De sancto Felice papa

The Faithfulness of Pope Felix

Pope Felix stands firm against Arian heresy during a time of ecclesiastical turmoil, ultimately sacrificing his life for the truth.

Felix was chosen and ordained as Pope to replace Liberius. When Pope Liberius refused to agree to the Arian heresy, Constantius, the son of Constantine, sent him into exile for three years. Because of this, the entire Roman clergy ordained Felix in his place, with Liberius himself willing and consenting. This Felix, having called a council before forty-eight bishops, condemned the Emperor Constantius, an Arian heretic, along with two priests who favored him; because of this, an indignant Constantius cast Felix from his bishopric and recalled Liberius on the condition that he would commune only with Constantius and the others whom Felix had condemned. Worn down by the weariness of exile, Liberius subscribed to the heretical error. The persecution grew so severe that many priests and clerics were killed inside the church, while Liberius did nothing to stop it. Felix, however, after being cast from his bishopric, lived on his own estate until he was taken from there and earned the crown of martyrdom by beheading around the year of our Lord 340.