Portal:Catholic Church/Patron Archive/July 10 2007

Felicitas (Felicity) of Rome (2nd century) is a Christian saint. Her historicity is certain, as there was indeed a widow named Felicity martyred in Rome on November 23 in an unknown year and buried in the cemetery of Maximus on the Salarian Way. However, a legend surrounding her and her seven sons has been grafted onto her life. Her seven sons (called the Seven (Holy) Brothers) are called Alexander, Vitalis, Martial, Januarius, Felix, Philip and Silvanus (Silanus).

Felicity is said to have been a rich widow who had seven sons. She devoted herself to charitable work and converted many to the Christian faith. Pagan priests lodged a complaint against her with Emperor Marcus Antoninus Pius (or Marcus Aurelius). Felicity was brought before Publius, the prefect of Rome. He used various pleas and threats in an unsuccessful attempt to get her to worship the pagan gods and was equally unsuccessful with her seven sons who followed their mother's example.

Before the prefect Publius they adhered firmly to their religion, and were delivered over to four judges, who condemned them to various modes of death. Felicity was forced to watch as her children were murdered one by one; after each one she was given the chance to denouce her faith. She refused and was beheaded in 165 AD.

The division of the martyrs among four judges corresponds to the four places of their burial. St. Felicitas herself was buried in the catacomb of Maximus on the Via Salaria, beside Silvanus.

Attributes: woman in widow's weeds holding a palm; woman with a palm, book, and children at her feet; woman with Saint Andrew the Apostle; woman with seven sons

Patronage: parents who have lost a child in death; death of children; martyrs; sterility; to have male children; widows

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