St. Felix was thirty years old when he became a Capuchin brother. He had to beg the Superior to let him enter. The Superior led Felix to a crucifix and asked him, "Can you live your whole life on the cross with Jesus?" the Saint proved that he was ready to suffer anything for the love of God. The duty given to Brother Felix was to beg for food for the community. Joyfully he did this hard, humble work daily for forty years in Rome. Even though he was always among people, he never lost the thought of God's presence, and he was so pure that he said he had not once gazed on a woman's face.
So humble was St. Felix that he hid all the penances he performed. When someone noticed that he was walking barefoot, he said, "I can walk faster this way." Although he could not read or write, St. Charles Borromeo and St. Philip Neri used to go to him for advice. Felix often said that he knew only six letters: five red ones and one white one. By the five red ones, he meant the five wounds of Our Lord, as he was very devoted to the Passion of Jesus. By the white letter, he meant the spotless purity of Mary. Indeed, by studying and copying these six "letters," Felix became a great saint.
A very powerful means to live as the Saints did is to remember that God sees us all the time. If we remember this, we will never do anything displeasing to Him.
felix_of_cantalice_-_may_18th.pdf |