Pope Saint Felix I. Martyr. Feast Day 30 May.

Text from The Saint Andrew Daily Missal,
unless otherwise stated.

Saint Felix.
Pope and Martyr.
Feast Day 30 May.

Simple.

Red Vestments.

Pope Saint Felix I. (269 A.D. - 274 A.D.),

Fresco in The Sistine Chapel, Vatican.

Date: Unknown.

Source: http://www.heiligenlexikon.de/BiographienF/Felix_I.htm

(Wikimedia Commons)

Pope Saint Felix I ascended, in 269 A.D., The Throne of Peter, to whom Jesus, before His Ascension, had committed The Church. He commanded Masses to be Celebrated over the tombs of Martyrs, and it is in remembrance of this prescription that the relics of Martyrs are placed in a small cavity of the Altar Stone, called "Tomb".

The Altar, nowadays, has indeed often the shape of a tomb, this being a relic of the "Confession" or underground tomb which is found under The High Altar in Roman Basilicas, and is reached by stairs.

The custom of uniting the remembrance of Martyrs to The Sacrifice of The Mass or of Calvary, shows that these Martyrs, having entered into the bosom of Jesus (Gospel), have found there the strength to confess their Faith before their enemies and the Grace of being children of The Father (Epistle).

Saint Felix bore witness to Christ in 274 A,D, under the persecution of Aurelian.

Mass: In Paschaltide. Protexisti. With Collects of Mass: Statuit.

Mass: Out of Paschaltide. Statuit.