ON SAINT FELIX
BISHOP OF SPELLO, MARTYR.
UNDER MAXIMIAN
PRELIMINARY COMMENTARY.
The controversy about the place of the See & of the Martyrdom discussed, the cult explained, the Spaniards refuted.
Felix, Bishop, Martyr of Spello (St.)
BY THE AUTHOR G. H.
Plainly happy are the Saints, who after this miserable life passed among mortals, attain eternal felicity in the heavens: for the obtaining of which very many for Christ poured forth blood & life. Of these various ones also by their own proper name were called Felix (Happy), Various Saints called Felix. & by us in these five first months nearly a hundred brought forward, some Presbyters, various Bishops, & three Supreme Pontiffs: nor would it be a wonder, if the Acts which are proper to one, be accommodated to various ones. There occurs on this XVIII of May St. Felix Bishop & Martyr, of whose Episcopal See & place of martyrdom, the opinion of all is not the same. The most ancient memory of him, as far as we know, is celebrated in the Martyrology of Usuard in these words: On the same day, XV Kalends of June, of Saint Felix the Bishop, who at the Spellatensian city under Maximian the Emperor the palm of martyrdom obtained. Bishop & Martyr of Spello in Usuard, So have the manuscript copies of Usuard fourteen, existing with us, the chief which we think can be found. For there are among them two at Paris in the monastery of St. Germain des Prés, where Usuard wrote & lived, copied, & by Jacobus Sirmond with the original parchments collated: others we have nearly on parchment copied in Gaul, England, Belgium, Italy, so that of the constant reading there can be no doubt: which the Martyrologies of Usuard printed at Cologne & Lübeck in the year 1490 confirm, likewise by Greven with the Auctarium at Cologne in the years 1515 & 1521 printed, & afterwards at Paris 1536, & finally a third time republished by Molanus. There agrees besides the MS. Martyrology of Ado, preserved at Liège in the monastery of St. Laurence: which Martyrology of Ado being alleged, Peter de Natalibus book 5 of the Catalog chapter 13 thus writes: Peter de Natalibus, Felix the Bishop at the Spalatensian city under Maximian the Emperor suffered: who when Christ the Lord he preached, by the Judge apprehended, after very many tortures by the smiting sword the palm of martyrdom obtained on the XV Kalends of June. These things there. Canisius, Peter Canisius in the Germanic Martyrology printed in the year 1573 formed his elogium from Peter de Natalibus, & writes that he suffered in the city of Spello: which also now we judge in Peter de Natalibus should be read, by an easy error of Amanuenses or typesetters, the two first vowels being transposed.
[2] But because the city Spello was not sufficiently known, in place of it Spoleto, a most known city of Umbria, was assumed in the Martyrology of Bellinus in the year 1498 at Venice, that city is not Spoleto, & in the year 1521 at Paris printed. There followed Maurolycus, Felicius, Galesinius, who yet in the Notations noted these things: At Spoleto, otherwise in the city Spellatensian: which city is not far from Spoleto. In the same manner in the Roman Martyrology he is said to have suffered at Spoleto: where Baronius instead of "of Spoleto," thinks "of Spalato" the Bishop should be said. Philippus Ferrarius in the New Topography of the Roman Martyrology, but Hispellum printed in the year 1609 at Venice, fol. 62, Hispellum, he says, Spello, a city of Umbria, ancient, formerly Episcopal, to Foligno at II M. paces nearest, to those going to Assisi occurring, built on a hill, where some vestiges of antiquity, especially of an Amphitheater, remain: the Bishopric of that into the Bishopric of Spoleto passed. XVIII May, Felix Bishop of Hispellum, not of Spoleto, who in the time of Pope Marcellinus & at the Sinuessan Council was present. There is in it the name of Felix, but not added the Episcopal See. The Council itself, such as it is had, is a mere & pure fiction, in the elogium of Ferrarius. as in the Chronology of the Roman Pontiffs is taught; yet ancient, which is enough for this place. The same Ferrarius in the Catalog of the Saints of Italy published in the year 1613, composed this elogium of him: Felix Bishop of Hispellum, Diocletian & Maximian being Emperors, while the Episcopal office in that city he was performing, & many by preaching to Christ was leading; by command of the Prefect apprehended, that to Christ he should renounce, with many tortures was afflicted: all which when with admirable tolerance he had overcome, nor to preach Christ ceased; at last his neck strongly being given he was crowned … Then in the Annotation, At Hispellum, he says, in the greater church, under his image on the wall painted, the subscription thus has. St. Felix Bishop of Hispellum. At Spoleto also, in the Cathedral Church, an ancient image of him with an inscription of this kind, St. Felix Bishop of Hispellum, is seen.
[3] Thadeus Donnola of Spello, Doctor of both Laws, & in the Roman Curia for the defendants of the holy Inquisition Office of causes Patron, Felix himself published at Venice in the year 1620 a treatise On the place of the martyrdom of St. Felix Bishop of Spello, & page 23 & the following ones approves the reading of the Martyrology of Usuard, from other manuscript & printed copies, namely, that he suffered at the Spellatensian city: for which he adds, in ancient MSS.
from the better version of our Petavius, then at Tyre in the year 335 these are. At Tyre in Phoenicia to convoke a Synod, the Emperor Constantine, ordered, & over that judgment to preside with some others Eusebius of Caesarea, who all were more inclined to the most empty dogma of the Arians. With these from the Catholic Church of Egypt & subject to Athanasius certain Bishops were called, altogether primary & excellent men, & endowed with excellent holiness of life & religion; among whom of happy memory that great Potamon was, Bishop of Heraclea & Confessor. There were present also the Meletians, where Eusebius of Caesarea, especially the accusers of Athanasius. But Blessed Potamon, with the ardor of truth & right faith boiling, a man of the highest liberty of speaking, who of no person ever had had regard, & for the confession of the truth had lost the other eye in the persecution; Eusebius sitting & judging, but standing Athanasius seeing; consumed with grief & weeping, as is wont to happen to sincere minds, with a great voice inveighed against Eusebius:
[3] And, Do you, he said, Eusebius, sit, & the innocent Athanasius be judged by you? Who could endure these things? Tell me, pray, were you not with me in the time of persecution in custody? with excellent liberty he reproaches in defense of St. Athanasius. And I indeed lost an eye for the truth: you are mutilated in no part of body, nor have you undergone martyrdom, but living & whole you stand. By what means did you fly out of custody? unless that to our persecutors a nefarious crime you promised to commit, or even committed? Eusebius hearing these things, greatly grieved; & suddenly rising, dismissed the Council, & thus spoke: If coming hither you dare so greatly to contradict us, it is true indeed what your accusers object: for since in this place a certain tyranny you exercise, much more in your fatherland do you do it.
[4] These things Epiphanius: whom if speaking in Greek he had been able to understand Baronius, Wrongly is he called into the communion of the Meletian schism, he would not have written in his notes on the Roman Martyrology, that this St. Potamon at some time adhered to Meletius in the schism, whence at length drawing back his foot for the Catholic faith against the Arians he excellently contended. It seems Baronius was deceived by the author of the old Basel version Cornarius, obscurely between the points, in this manner: And there were called the Bishops of Egypt… Among whom was Blessed Potamon, that great Bishop of Heraclea & Confessor, but also of the Meletian parts, these who accused Athanasius. But under a better punctuation a clear sense even the words of Cornarius will have, if thus they be read. And there were called the Bishops of Egypt … (among whom was Blessed Potamon …) but also of the Meletian parts, these who Athanasius accused, namely, were called. Certainly at the time of the Nicene Council Potamon was by no means numbered among those, who adhered to Meletius. Indeed Meletius there on that condition received with his own to the Catholic communion, that he should ordain no more Bishops; but the names should deliver, of those whom he had adhering to himself; thus I say received Meletius, not only did he not number among his partisans Saint Potamon, but expressly set down Peter τῆς Ἡρακλοῦς, that is, of Heraclea or Heracleopolis; namely there ordained against Patamon for his faction, just as elsewhere he had ordained others for the same faction, against the Bishops of the Catholic part; & this teaches the very Breviary of Meletius the Pope, given to Alexander the Bishop, which is exhibited in the Syllogos of Athanasius, or, to speak with the common, in the second Apology.
[5] & crushed with blows by the Arians The same Athanasius, in the Epistle to the Solitaries, the illustrious end of Potamon, & consonant with his first Confession & the rest of his life thus narrates: Serapammon the Bishop & Confessor they drove into exile (Philagrius the Prefect & Gregory the Pseudo-bishop) but Potamon, who as a Confessor himself also had lost an eye in the persecution, cutting him with blows dealt to his neck, he dies a Martyr, did not before rest than they believed the man to be dead. Then namely cast off by them, & with difficulty after some hours treated & revived, he resumed his spirit; God granting him life, but very brief. For after a little time, from the pain of the blows, he died, having in Christ the glory of a second martyrdom.
[6] after the Pasch of the year 341, These things are thus narrated in this epistle by Athanasius, as if in the year CCCXLI immediately from the coming of Philagrius & Gregory into Egypt done. But there ought at least to be interposed that whole tragedy of the invaded church, whence Athanasius himself with difficulty by flight withdrew, which in the Commentary on his Life we exhibited chapter 13 from his epistle to the Orthodox. Now that was done, in the time of the Pasch, which fell on the IX day of April: nor then were the Bishops at Alexandria, each in his own diocese on account of the feast most occupied. in an uncertain month. But neither is it established that the deed was done at Alexandria, & that thither the Bishops were summoned: for the persecution could be carried around through Egypt, Philagrius the Prefect going about it & Balacius the Duke, for the churches to be delivered to the Arians: it could also in the following year have been done, & therefore the vexation of two so illustrious Confessors have been passed over, in that epistle which I said to the Orthodox.
[7] on an unknown day. Much less can we define anything certain about the day on which St. Potamon died. In today's Roman Martyrology, on this XVIII of May, thus is read: In Egypt of St. Potamion the Bishop, who first under Maximinus a Confessor, then under Constantius the Emperor & Philagrius the Arian Governor, was crowned with martyrdom: but by no older Martyrology's example are we taught so to read. The name in today's Roman: but whence? There is cited in the Notes Bede, the supposititious namely: but this one, as above we saw, has nothing else, than from the class of the older Alexandrian Martyrs rashly received Potamion, after two companions taken from the same place: who although by the consensus of several MSS. is better called Potamon, & so also everywhere is called in Athanasius & Epiphanius this our one, Bishop & Martyr, yet by no verisimilitude will it be presumed, that this one is he of whom treat the most ancient copies of the Hieronymian Martyrology; into which the Martyrs who are inserted, can be believed all to have suffered under heathen Emperors.
ON SAINT FELIX
BISHOP OF SPELLO, MARTYR.
UNDER MAXIMIAN
PRELIMINARY COMMENTARY.
The controversy about the place of the See & of the Martyrdom discussed, the cult explained, the Spaniards refuted.
Felix, Bishop, Martyr of Spello (St.)
BY THE AUTHOR G. H.
Plainly happy are the Saints, who after this miserable life passed among mortals, attain eternal felicity in the heavens: for the obtaining of which very many for Christ poured forth blood & life. Of these various ones also by their own proper name were called Felix (Happy), Various Saints called Felix. & by us in these five first months nearly a hundred brought forward, some Presbyters, various Bishops, & three Supreme Pontiffs: nor would it be a wonder, if the Acts which are proper to one, be accommodated to various ones. There occurs on this XVIII of May St. Felix Bishop & Martyr, of whose Episcopal See & place of martyrdom, the opinion of all is not the same. The most ancient memory of him, as far as we know, is celebrated in the Martyrology of Usuard in these words: On the same day, XV Kalends of June, of Saint Felix the Bishop, who at the Spellatensian city under Maximian the Emperor the palm of martyrdom obtained. Bishop & Martyr of Spello in Usuard, So have the manuscript copies of Usuard fourteen, existing with us, the chief which we think can be found. For there are among them two at Paris in the monastery of St. Germain des Prés, where Usuard wrote & lived, copied, & by Jacobus Sirmond with the original parchments collated: others we have nearly on parchment copied in Gaul, England, Belgium, Italy, so that of the constant reading there can be no doubt: which the Martyrologies of Usuard printed at Cologne & Lübeck in the year 1490 confirm, likewise by Greven with the Auctarium at Cologne in the years 1515 & 1521 printed, & afterwards at Paris 1536, & finally a third time republished by Molanus. There agrees besides the MS. Martyrology of Ado, preserved at Liège in the monastery of St. Laurence: which Martyrology of Ado being alleged, Peter de Natalibus book 5 of the Catalog chapter 13 thus writes: Peter de Natalibus, Felix the Bishop at the Spalatensian city under Maximian the Emperor suffered: who when Christ the Lord he preached, by the Judge apprehended, after very many tortures by the smiting sword the palm of martyrdom obtained on the XV Kalends of June. These things there. Canisius, Peter Canisius in the Germanic Martyrology printed in the year 1573 formed his elogium from Peter de Natalibus, & writes that he suffered in the city of Spello: which also now we judge in Peter de Natalibus should be read, by an easy error of Amanuenses or typesetters, the two first vowels being transposed.
[2] But because the city Spello was not sufficiently known, in place of it Spoleto, a most known city of Umbria, was assumed in the Martyrology of Bellinus in the year 1498 at Venice, that city is not Spoleto, & in the year 1521 at Paris printed. There followed Maurolycus, Felicius, Galesinius, who yet in the Notations noted these things: At Spoleto, otherwise in the city Spellatensian: which city is not far from Spoleto. In the same manner in the Roman Martyrology he is said to have suffered at Spoleto: where Baronius instead of "of Spoleto," thinks "of Spalato" the Bishop should be said. Philippus Ferrarius in the New Topography of the Roman Martyrology, but Hispellum printed in the year 1609 at Venice, fol. 62, Hispellum, he says, Spello, a city of Umbria, ancient, formerly Episcopal, to Foligno at II M. paces nearest, to those going to Assisi occurring, built on a hill, where some vestiges of antiquity, especially of an Amphitheater, remain: the Bishopric of that into the Bishopric of Spoleto passed. XVIII May, Felix Bishop of Hispellum, not of Spoleto, who in the time of Pope Marcellinus & at the Sinuessan Council was present. There is in it the name of Felix, but not added the Episcopal See. The Council itself, such as it is had, is a mere & pure fiction, in the elogium of Ferrarius. as in the Chronology of the Roman Pontiffs is taught; yet ancient, which is enough for this place. The same Ferrarius in the Catalog of the Saints of Italy published in the year 1613, composed this elogium of him: Felix Bishop of Hispellum, Diocletian & Maximian being Emperors, while the Episcopal office in that city he was performing, & many by preaching to Christ was leading; by command of the Prefect apprehended, that to Christ he should renounce, with many tortures was afflicted: all which when with admirable tolerance he had overcome, nor to preach Christ ceased; at last his neck strongly being given he was crowned … Then in the Annotation, At Hispellum, he says, in the greater church, under his image on the wall painted, the subscription thus has. St. Felix Bishop of Hispellum. At Spoleto also, in the Cathedral Church, an ancient image of him with an inscription of this kind, St. Felix Bishop of Hispellum, is seen.
[3] Thadeus Donnola of Spello, Doctor of both Laws, & in the Roman Curia for the defendants of the holy Inquisition Office of causes Patron, Felix himself published at Venice in the year 1620 a treatise On the place of the martyrdom of St. Felix Bishop of Spello, & page 23 & the following ones approves the reading of the Martyrology of Usuard, from other manuscript & printed copies, namely, that he suffered at the Spellatensian city: for which he adds, in ancient MSS.
Missals & Antiphonaries of the Church of Hispellum these words are had, XV Kalends of June, of St. Felix, Bishop of Hispellum & Martyr. At Hispellum he is venerated as Patron, Then this of no slight weight to be he adds: that the very fellow-citizens of Spello the same most illustrious Martyr, as their own Bishop & Protector & before God the best Intercessor, on the very day XVIII of May with always great & most joyful celebrity venerated. there a church, And the same feast day of St. Felix, & his most ancient Church, near & outside the walls of Hispellum, where his sacred body coruscating with miracles long lay, formerly more magnificently constructed, as the vestiges everywhere demonstrate; then by the incursions of raging soldiers overthrown, soon more briefly & more narrowly restored, also from the ancient institute of the fatherland & by the prescription of the city, with a singular frequency of people every year especially they venerate. And on that day in no wise is it allowed that justice be rendered, as is provided in the ancient code of the statutes of Hispellum, in the year of the Lord MCCC restored, book 4 rubric 43. Then page 27, by the authority of Laurentius Castrucius Bishop of Spoleto, he proves, a Society of Christian doctrine. that at Hispellum in the Collegiate church of St. Laurence was erected & title of St. Felix Bishop of Hispellum & Martyr.
[4] the body to the castle of Janus, a church, Afterwards page 32 he says: On account of the frequent depredations, the body of St. Felix to the castle of Janus, not far from Spoleto distant, was carried; near it first a small chapel then a temple to him was built upon, in which still it rests: whence St. Felix of Janus was called. But adjoining the same temple of St. Felix were constructed buildings, a monastery, which from St. Felix received their name: formerly of the Order of St. Benedict a monastery, in Commendam by the Apostolic See delivered, & in the books of the Chamber, as I saw, taxed. Now indeed augmented & adorned by the RR. Augustinian Friars by the decree & concession of Pope Nicholas V it is venerated, as in the Apostolic letters at Fabriano in the year of the Lord's Incarnation MCCCCL, IV Kalends of September, of his Pontificate the fourth year given; now Augustinian. through which Berardus Bishop of Spoleto, Lucas de Ballionibus then Commendatary being removed from the administration of the same monastery, that together with the temple to the said Augustinian Friars ascribed & adjudicated. Which Apostolic letters, together with the letters of Berardus the Bishop, in the convent of St. Nicholas of the same Order at Foligno are preserved. There makes mention of this foundation Thomas de Herrera, part 1 of the Augustinian Alphabet page 263.
[5] But, says Donnola, the first sepulcher of St. Felix, under the altar of his church outside the walls of Hispellum existing, he is invoked in the illnesses of infants. although destitute of the sacred body, yet by the grace of God superabounding in virtue, even through these times by all the surrounding inhabitants of cities & towns, in the sicknesses especially of infants, daily is visited, with no unequal glory of miracles, with which the tomb of the same St. Felix near Janus, the sacred body covering, shines forth. These things there. Ludovicus Jacobillus in the Catalog of the Relics of Umbria page 48 asserts, that at Hispellum in the church of St. Laurence is preserved some bone of St. Felix, Bishop & Protector of Hispellum, whose body rests in his monastery near Janus. And of him treats Jacobillus on the day XXX of October, judging the same to have been Bishop both of Martana in the territory of Todi & of Hispellum. was he also Bishop of Martana? But Ferrarius another from this Felix sets that one in the Catalog of the Saints of Italy & in another general one of the Saints who are not in the Roman Martyrology. But Donnola opposes, that Martana is found a city imaginary rather than real, to all ancient writers unknown: which could be more accurately examined on the said XXX of October.
[6] But for this Felix moreover others contend: & first Joannes Tomcus Marnavitius, he was not at least of Spalato in Dalmatia vindicates him to the metropolis of Spalato in Dalmatia, in a booklet at Rome in the year 1643 in the printing-house of the Reverend Apostolic Chamber printed. But in the year MDCLXI invited to the Palace of Propaganda Fide, by the Most Reverend Secretary of the said Congregation we were admonished, that we should not give faith to the said Marnavitius, by whom the Romans being deceived, had permitted his books to be edited in the said printing-house. We about the Holy Dalmatian Martyrs, Domnio the Bishop & Companions treated XI April, where it is said in the ancient Life, that the city Salona being overthrown by the Goths the body of St. Domnio was translated to Spalato, of whose church & various cult very many things we treated rather fully from the six books of Joannes Lucius on the kingdom of Dalmatia & Croatia printed at Amsterdam in the year 1668, without any mention of this St. Felix Bishop of Spalato. But Lucius asserts book 1 chapter 9 that Spalato was not a city, but once the palace of Diocletian; & book 2 chapter 14, after Salona was destroyed by the Slavs, to the citizens withdrawing themselves to Spalato that Joannes of Ravenna was given as the first Archbishop, namely very many centuries after the times of Diocletian having elapsed, since Laurentius the Archbishop flourished in the year MLXXVI, who is reckoned the second, although perhaps some names of those interposed are not found.
[7] The other who brings suit against the people of Hispellum, is Joannes Tamayus Salazar in the Spanish Martyrology, on this XVIII of June, who proves that at Spali among the Vascones St. Felix Bishop of Accis offered his soul in tortures to Christ manfully, nor was the Bishop of Accis in Spain slain at Spali. from the Adversaria of Luitprand, namely recently excogitated. There presided over the Eliberitan Council in the Hispanic Era CCCLXII, in Garcia Loaisa, but to be corrected to the Era CCCXLII or the year of Christ CCCIV, Felix Bishop of Accis, otherwise, says Loaisa, of Auxa or of Aquitaine, but to be read of Accis. But that this one died Usuard & other Martyrologists bring forward, is not enough to be had from those Adversaria, by erudite men everywhere reproved: nor does there appear any verisimilar occasion of a martyrdom, at such a time in Spain tolerated. We have published on the day 11 of May St. Felix the Deacon, Martyr at Seville in Spain. Why might there not also lie hidden of the same name several other Bishops & Martyrs, as well in Spain as in Dalmatia? Yet not continuously ought those, whose veneration to another place more certain is adjudicated, to be transferred into Spain or Dalmatia. All these things perhaps are more clearly elucidated in the Apology of the mentioned Donnola, which we have not seen, although it is said to have been published at Foligno in the year 1643.
[8] Jacobus Gualla in the Sanctuary of Pavia in the year 1587 printed book 5 chapter 11, Otto the Teuton, says, Emperor the second, another St. Felix is venerated at Pavia. to our Savior built a very fair oratory, in this our time Saint Felix called. Which shrine the most holy Virgins of the Order of Saint Benedict with wonderful religion venerate, by the Emperor himself with many other most ample privileges endowed. But in it these venerable bodies of Saints recline: of whom first is named Felix, whose some Life is brought forward chapter 14, in which is said his most holy body in the middle chest of the confession of the temple, called by his name, to lie in presence. There is cited by Donnola page 46 a codex of the legends of some Saints of Pavia in the year 1523 by the types of Bernardinus de Garaldis edited: whose end ends with these words. & the Acts there printed seem to be of St. Felix of Hispellum. Here ends the Compendium or Legendary of various Saints, especially of those, whose bodies in the church of the monastery of St. Felix rest … & there is the Legend of St. Felix fol. 37 & the following one into Lessons distributed: which Donnola teaches should be taken of St. Felix of Spello or Hispellum, whose also a compendium in the aforesaid Gualla is had. The same Life & more fully drawn out separately in the year 1603 was printed at Perugia, & in Italian by Joannes Baptista Possevinus in the book on the Saints of Todi there published in the year 1597, referred to XXX of October, on which is venerated St. Felix of Martana; & in these Martana is read, where in the Pavia one the city Spello is had. These things we subjoin that in a doubtful matter the reader may judge, what is to be thought. The Angelic addresses in prison & the song at death, so frequent in the martyrdoms of inferior note, written from tradition rather than from certain knowledge, here are not lacking; which itself shows that these Acts were composed very late, in imitation of others similar.
THE ACTS OF THE MARTYRDOM
According to the Pavia MS. printed in the year MDXXIII.
Felix, Bishop, Martyr of Spello (St.)
BHL Number: 2886
FROM A MS.
[1] In the times of Diocletian & Maximian the Emperors, while the harsh anger of persecution of the ancient enemy by instigation arose against the Christians, so that, wherever were found the cultivators of the holy religion, with various punishments, & tortures they were punished; there was directed therefore a most impious & more savage than every ferocity, Tarquinius by name, by Maximian the Emperor, who all the Christians to sacrifice should compel: but those contemning his order with penal injuries he should wound. When this promulgation was received, Tarquinius came into the city, which is called Spello: the Bishop of Spello, where there was a most prudent & most eloquent, conspicuous in sanctity Felix the Bishop, by days, & by nights serving Christ the Lord. The fame of whose sanctity hearing Tarquinius, inquired of the inhabitants of that place, who was this man, of whose so great goodness the rumor ran, or of what fortune he was, or of what kindred. To whom answering, they said: That man without delay is the servant of Christ, whose tongue by days & by nights ceases not to praise God, & the unity of the Trinity with sweet eloquence to the people to preach. This heard Tarquinius, apprehended, with too great fury filled, ordered him to be brought to his sight. Whom summoned questioning he said: Tell me, Felix, who to you gave this power, that publicly you should seduce the people from the worship of our gods, that into a depraved servitude they fall back, & worship a God, whom neither the Senate constituted nor the Emperors adore? St. Felix answered: A greater Emperor there is not, than He who made heaven & earth & every living soul: whom serve the Angels, & all the Powers of the heavens.
[2] Tarquinius said: And what kind of God do you adore? Saint Felix answered; I both with my lips & with my heart adore Christ, the Son of the living God, of Mary the Virgin through the Holy Spirit born; who that us from the worships of idols He might rescue, he professes the faith of Christ, the flesh of our mortality deigned to receive. Tarquinius said: What vain superstition have you spoken? The man, whom you call God, the Jews crucified Him: & by what reason you number Him among the Gods, we know not. But come, & hear my counsel: Sacrifice to the great gods, to whom the Emperors bend their neck, & you will be great, & powerful in this city. St. Felix answered: Displeasing is your counsel to everyone having the knowledge of God: for not just is it, that I should forsake God the founder of all the ages, & should sacrifice to deaf, blind, & mute idols, of wood, & stones, & various metals constructed: for the servant of Christ I am: all your tortures in His power, as the refuse of a house, I despise.
[3] Then angry Tarquinius, ordered him with great weights of iron laden to the chains of the prison to be consigned. in prison
But at the same hour a voice from heaven was sent forth, to St. Felix the Bishop saying: Be of strong spirit, Athlete, for I am with you: do not fear; if you persevere unto the end, I will give you the crown of immortality, from heaven he is comforted. & glory among my Saints. But Saint Felix the Bishop with tears cried to the Lord saying; Thanks I give you, Lord Jesus Christ, King of kings & Lord of lords, who are present to those worthily believing in you, & to me a sinner in your holy confession. To you are known all things, who are the searcher of hearts & reins, since with all my bowels I love you; & for your holy name terrible I desire to die. Be my helper; lest the fear of frailty shake the mind of one confessing you, who of adversities alone are the triumpher & ruler.
[4] On the next day Tarquinius ordered St. Felix the Bishop to be brought forth, to whom also he said: I see you good & prudent, he derides the Gods, I do not wish that you be killed. Come, & adore the great gods, Apollo & Hercules: & you will be supreme Pontiff of all our gods. St. Felix answered: How miserable are your gods, & most miserable all who are their worshipers. Senseless & impious one, look at the Gods, whom you worship: for eyes they have & see not, ears they have & hear not, hands they have & feel not, feet they have & walk not: by hands & by the art of potters they are constructed, he who stands, stands always; he who sits, never to rise has the power; how do you name them Gods, who to themselves can furnish no help? You therefore rather be converted, & believe the omnipotent God to be of all creatures the maker, & Jesus Christ His son for the redemption of men to have received flesh of a Virgin; whom for our sins He delivered to death, that the whole world God might vivify, impassible remaining & immortal: Him I adore, Him I believe, & to confess I desire, that after this life the glory of eternal life I may be able to attain.
[5] But Tarquinius hearing these things convokes all the Elders of the city of Spello, & said to them: What seems to you of this man, who by his discourses wishes to destroy the power of our gods? But they together answering, said: again into prison He is worthy to be bound & to die, because he is a magician. But it is better, that this one alone die; than that the gods of our lords perish. Then Tarquinius ordered him again with iron bound into the prison to be shut, until he should think in what manner he might afflict him with torments. Hearing the Christians, that the holy man Tarquinius wished to kill; ran to the prison, & tearfully cried out, saying: Holy Father, we pray you, that you entreat our Lord, lest you be separated from us: by an Angel he is strengthened: since the most impious Tarquinius hastens to kill you. At the same hour there stood by him an Angel of the Lord in a splendid garment, comforting him, & said: Felix, do not fear, the torments prepared for you for the name of Christ, because I am sent, that from all adversities I may guard you. Then St. Felix fell to the ground, & said: Thanks I give you, Lord Jesus Christ, because you have deigned to comfort me a sinful servant of yours through your Angel. I confess to you with my whole heart, that you are the strongest God Protector of those believing in you.
[6] On the same day Tarquinius ordered prepared an iron gridiron, & fire to be put underneath, on the burning gridiron unharmed, & there St. Felix the Bishop by the soldiers to be stretched he ordered, & to be roasted. Whom when the ministers had placed, St. Felix exclaimed with a voice great, & said; Have mercy on me, Lord, as you had mercy on your servants in the furnace of burning fire. And forthwith a great coruscation was made, so that many of the Pagans struck with lightning died: & the gridiron being extinguished, the man of the Lord Felix the Bishop by an Angel of God unharmed was freed. Which seeing Tarquinius, shaken with fear, said to his ministers, Now certainly I have known this, as you said, that he is a magician: by the power of my gods a capital sentence to him today I will give. Then there was gathered all the people in the forum of the city, & before all the most impious Tarquinius ordered the holy man to be beheaded.
[7] But while the most blessed Felix was led to the palm, a multitude of Christians weeping followed him. But he exhorted them with gentle exhortations, & addressed them on the way saying: Let not you, dearest sons, the adversity of this slippery life perturb, that you depart from the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, which by my exhortations you believe; but stand manfully & be strengthened, that to that glory, to which I with all alacrity hasten, you may be able to come. These things hearing they came to the place, where was beheaded the most blessed Felix by an executioner, by name, he is beheaded. Sevibo, in the middle of the forum. Where two choirs of Angels as with one mouth sang psalms, saying: Come, most beloved son, good steward, receive the crown, which our Lord Jesus Christ promised you, because your way is made right, & prepared is the habitation of your seat. Which heard the Pagans terrified fled; but the Christians secretly, with great praises & inenarrable joy, took away the holy body, & buried it with the greatest honor, to the praise of our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives & reigns forever and ever. Amen.