From The Lives of the Popes from the Time of our Saviour Jesus Christ to the Accession of Gregory VII. Written Originally in Latin by B. Platina, Native of Cremona, and translated into English (from an anonymous translation, first printed in 1685 by Sir Paul Rycaut), Edited by William Benham, Volume I, London: Griffith, Farran, Okeden & Welsh, [1888, undated in text]; pp. 56-57.
The Lives of the Popes,
BY
B. Platina
Volume I.
ST FELIX I.
A.D. 269-275.
FELIX, a Roman, son of Constantinus, lived in the time of Aurelianus, who came to the empire A.U.C. 1027, and being an excellent soldier, gained a great victory over the Goths at the river Danube. From thence passing into Asia, at a place not far from Antioch, by the terror of his name rather than by fighting, he overcame Zenobia, who from the time that her husband, Odenatus, had been slain, was possessed of the Eastern Empire. Her he led in triumph, together with Tetricus, by his defeating of whom at Chalons, Gallia was again recovered. Yet by the humanity and clemency of Aurelianus, Zenobia lived all her time very honourably in the city, from whom the Zenobian family in Rome derives its original; and Tetricus being saved, was afterwards made governor of the Lucani. The emperor now applying himself to works of peace, repaired the Temple of Apollo and the walls of the city with great magnificence. But not long after, raising the ninth persecution against the Christians, the Divine vengeance meeting with him, he was slain at a small fort between Constantinople and Heraclea, called Zenophrurium.
57Felix, out of the great regard he had to the honour of the martyrs, ordained that upon their account Masses should be celebrated yearly; and that the sacrifice of the Mass should be celebrated by no other persons but such as were in holy orders, and in no places but such as were consecrated — cases of necessity being always excepted. But if through the age or loss of records it were doubtful concerning any church whether it had been consecrated or no, he commanded that it should be consecrated anew; saying, that nothing could properly be said to be repeated, of which it is uncertain whether ever it were once done at all. During his pontificate, one Manes, a Persian, had the impudence to profess himself to be Christ, and that he might gain the greater credit to his imposture, he associated to himself twelve disciples. But as that Manes was detested and abhorred for his pride and blasphemy, so Anatolius, the Bishop of Laodicæa, was as much extolled and magnified for his religion and learning. At the same time also Saturninus, relying upon the assistance of his army, enterprised the building of a new Antioch; but when it appeared that he deigned to invade the empire too, he was slain at Apamæa. Felix, after that at several Decembrian ordinations he had made nine presbyters, seven deacons, five bishops, suffered martyrdom, and was buried in the Via Appia, May the 30th, in a church which he had built, two miles distant from the city. He sat in the chair six years, three months, fifteen days; and the see was vacant seven days.
Previous Pope: 26. St. Dionysius. 27. St. Felix I. Next Pope: 28. St. Eutychianus.