FELIX OF CANTALICE, Saint. - A Capuchin lay brother of the Roman province, b. at Cantalice (Rieti) in 1515, he worked as a peasant until the age of 30, made his religious profession in 1545, d. at Rome on 8 May 1587.
From 1547-48 until his death he exercised the office of questor of the Convent of S. Niccolò dei Porci (now S. Croce dei Lucchesi) at the foot of the Quirinal. In continual prayer and penance, humble and cheerful, he carried out the apostolate of spiritual exhortation, of assistance to the sick and to the poor, for whom he begged, especially in time of famine; he invited children and young people to sing with him devout lauds, some of his own composition. He was called "frate Deo gratias" for his formula of greeting and of Christian optimism. St. Philip held him most dear and with him would improvise scenes of holy simplicity and of correction for the onlookers in the street. St. Charles Borromeo, high prelates and nobles sought his conversation. Together with St. Philip Neri he was the most original and most popular personality of Rome (Pastor). He was canonized by Clement XI on 22 May 1712 (but the bull was promulgated only on 4 June 1724 by Benedict XIII). Feast on 18 May.