Editing Pope Felix I (section)

==Life and works==
A [[Rome|Roman]] by birth,<ref name=Annuario>Annuario Pontificio 2012 (Libreria Editrice Vaticana 2008 {{ISBN|978-88-209-8722-0}}), p. 8*</ref> Felix was chosen to be [[pope]] on 5 January 269,<ref name=Annuario/> in succession to [[Pope Dionysius|Dionysius]], who had died on 26 December 268.<ref name=Annuario/>

Felix was the author of an important dogmatic letter on the unity of Christ's Person. He received Emperor [[Aurelian]]'s aid in settling a theological dispute between the anti-[[Trinity|Trinitarian]] [[Paul of Samosata]], who had been deprived of the bishopric of [[Antioch]] by a council of bishops for heresy, and the orthodox new bishop Domnus.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |url=http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/203963/Saint-Felix-I#tab=active~checked%2Citems~checked&title=Saint%20Felix%20I%20--%20Britannica%20Online%20Encyclopedia |title=St. Felix I |encyclopedia=Encyclopædia Britannica Online |access-date=20 April 2010}}</ref> Paul refused to give way, and in 272 Aurelian was asked to decide between the rivals. He ordered the church building to be given to the bishop who was "recognized by the bishops of Italy and of the city of Rome" (Felix). See Eusebius, Hist. Ecc. vii. 30.<ref>{{Cite EB1911|wstitle=Felix (Popes)}}</ref>

The text of that letter was later interpolated by a follower of Apollinaris in the interests of his sect.<ref name=EncCath>{{CathEncy|wstitle=Pope St. Felix I}}</ref>

The notice about Felix in the ''[[Liber Pontificalis]]'' ascribes to him a decree that [[Mass (liturgy)|Masses]] should be celebrated on the tombs of martyrs ("Hic constituit supra memorias martyrum missas celebrare"). The author of this entry was evidently alluding to the custom of celebrating Mass privately at the altars near or over the tombs of the martyrs in the crypts of the catacombs (missa ad corpus), while the solemn celebration always took place in the basilicas built over the catacombs. This practice, still in force at the end of the fourth century, dates apparently from the period when the great cemeterial basilicas were built in Rome, and owes its origin to the solemn commemoration services of martyrs, held at their tombs on the anniversary of their burial, as early as the third century. Felix probably issued no such decree, but the compiler of the ''Liber Pontificalis'' attributed it to him because he made no departure from the custom in force in his time.<ref name=EncCath/>