HOMILY III. Delivered to the people in the basilica of the holy martyr Felicitas, on the day of her nativity.
READING FROM THE HOLY GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MATTHEW. At that time, while Jesus was speaking to the crowds, behold, his mother and brothers stood outside, seeking to speak with him. And someone said to him: Behold, your mother and your brothers are standing outside, seeking you. But he, answering the one who spoke to him, said: Who is my mother, and who are my brothers? And extending his hands toward his disciples, he said: Behold my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my Father who is in heaven, he is my brother, and sister, and mother.
The reading recited from the Holy Gospel, dearly beloved brethren, is brief, but laden with the great weight of mysteries. For Jesus, our Creator and Redeemer, pretends not to know His mother, and indicates who is His mother and who are His relatives not through kinship of the flesh, but through union of the spirit, saying: "Who is my mother, and who are my brethren? For whoever does the will of my Father who is in heaven, he is my brother, and sister, and mother." By these words, what else does He suggest to us, except that He gathers many who are obedient to His commands from among the Gentiles, and does not acknowledge Judea, from whose flesh He was born? Hence also His mother, when she is seemingly not acknowledged, is said to be standing outside, because clearly the Synagogue is not recognized by its Author, since, while holding to the observance of the Law, it lost spiritual understanding, and fixed itself outside in guarding the letter.
But since he who does the will of the Father is called sister and brother of the Lord, on account of both sexes who are gathered to the faith, this is not surprising; yet it is greatly to be wondered how one is also called mother. For he deigned to call his faithful disciples brothers, saying: Go, announce to my brothers. Therefore, he who could become a brother of the Lord by coming to faith—it must be asked how he can also be a mother? But we should know that one who is a brother and sister of Christ by believing becomes a mother by preaching. For one gives birth to the Lord, as it were, when one has poured him into the heart of the hearer. And one becomes his mother if through one's voice the love of the Lord is begotten in the mind of one's neighbor.
To confirm this matter fittingly for us, blessed Felicity is present, whose birthday we celebrate today, who by believing became a handmaid of Christ, and by preaching was made a mother of Christ. For she feared to leave her seven sons, as is read in the more accurate accounts of her deeds, alive in the flesh after her, just as carnal parents usually fear to send their dead children before them. For when she was seized in the labor of persecution, she strengthened the hearts of her sons by preaching the love of the heavenly fatherland, and she brought forth in spirit those whom she had borne in the flesh, so that by preaching she might bear to God those whom she had borne in the flesh to the world. Consider, dearest brothers, a manly heart in a womanly body. She stood undaunted before death. She feared to lose the light of truth in her sons, if she had not been bereaved. Shall I then call this woman a martyr? Rather, more than a martyr. Certainly the Lord, when He spoke of John, said: "What did you go out into the desert to see? A prophet? Indeed I say to you, and more than a prophet." And John himself, when asked, answered, saying: "I am not a prophet." For he who knew himself to be more than a prophet denied being a prophet. He is therefore called more than a prophet because the office of a prophet is to foretell things to come, not also to show them. But John is more than a prophet because he pointed out with his finger the one whom he proclaimed with his word. I would therefore call this woman not a martyr, but more than a martyr, who, having sent seven pledges ahead to the kingdom, came first but arrived eighth. The mother beheld the death of her sons both in anguish and undaunted; she applied the joy of hope to the pain of nature. She feared for them while living, she rejoiced when they were dying. She wished to leave no one behind her, lest if she had any survivor, she could not have a companion. Let no one among you, dearest brothers, suppose that her heart was not at all struck by carnal affection when her sons were dying. For she could not see her sons, whom she knew to be her own flesh, dying without grief; but there was an inner force of love that conquered the pain of the flesh. Hence also to Peter, about to suffer, it is said: "When you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and lead you where you do not wish to go." For if Peter had completely not wished to suffer for Christ, he could not have done so; but the martyrdom which he did not wish through the weakness of the flesh, he loved through the strength of the spirit. While through the flesh he trembles at punishments, through the spirit he exults toward glory; and it was accomplished that the torment of martyrdom... So we also, when we seek the joy of salvation, drink the bitter cup of purification. The bitterness in the cup displeases, but the health to be restored through bitterness pleases. Therefore Felicity loved her sons according to the flesh, but for love of the heavenly fatherland she wished even those whom she loved to die before her eyes. She herself received their wounds, but she herself grew through those same ones who preceded her to the kingdom. Rightly therefore I would call this woman more than a martyr, who, having been desirably extinguished so many times in her sons, while she obtained multiple martyrdom, surpassed even the palm of martyrdom itself. It is said that among the ancients there was a custom that whoever became consul would hold his place of honor according to the order of time; but if anyone coming later to the consulship became consul not once, but perhaps twice or three times, he would surpass in praise and honor even those who had been consuls no more than once. Blessed Felicity therefore surpassed the martyrs, because, with so many sons dying before her, she frequently died for Christ, since her own death alone was not sufficient for her love of Him.
Let us consider, brothers, this woman; let us consider ourselves, who are men in bodily members, and in comparison with her what shall we be thought? For often we propose to do certain good things, but if even the slightest word bursts forth against us from the mouth of a mocker, we immediately recoil, broken and confused, from the intention of our action. Behold, mere words often call us back from good work. But torments could not break Felicity from her holy intention. We stumble at a breath of cursing; she passed through even to the kingdom by the sword, and considered as nothing whatever stood in her way. We are unwilling to give away even our superfluous possessions at the Lord's commands; she not only offered her substance to God, but for His sake gave even her own flesh. We, when we lose children by divine decree, mourn without consolation; she would have lamented them as dead if she had not offered them. When therefore the strict Judge shall come to that terrible examination, what shall we men say when we see the glory of this woman? What excuse will there be for men on account of the weakness of their mind, when she shall be shown forth who conquered both the world and her sex? Let us therefore follow, dearest brothers, the strict and harsh way of the Redeemer; for by the practice of virtues it has already been made so smooth that women are pleased to walk upon it. Let us despise all present things, for those things which can pass away are nothing. Let it be shameful to love what clearly perishes quickly. Let not the love of earthly things overcome us, let not pride puff us up, let not anger tear us apart, let not luxury pollute us, let not envy consume us. Out of love for us, dearest brothers, our Redeemer died, and let us learn through love of Him to conquer ourselves. If we do this perfectly, we shall not only escape impending punishments, but we shall be rewarded with glory together with the martyrs. For although the occasion of persecution is lacking, yet our peace also has its own martyrdom, because even if we do not subject the necks of our flesh to the sword, yet with the spiritual sword we slay carnal desires in our mind, with His help, etc.