![[Saint Felix of Nola]](saintf25.jpg "54kb jpg detail of an ink drawing by Peter Vischer (1751-1823) of Saint Felix hiding from soldiers and being protected by a spider; please do not write to ask about the image")
When Maximus fled to the mountains to escape the persecution of Decius, Felix was arrested and beaten for his faith instead. Legend says he was freed by an angel so he could help his sick bishop. Felix hid Maximus from soldiers in a vacant building. When the two were safely inside, a spider quickly spun a web over the door, fooling the imperial forces into thinking it was long abandoned, and they left without finding the Christians. The two managed to hide from authorities until the persecution ended with the death of Decius in 251.
After Maximus' death, Felix was chosen as bishop of Nola, but declined, favoring Quintus, a "senior" priest who had seven days more experience than Felix. Farmed his remaining land, and gave most of the proceeds to people even poorer than himself. Much of the little information we have about Felix came from the letters and poetry of Saint Paulinus of Nola, who served at a porter at the door of a church dedicated to Saint Felix, and who gathered information about him from churchmen and pilgrims.
Though Felix died of natural causes, he is normally listed as a martyr because of the torture, imprisonment, and privations he experienced in the persecutions.
against eye disease against eye trouble against false witness against lies against perjury domestic animals eyes
cobweb deacon in prison spiderweb young priest carrying an old man (Maximus) on his shoulders young priest chained in prison with a pitcher and potsherds near him young priest with a bunch of grapes (symbolizes his care of the aged Maximus) young priest with a spider young priest with an angel removing his chains
Book of Saints, by the Monks of Ramsgate Catholic Online New Catholic Dictionary Our Sunday Visitor's Encyclopedia of Saints, by Matthew Bunson, Margaret Bunson, and Stephen Bunson