Machine translation of the 1948–1954 Italian original. The original text is authoritative.
FELICE of NOLA, saint. - Of noble family, originally from Syria, from childhood he consecrated himself to the Lord and was ordained priest by Bishop Massimo of Nola. During the persecution of Diocleziano he was tortured for the faith but did not die a martyr, although he was venerated as such.
A splendid basilica was built over his tomb, the destination of numerous pilgrimages, where miracles also occurred. Bishop s. Paolino celebrated him with numerous and most beautiful poems composed for the dies natalis, which falls on 14 Jan. Pope Damaso also dedicated a poem of thanksgiving to him for having experienced his patronage during the struggle with Ursino. In Rome he was venerated in the church dedicated to him in Pincis, which gave rise to great confusion regarding his person and to the multiplication of hagiographical legends.
BIBL.: s. Paolino di Nola, Carmica (Pl. 61, 438 sez.; CSEL, 30), passim: s. Gregorio di Tours, De gloria martyrum, 104 (Pl. 71, 795 sg.), Acta SS. Ianuarii, II, Parigi 1863, pp. 219-232; H. Quentin, Les martyrologies historiques du moyen âge, ivi 1908, pp. 320-22; H. Delchaye, Les origines du culte des martyrs, Bruxelles 1933, p. 304 sg.; A. Ferrus, Epigrammata Damasiana, Città del Vaticano 1942, pp. 213-15; M. Armellini, Le chiese di Roma dal sec. IV al XIX, ed. C. Cecchelli, Roma 1942, pp. 416 sg., 1292; Martyr. Hieronymianum, pp. 40, 398; Martyr. Romanum, p. 21. Agostino Amore
Cite this article
“FELICE DI NOLA, SANTO.” Enciclopedia Cattolica, vol. V (1950), p. 687. Azione Romana digital edition, https://azioneromana.com/article/felice-di-nola-santo.
