Patient Endurance [2]

Patient Endurance [2]

   With regard to patience the Lord says, 'You will gain possession of your
souls through your patient endurance' (Luke 21:19). He did not say 'through
your fasting' or 'through your vigils'. I refer to the patience bestowed by
God, which is the queen of virtues, the foundation of courageous actions.
   It is patience that is peace amid strife, serenity amid distress, and a
steadfast base for those who acquire it. Once you have attained it with
the help of Christ Jesus, no swords and spears, no attacking armies,
not even the ranks of demons, the dark phalanx of hostile powers,
will be able to do you any harm.
--St Gregory of Sinai.

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14 January – St Felix of Nola, Priest and Confessor
(c early 3rd century-c 260)

A 100 years after St. Felix’s death, St. Paulinus of Nola told his
story, adding without discernment appealing legends that had
accumulated over the years. But we can trust the unadorned factual
outline of Felix’s life.

After Felix divested himself of all his possessions, St. Maximus, the
bishop of Nola, a town near Naples Italy, ordained him a priest and
made him his right-hand man. In 250, when Emperor Decius decreed a
ferocious persecution, Maximus installed himself in a desert hiding
place from which he safely governed the church. Because soldiers could
not find Maximus at Nola, they tortured and jailed Felix in his place.
However, just as St. Peter had had a miraculous escape from prison, an
angel is said to have released Felix. Then the angel guided Felix to
rescue Maximus, who was near death.

The persecution subsided in 251. Upon the death of Maximus the people
wanted to name Felix as bishop but he declined. Instead he retired to
a small farm, where for the rest of his life he raised crops to feed
himself and provide alms for the poor.  St. Felix died around 260.

Every year Paulinus wrote a poem to celebrate Felix’s feast day. In
one he said that while Felix did not die a martyr he was willing to
offer his life as a sacrifice to God. Paulinus thus provided one of
the earliest definitions of a “confessor”:

“This festive day celebrates Felix’s birthday, the day on which he
died physically on earth and was born for Christ in heaven, winning
his heavenly crown as a martyr who did not shed his blood. For he died
as confessor, though he did not avoid execution by choice, since God
accepted his inner faith in place of blood. God looks into the silence
of hearts and equates those ready to suffer with those who have
already done so, for he considers this inward test as sufficient, and
dispenses with physical execution in case of true devotion. Martyrdom
without bloodshed is enough for him if mind and faith are ready to
suffer and are fervent towards God.”

Paulinus adopted Felix as his patron saint, a custom that had its
roots in the early church. But for Paulinus, a patron was more than a
namesake. Felix not only interceded for him in heaven. He also
accompanied him spiritually as an encourager, guide, and protector, as
Paulinus explained in the following passage:

“Father and lord, best of patrons to servants however unworthy, at
last our prayer is answered to celebrate your birthday within your
threshold. . . .You know what toils on land and sea have . . . kept me
far from your abode in a distant world because I have always and
everywhere had you near me and have called on you in the grim moments
of travel and in the uncertainties of life.. . . I never sailed
without you, for I felt your protection in Christ the Lord when I
overcame rough seas.  On land and water my journeying is always made
safe through you. Felix, I beg you, address a prayer on behalf of your
own to that Embodiment of the calm of eternal love and peace, to Him
on whose great name you depend.”


Thought for the Day – 14 January
St Felix and the Spider

This is the beautiful story of how St Felix of Nola hid from his
enemies, during persecution. They were close on his tracks when he hid
in the wall of a ruined house. He entered through a narrow opening and
immediately afterward, a spider spun a web over the passage to mislead
the persecutors. They saw the web and figured that no one could have
passed through that opening for some days. So they went on, leaving
the saint safe.


A spider web conceals St. Felix from his Roman pursuers
A man protected from terrible persecutors by a spider is extremely
charming and poetic. It is a very beautiful episode. Soldiers of the
Roman legion, all armed, are searching every inch of the ruined house.
Inside one wall is St. Felix, hearing everything. He hears their
conversation as they draw near his hiding place. When they stop close
to the narrow opening, he thinks: “Now, I am lost.” Then, he hears the
commander say:  “Let’s not waste time searching here because there are
spider webs. No one has been through this opening for some time.”

Again, even if the spider did not exist – and I am not at all sure
that it didn’t – it portrays a difficult situation through which St.
Felix had to pass that reflects what he had to suffer for the Church,
that is, a high moral profile.

Whether these facts are true or not, they tell us that St. Felix was a
great saint who left a deep mark on his time. Otherwise the people
would not have preserved and passed on the memory of his life. Legend
gives us a marvelous image of his life. It is a charming perspective
that already has something of Heaven.

Let us pray to St. Felix, asking him to give us dedication in the
service of the Church, the courage to face persecution and the desire
for Heaven and to know and believe that marvels occur now, each moment
of each day, through God who works extraordinary deeds if we believe!
(by Prof. Plinio Corrêa de Oliveira)


Then will I go to the altar of God, the God of my gladness and youth….Ps 43:4

REFLECTION – “We must strive to place ourselves completely in God’s
hands. Then He will cause us to feel the effects of His goodness and
protection – which are, at times extraordinary.”…St John Baptist de la
Salle

PRAYER – Holy Lord God, let me live constantly in Your presence. Grant
that I may possess a spirit of joy and gladness because of the firm
knowledge that You are always with me and in You and through You and
with You, the extraordinary is commonplace! St Felix of Nola, you did
no immense deed but in 1800 years we have not forgotten your
extraordinary love.  Please pray for us, amen.

https://anastpaul.com/2017/01/14/


Saint Quote:
Almsgiving proceeds from a merciful heart and is more useful for the
one who practices it than for the one who receives it, for the man who
makes a practice of almsgiving draws out a spiritual profit from his
acts, whilst those who receive his alms receive only a temporal
benefit.
-- Saint Thomas Aquinas

Bible Quote:
He that believeth in me, as the scripture saith: Out of his belly
shall flow rivers of living water. Jn 7:38


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God sends his heaviest crosses
To those he calls his own,
And the bitterest drops of the chalice
Are reserved for his friends alone.
But the blood-red drops are precious,
And the crosses are all gain,
For joy is bought with sacrifice,
And the price of love is pain.
(Author unknown)