange words with our Nobles; and we have no doubt that this too is most welcome to you, if you know that what you did at his command is also pleasing to us.
[6] These things concerning the election of Felix. He is said to have sat for four years, two months, and fourteen days, whence it would follow, according to the calculation already set forth, that he died on 26 September, or the 6th of the Kalends of October, although he is said to have died on the 4th of the Ides of October: He died in 530, on 12 October or 26 September: and indeed from 12 July to 12 October there are three solid months. In no Martyrology other than the Germanic one of Canisius do we find the commemoration of Felix recorded on 12 October. He died, as written above, in the consulship of Lampadius and Orestes, in the year of Christ 530, with the fifth year of King Athalaric already begun. Why he is venerated on 30 January is unknown to us.
[7] Felix built the basilica of SS. Cosmas and Damian in the city of Rome, He constructed the church of SS. Cosmas and Damian, at the place called the Sacred Way, next to the temple of the city of Rome. But John the Deacon, cited above, writes that this basilica of the Saints was built next to the temple of Romulus: and this is more approved by our Alexander Donatus in book 3 of his work On the City of Rome, chapter 5, because Claudian writes in book 2 on Stilicho:
The matrons proceed to the thresholds of Mistress Rome, They gather at the halls of the Goddess, which gleam white On the Palatine Hill.
whence he infers that the temple of the city of Rome was on the Palatine Hill, where it descends toward the Sacred Way near the arch of Titus; and he judges that where the church of SS. Cosmas and Damian stands was the temple of Romulus: unless Anastasius places it next to the temple of the city of Rome because it is not far distant, the Forum Vaccinum lying between them. The same author, in chapter 4 of the same book, writes that the temple of Romulus, situated on the Sacred Way, was dedicated by Pope Felix IV to SS. Cosmas and Damian. And in book 4, chapter 3: Felix IV, under Theodatus King of Italy, consecrated the basilica of SS. Cosmas and Damian on the Sacred Way, having converted the ancient shrine of Romulus. But the most learned man seems to have been mistaken in memory, for Felix died in the fifth year of Athalaric; Theodatus was not raised to the throne by Amalasuntha until four years later. The same author mentions the same church of SS. Cosmas and Damian in book 2, chapter 12, and in book 4, chapter 12, he writes that it was magnificently adorned by Urban VIII. Octavius Pancirolus treats this basilica at length in his Hidden Treasures of the Holy City, region 1, church 17. Andreas du Chesne cites this ancient inscription, which was once seen in it:
The hall of God gleams, beautiful with shining metals, In which the precious light of faith shines still more brightly. From the Martyr-physicians there comes to the people a sure hope of salvation, And the place has grown in sacred honor. This gift, worthy of the Lord, Felix the Bishop offered, That he may live in the heavenly citadel of heaven.
This appears to be the poem noted in mosaic work cited by Platina.
[8] The second public work of Felix the Fourth was the basilica of the holy Martyr Saturninus on the Via Salaria, rebuilt from the ground, He restored the basilica of S. Saturninus, after it had been consumed by fire, which our Donatus also mentions in book 4, chapter 3. Since Octavius Pancirolus does not list it, we suspect that it either no longer exists or has changed its name. Felix also completed the basilica of S. Stephen, which his predecessor John had begun, He completed that of S. Stephen: as the same Du Chesne demonstrates from two ancient inscriptions; the first of which reads:
The work that was lacking to the basilica of the blessed Martyr Stephen, Begun with marble by Bishop John, With the Lord's help Pope Felix completed By adding the splendor of mosaic for the holy people of God.
The second:
Behold the gilded ceiling with its heavenly vault, And the starry work gleaming with brilliant light! With the Lord's help Felix, Bishop, servant of God, Adorned the forum of the basilica of the blessed Martyr Stephen with mosaic and marbles.
[9] The famous constitution of Athalaric, which is found in Cassiodorus, book 8 of the Variae, number 24, by which it is decreed He protected the liberty of the Church, that whoever for any reason wishes to bring a legal action against anyone of the Roman Clergy shall first appear before the judgment of the most blessed Pope to be heard; so that he may either take cognizance of the matter between the two parties in the manner of his sanctity, or delegate the case to be settled with the zeal of equity -- that constitution, I say, some not improbably conjecture was enacted at the request of S. Felix. This enactment of a heretical man should rightly cause shame to modern politicians, since the power which he wishes the Church to maintain as one of long custom and wholly consonant with right, they strive by every art and deceit to strip from it. At the same time, ecclesiastical men should let this exhortation of his sink deeply into their souls: Your profession is a heavenly life. Do not descend to the base desires and errors of mortals. Let men of the world be restrained by human law; you, obey holy customs.
[10] There exist in the volumes of the Councils three letters under the name of Felix IV: the first, dated on the Kalends of March, in the consulship of Lampadius and Orestes, forbids Masses to be celebrated except in places dedicated to God, His letters, unless great necessity should compel it. The second is an exhortatory letter to a noble matron named Sabina, dated on the 12th of the Kalends of November, in the consulship of Lampadius and Orestes, but either the date or the Pontiff's name contains an error. The third, addressed to Caesarius of Arles, was issued on the 3rd of the Nones of February after the consulship of Mavortius, Vir Clarissimus, that is, in the year of Christ 528. Whence it is clear that it was issued before the other two. It is commonly, but erroneously, written as issued after the consulship of M. Severus Boethius, Vir Clarissimus, a subscription which has vexed many, since the consulship of Boethius could not be referred to the pontificate of Felix IV, nor did Caesarius hold his see in the time of Felix III. Our Sirmondus restored the true reading from an Arles codex.
[11] S. Felix was buried in the basilica of the Blessed Apostle Peter, as Anastasius writes. Du Chesne cites this epitaph from the Appendix of Ancient Inscriptions:
It is certain that the heavenly kingdoms lie open to the just, Epitaph, Which Bishop Felix now joyfully possesses. Set above many, proud with humble piety, He merited a lofty place by simplicity. Generous to the poor, offering solace to the wretched, He caused the wealth of the Apostolic See to increase.
Relics. Octavius Pancirolus, in the cited book, region 11, church 7, reports that some relics of S. Felix the Pope exist in the church of S. Thomas, and conjectures that they are those of the Fourth: some also in the church of S. Sixtus 23 in region 9.
[12] Platina writes, and Ciacconius has rashly followed him: Felix, meanwhile managing the care of divine worship, also marked with anathema the Patriarch of Constantinople, who was declining from the faith. At that time the eminently Catholic Bishop Epiphanius, most observant of the Roman See, was governing the Church of Constantinople. He did not excommunicate the Patriarch of Constantinople. He was succeeded, however, by the heretical Anthimus, but some years after the death of S. Felix, whose cause stirred up extraordinary disturbances, as can be seen in Baronius. Peter de Natalibus writes nearly the same thing as Platina; for in book 6, chapter 155, he writes thus: He excommunicated the Patriarch of Constantinople, stained with the Arian heresy, and condemned the heresiarch.