Saints
St. Felicity – Patron Saint of Mothers
St. Felicity Biography
St. Felicity was a Christian martyr who lived in the 3rd century AD in Rome, Italy. She was the mother of seven young children, all of whom were also martyred for their faith.
According to tradition, St. Felicity was a slave who was owned by a wealthy Roman woman named Lucia. Despite her difficult circumstances, Felicity remained devoted to her faith and was known for her kindness and generosity to those in need.
When the Roman Emperor Decius began a persecution of Christians in 250 AD, Felicity and her children were arrested and imprisoned. While in prison, she is said to have converted many of the other prisoners to Christianity through her words and deeds.
After several months in prison, Felicity and her children were brought before the Roman authorities and given the choice to renounce their faith or face execution. Despite the threats and temptations of the authorities, Felicity and her children remained steadfast in their commitment to Christ and were sentenced to death.
St. Felicity and her children were martyred in 251 AD, along with a number of other Christians who had also been imprisoned with them. According to tradition, they were all buried together in a single grave.
St. Felicity and St. Perpetua
Felicity’s life and martyrdom are closely connected to those of her fellow prisoner St. Perpetua, a young noblewoman who had recently converted to Christianity. Perpetua wrote a firsthand account of her imprisonment and martyrdom, in which she describes her faith, her visions, and her love for her fellow prisoners and for God. Felicity is mentioned several times in this account, and it is clear that she was held in high regard by Perpetua and the other prisoners.
Little is known about Felicity’s life before her imprisonment, but it is likely that she was born into slavery and had always lived a difficult and oppressed existence. Despite this, she was able to find hope and purpose in her faith in Jesus Christ. Her pregnancy and the prospect of giving birth in prison must have added to her suffering, but she remained resolute in her belief that God was with her and would provide for her and her child.
Felicity’s faith and courage were an inspiration to her fellow prisoners, and they were all sustained by their belief in the promise of eternal life through Jesus Christ. When the time came for them to face their martyrdom, Felicity and the others did so with great courage and joy, knowing that they were about to be reunited with their Lord.
St. Felicity Patron Saint of Mothers
St. Felicity is remembered and honored by the Catholic Church as a powerful example of maternal love and devotion to God. She is the patron saint of expectant mothers and is often invoked for the protection of pregnant women and their unborn children.
The feast day of St. Felicity is celebrated on November 10th in the Catholic Church. She is also remembered on the feast of the Holy Innocents, which is celebrated on December 28th and commemorates the massacre of the young children of Bethlehem by King Herod.
Throughout the centuries, St. Felicity has been a source of inspiration and encouragement for Christians facing persecution and adversity. Her courage and faith in the face of great challenges serve as a reminder of the power of God’s love to sustain and protect us in times of trial.
St. Felicity is often depicted in art and literature as a woman holding a palm branch, which is a symbol of martyrdom. She is also sometimes shown with her children, who are often depicted as young boys and girls.
Felicity is remembered as a patron saint of mothers and expectant mothers, and her example continues to inspire Christians today.
Popular St. Felicity Medal and St. Felicity Rosary
Patron Saints - F's
Prayers to St. Felicity
Prayer to St. Felicity for Expectant Mothers
Dear St. Felicity, as the patron saint of expectant mothers, we turn to you in prayer for your intercession and guidance. We ask that you watch over all mothers-to-be, protecting them and their unborn children from harm. May they be blessed with the strength, courage, and faith that you exemplified in your own life, as they await the arrival of their little ones. Help them to trust in God’s love and care for them, and to embrace the joy and challenges of motherhood with grace and confidence. Amen.
Prayer to St. Felicity for Mothers
O St. Felicity, mother of seven and courageous martyr for your faith, we ask for your intercession and guidance as we navigate the joys and challenges of motherhood. Grant us the wisdom and patience to raise our children to be strong in their faith and to follow in the footsteps of Jesus. Help us to model for them the selfless love and devotion that you showed to your own children, even in the face of great adversity. May we find comfort and strength in your example, and may our families be blessed with the grace and protection of God. Amen.
Children’s Story about the life of St. Felicity
In a far-off land called Carthage, there was a brave and holy woman named St. Felicity. Felicity lived a difficult life as a slave, but she found great joy and purpose in her faith in Jesus Christ.
One day, the ruler of Carthage, the Emperor Antoninus, issued a decree that no one was allowed to convert to the Christian faith. Many people were afraid to follow Jesus because they were worried about being punished, but Felicity was not afraid. She knew that Jesus was the Son of God and that He loved her very much.
Felicity and several other Christians were arrested and thrown into prison. The prison was a dark and dirty place, and Felicity was worried about her unborn baby. But she refused to give up her faith, even when the guards threatened her with death.
One of Felicity’s fellow prisoners was a young woman named St. Perpetua. Perpetua was a noblewoman who had recently converted to Christianity, and she and Felicity became close friends. Perpetua wrote a letter about her imprisonment, and she mentioned Felicity many times. She said that Felicity was an inspiration to all of the prisoners, and that she was always full of hope and joy.
Despite the difficult conditions of the prison, Felicity was able to have her baby. She named her daughter after herself, and she was overjoyed to be able to hold her in her arms. Felicity knew that her time on earth was limited, but she hoped that her daughter would grow up to be a strong and faithful Christian just like her.
Eventually, Felicity and the other prisoners were sentenced to be killed by wild beasts at the public games. Felicity knew that this was the end of her earthly life, but she was not afraid. She knew that Jesus was waiting for her in heaven, and she was eager
Reflection on the Feast of St. Felicity
Today, the Catholic Church celebrates the feast of St. Felicity and Perpetua on March 7th.
Today is March 7th, the memorial of Saints Felicity and Perpetua, two early Christian martyrs who are honored as the patron saints of mothers and expectant mothers.
Perpetua was a 22-year-old noblewoman who was a catechumen, preparing for baptism, when she was arrested and thrown in prison for refusing to offer incense to the gods. Felicity was a young slave woman who was eight months pregnant when she was also arrested and held under house arrest until giving birth. Both women were eventually baptized in prison and then martyred in the amphitheater in Carthage, North Africa in 203.
Their graves were discovered in 1907 by a French priest, revealing inscriptions on their tombs and the remains of their bodies. In the Liturgy of the Hours, it is written that they “marched from their cells into the amphitheater as if into heaven with cheerful faces, their chains falling from them as if they were ornaments.” These women serve as an inspiration to mothers and expectant mothers, as they held firm in their faith even in the face of persecution and death.