Saint Felix of Cantalice, O.F.M. Cap. (Italian: Felice da Cantalice), 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 quester 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 and officials, and exhorted young men to stop leading dissolute lives. He also composed simple teaching canticles, and arranged for children to gather in groups to sing them as a way to teach them the catechism. Felix was revered by all and was a good friend of St. Philip Neri. He helped to revise St. Charles Borromeo’s rules for his Order of Oblates.
Felix died in Rome on his 72nd birthday and was buried in the famed crypt of the Church of Santa Maria della Concezione dei Cappuccini. He was beatified on 1 October 1625 by Pope Urban VIII and canonized on 22 May 1712 by Pope Clement XI. He was the first Capuchin friar in the history of the Order to be canonized.
In 19th-century Poland, the Felician Sisters, a religious congregation of Franciscan Sisters of the Third Order Regular, was founded to care for the poor and adopted him as their patron saint.
His feast day is celebrated on the Calendar of Saints of the Franciscan Order on May 18. A titular church in Rome is erected under his honor, the Church of Saint Felix of Cantalice.

In St. Paschal’s lifetime the Spanish empire in the New World was at the height of its power, though France and England were soon to reduce its influence. The 16th century has been called the Golden Age of the Church in Spain, for it gave birth to Ignatius of Loyola, Francis Xavier, Teresa of Avila, John of the Cross, Peter of Alcantara, Francis Solano and Salvator of Horta.
Paschal’s Spanish parents were poor and pious. Between the ages of seven and 24 he worked as a shepherd and began a life of mortification. He was able to pray on the job and was especially attentive to the church bell which rang at the Elevation during Mass. Paschal had a very honest streak in him. He once offered to pay owners of crops for any damage his animals caused!

In 1564, Paschal joined the Friars Minor and gave himself wholeheartedly to a life of penance. Though he was urged to study for the priesthood, he chose to be a brother. At various times he served as porter, cook, gardener and official beggar.

Paschal was careful to observe the vow of poverty. He would never waste any food or anything given for the use of the friars. When he was porter and took care of the poor coming to the door, he developed a reputation for great generosity. The friars sometimes tried to moderate his liberality!

Paschal spent his spare moments praying before the Blessed Sacrament. In time many people sought his wise counsel. People flocked to his tomb immediately after his burial; miracles were reported promptly. Paschal was canonized in 1690 and was named patron of Eucharistic congresses and societies in 1897.

Capuchin Franciscan Friars of the Province of Mid-America will gather at Spirit of Christ Church on May 30th for the ordination to priesthood of Deacon Christopher Gama. Br. Christopher has served at Spirit of Christ for the past year.

Born in 1980 in Pueblo, Colo., Brother Christopher Gama joined the Capuchin Franciscans in 2003. As a young man, Christopher was a baseball champ at South High School in Pueblo and declined a congressional nomination to the Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD to enter the Capuchins.

Besides inner-city ministries with the poor Brother Christopher has been active in evangelization and youth ministry. He studied Spanish in college and at a summer institute in Puebla, Mexico.

In February, Postulants Logan Christopher and Jordan Rojas joined the Postulancy Director, Fr. Christopher Popravak and Fr. Sojan Parapilly in a trip to visit the novitiate at San Lorenzo Friary in Santa Ynez, California. During the trip they had the opportunity to work with the homeless in Watts.

Fr. Joseph Mary Elder, Vocation Director, joined over 6200 young Catholic college students at the FOCUS Conference in Orlando earlier this month. Fr. John Lager (FOCUS Spiritual Director), Fr. Curtis Carlson (Campus Minister at KU) and soon to be ordained Deacon Christopher Gama also participated.
It was a great opportunity to participate in the new evangelization that is occuring through this excellent campus ministry throughout the country.
Friars from the Province of Mid-America joined Capuchins from other parts of the country in sponsoring an information booth on the Capuchin Franciscan charism in the Church.