St Felicitas of Rome was also known as Felicity.
She was a widow who was martyred for her faith together with her 7 sons and buried in the cemetery of Maximus beside the Via Salaria, Rome.
She was born in 101 AD in Rome, Italy. She was beheaded and died as a martyr in 165 AD in Rome, Italy.
We celebrate her feast day on November 23 every year in the Catholic Church.
| St Felicitas of Rome Biography | |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | 101 AD |
| Place of Birth | Rome, Italy |
| Place of Work | Rome, Italy |
| Date of Death | 165 AD |
| Place of Death | Rome, Italy |
| Feast Day | November 23 |
| Canonization | Pre-congregation |
| Patron Saint of |
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St Felicitas of Rome Life History
Saint Felicitas of Rome was a wealthy and noble widow who had seven sons, all of whom were martyred. These sons were named Alexander, Vitalis, Martial, Januarius, Felix, Philip, and Silvanus.
Felicitas was known for her deep commitment to acts of charity and caring for the less fortunate.
She was arrested for her Christian faith and commanded to worship pagan gods, but she steadfastly refused to do so.
Her sons were also arrested and faced the same demand, but they, too, refused to renounce their Christian beliefs.
Despite a series of appeals, all of which were rejected, Emperor Antoninus ordered the execution of Felicitas and her sons.
In a heartbreaking ordeal, Felicitas was compelled to witness the murder of each of her children, one by one.
After each son’s death, she was given the opportunity to renounce her faith, but she remained resolute. In the end, they all died as martyrs.
Saint Felicitas was beheaded in the year 165 AD in Rome, Italy. She was buried in the cemetery of Maximus beside the Via Salaria in Rome, and her relics are kept in the Capuchin church at Montefiascone, Tuscany, Italy.
She is recognized as the patron saint against the death of children, against sterility, of martyrs, for those wishing to have male children, for widows, and the Abbey of Badia di Cava in Italy.
In depictions, Saint Felicitas is often represented as a woman dressed in widow’s garments, holding a palm symbolizing martyrdom.
She may also be portrayed with a palm, a book, and her children at her feet, alongside St Andrew the Apostle or with her seven sons.
Related Links
Catholic Saint Feast Days in November
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