File:St. Felix of Nicosia, OFM Cap. (1462823213).jpg

Felix of Nicosia, OFM Cap. The Catholic Church now has another canonized Capuchin! Felix of Nicosia, OFM Cap., (1715-1787) was canonized on Sunday, October 23, 2005, together with four other blesseds.

Blessed Felice Da Nicosia, a Italian Capuchin lay brother, lived from 1715-1787. For more than 40 years he offered his service of begging (questor), carrying out "a fruitful itinerant apostolate." "Illiterate, he had the science of charity and humility," reads the decree.

"The saints are the most credible and effective teachers of Christian perfection," said Cardinal José Saravia Martins, prefect of the Congregation, when he presented the decree Monday, April 19, 2004, in the presence of John Paul II.

"The variety of their charisms, intuitions and evangelical endeavors are indications and incentives for the Church of our time," the cardinal said.

Born on November 5th 1715, Giacomo Amoroso followed the trade of his father, a shoemaker. As a lad he held the greatest horror of any sin at all. At his work he distinguished himself by great modesty, docility, industry and patience. When his parents died he applied at the Capuchin convent for admission. He was refused. He persevered and he prayed and waited and at opportune times renewed his plea again and again. Finally after eight years, at the age of twenty seven, he gained admission. On October 19th 1743 at Mistretta he was invested with the habit and the name Felix after the first saint of the Order.

Upon his profession, a year later, he was recalled to Nicosia to assist the questing brother in his mendicant rounds. Like his Seraphic Father, Saint Francis, Felix was very austere on himself in private but publicly his love of God was expressed itself in charity towards his neighbour. Like Francis, also he had a great love and devotion to the Blessed Sacrament.

He was endowed with the gift of healing temporal and spiritual diseases and he delighted in tending the sick. He could also bi-locate in the same way as Padre Pio. Called to aid the sick when a malignant epidemic was decimating Cerami in March 1777, he responded eagerly. Airlessly and indefatigably he went about ministering the sick, and his labours were crowned with abundant success. "So be it for the Love of God", were the words with which he accompanied his miracles of healing, and for the love of God he may be said to have lived his whole life. Second only to love came obedience. He never did anything without permission, and when he was overtaken by his last illness he asked the guardian to give him leave to die. He passed away on May 31st, 1787, at the age of seventy two.

For thirty three years he lived under a superior who considered it his role to sanctify Felix by subjecting him to relentless severity and fantastic humiliations, all of which he heroically endured.

Felix was beatified by Leo XIII, on February 12th 1888. Three years later his remains were transferred to the Cathedral of Nicosia.