Fifth Centenary of the Birth of St. Felix of Cantalice

 La Vierge Marie et l’Enfant Jésus avec  Saint Félix de Cantalice.

Bartolomeo Gennari.

To commemorate the centenary, Fr. Charles, OFM, Cap. notes there is an opportunity to gain a plenary indulgence beginning today until May 18, 2016.  Details here.

St. Felix was one of those humble lay-brother saints.  A quaestor for the Roman friary, he was popularly known as Br. Deo Gratias, because he used that blessing whenever he received an alms or greeted passersby.  Gratitude and joy was a hallmark of his spirituality.  He was a dear friend of St. Philip Neri, as well an acquaintance of St. Charles Borromeo.  He was beloved by the people of Rome, revered for his sanctity, healing, even preaching.  Exhorting young men to live chaste lives, rebuking corrupt city leaders, teaching little children their catechism and leading them to devotion, while especially concerning himself with poor mothers - he was loved by all.  He is buried in the Capuchin church of Santa Maria della Concezione dei Cappuccini on the Via Veneto - one of the first churches I visited when on my first visit to Rome.

Read more about St. Felix here.

St. John of God ... a troubled life.

At one time the Infant Jesus appeared to him and gave him the name, John of God and bid him to go to Granada.  Until that period in his life, the saint engaged in many occupations and wanderings, farmer, soldier, and shepherd.  In Granada under the influence of St. John of Avila, at the age of 42, he experienced a profound conversion - and suffered a mental breakdown.  He ended up in a sort of prison for the mentally ill and was subject to beatings and starvation, all part of the 'treatment' for mental illness in those days.  John of Avila visited the saint and helped guide him to wellness, encouraging him to devote his life caring for others.  Eventually others joined him in his work and the order of Brothers Hospitallers was formed.

His crazy period is interesting - reminding me of the Russian 'fool for Christ' vocation.  Mental instability isn't always that unusual in the lives of the saints and others who may go through intense conversion experiences.  Interestingly, as a soldier, he was nearly executed because the booty he was supposed to be guarding had been looted; a sympathetic officer obtained his pardon, thus saving his life.   I wonder if the incident could have contributed to a sense of depression or melancholy, leading to his ultimate mental breakdown?

Feast day March 8.

Brief biography here.