Felix of Cantalica

Saint Felix of Cantalice, O.F.M. Cap., was born on 18 May 1515 to peasant parents in Cantalice, Italy, in the central Italian region of Lazio. As a boy he worked hard as a farm laborer and shepherd, and, in 1543, entered the newly-founded Capuchin friars as a lay brother at the Citta Ducale friary in Anticoli Corrado. It is said that he was well noted for his piety. In 1547 he was sent to Rome as quaestor of the Capuchin Friary of St. Bonaventure, where he spent his remaining 40 years begging alms to help in the friars' work of aiding the sick and the poor. In Rome, Brother Felix became a familiar sight, wandering barefoot through the streets, knocking on doors to seek donations. He preached in the street, rebuked corrupt politicians...