- Saint Fidelis of Sigmaringen (1577 - 1622)
Today is the feast day of Saint Fidelis of Sigmaringen. Fidelis was born Mark Rey in Sigmaringen, Germany, in 1577. He was a practicing lawyer, who initially was a tutor to aristocrats, but then started defending the poor. He soon became known as "the poor man's lawyer". However, Fidelis soon became disgusted at the corruption and injustice he saw among his colleagues, and gave up his career as a lawyer to become a priest. In 1612, Fidelis joined the Franciscan Capuchin Order, which his brother George belonged to. His wealth was divided among needy seminarians and the poor. He was appointed head of a group of Capuchins who were sent to preach against the Calvinists and Zwinglians in Switzerland. The mission was so successful that local Protestants claimed that Fidelis was a spy for the Austrian Emperor. While he was preaching at Seewis, a gun was fired at him, but he escaped unharmed. A Protestant offered him shelter after this event, but Fidelis declined, and said that his life was in God's hands. On his way back, a group of armed men came upon Fidelis and killed him. He died in 1622, and was canonized in 1746. The Congregation for the Propagation of the Faith, which was established in 1622, recognized Fidelis as its first martyr.
Saint Fidelis of Sigmaringen, pray for us!
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Picture Of And Information About Saint Fidelis Taken From:
http://catholicfire.blogspot.com/2012/04/st-fidelis-of-sigmaringen-priest.html
http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=3355
http://www.americancatholic.org/Features/Saints/saint.aspx?id=1363
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