Felicitas with her Seven Sons, Januarius, Felix, Philippus, Sylvanus, in the Year 164

Felicitas was a Christian widow at Rome, and had seven sons, whose names were Januarius, Felix, Philippus, Sylvanus, Alexander, Vitalis, and Martialis. They lived together with their mother in one house, as an entire Christian church. Of the mother it is stated that by her Christian communion (conversation) which she had with the Roman women, she converted many to Christ. The sons, for their part, also acquitted themselves well, by winning many men to Christ.

Now the heathen priests complained of this to Antonius, the Emperor who had taken up again the persecution which had begun with Trajan but had died down. They said that there were not only men, but also women, who blasphemed the gods, despised their images, trampled underfoot the Emperor's worship of the gods, and indeed turned many away from the old religion of the Romans; that this was chiefly done by a certain widow named Felicitas, and her seven sons; and that therefore, in order to prevent it, they must be compelled to give up Christ and sacrifice to the gods, or, if they refused to do so, be put to death. The Emperor, prompted or stirred up by this, gave to Publius, the provost, or chief magistrate of Rome, full authority over them.

Publius, willing to spare Felicitas, since she was a highly respected woman, first summoned her and her sons secretly into his own house, where he pleaded with them with fair words and promises, but afterward threatened to punish them with severe tortures, unless they would forsake the Christian religion and take up again the old Roman worship of the gods. Felicitas, remembering the words of Christ, "Whoever confesses me before men, him will I also confess before my Father who is in heaven," did not seek to evade the issue by using deceitful or roundabout words, but answered briefly in this way: "I am neither moved by your flatteries and pleadings, nor am I frightened by your threats; for I feel in my heart the working of the Holy Ghost, which gives me a living power, and prepares me for the conflict of suffering, to endure all that you may lay upon me, for the confession of my faith."

When Publius could not move the mother from her steadfast purpose, he said to her: "Very well; if it seems pleasant to you to die, die alone, but have pity and a mother's compassion for your sons, and command them to ransom their own lives at least, by sacrificing to the gods."

Then Felicitas said to the judge: "Your compassion is pure wickedness, and your admonition is nothing but cruelty; for if my sons should sacrifice to the gods, they would not ransom their lives, but sell them to the fiend of hell, whose slaves, indeed whose serfs in soul and body, they would become, and be kept by him, in chains of darkness, for everlasting fire."

Then, turning away from the judge to her sons, she said: "Remain steadfast in the faith, and in the confession of Christ; for Christ and His saints are waiting for you. Look, heaven is open before you; therefore fight bravely for your souls, and show that you are faithful in the love of Christ, with which He loves you, and you Him."

This filled the judge with rage against her, and he commanded them to strike her on the cheek, while at the same time he rebuked her fiercely, saying: "How dare you so shamelessly urge on your sons in my presence, and make them obstinate to disobey the commands of the Emperor, when it would be far more proper for you to incite them to obedience toward him?"

Felicitas, although death had been threatened her, answered with more than manly courage, saying: "If you, O judge, knew our Savior Jesus Christ, and the power of His Godhead and majesty, you would undoubtedly stop persecuting the Christians, and would not seek to draw us away from the Christian religion by blaspheming His holy name; for whoever curses (or blasphemes) Christ and His faithful ones, curses (or blasphemes) God Himself, who, by faith, dwells in their hearts."

Then, though they struck her in the face with their fists in order to silence her, she did not cease to urge her sons to remain steadfast, and to fear neither tortures nor rack, nor even death itself, but to die willingly for the name of Christ.

Therefore Publius the judge took each of her sons separately, and talked first to one and then to the other, hoping by this last resort to draw away from the faith, by promises as well as by threats, some of them at least, if not all. But since he could not prevail upon them, he sent a message to the Emperor, stating that they all remained obstinate, and that he could in no way induce them to sacrifice to the gods. Then the Emperor sentenced the mother together with her seven sons, that they should be delivered into the hands of different executioners, and be tortured and put to death in various ways; yet that the mother was first to see all her sons die, before she herself should be put to death.

In accordance with this sentence, they first scourged Januarius, the firstborn, to death, in the presence of his mother. The scourges were made of cords or ropes, to the ends of which balls of lead were attached. Those who had to undergo this mode of torture were scourged with them on their necks, backs, sides, and other tender parts of their bodies, either to torture them, or in order to martyr them to death, as was the case in this instance. Felix and Philippus, the two brothers next (in age), were beaten to death with rods. Sylvanus, also called Syllanus, was thrown down from a height. Alexander, Vitalis, and Martialis were beheaded. Last of all, the mother was beheaded, or put to death with the sword. This took place under Emperor Antonius Pius. A. Mell., 1st book of the Hist., folio 33, column 4, and folio 34, columns 1 to 3, ex Prudent. in hincentio. Also, Acto. Adon. Mart., November 23. Greg. P. in Natali. S. Felic., Homily 3, in Eu. Bet. Chrysol., Sermon 134. Arta apud Mombrit. [n149-1]

Volume 1. Beda Usuard., November 23. Her. Erford. Chron., Mart. Rom. Concerning the time when this took place, see P. J. Twisck, Chron., 2nd book, for the year 164, page 45, column 1, from hincentio, in Cal., folio 35. [n149-2]