St. Fidelis of Sigmaringen

Today we celebrate the feast day of St. Fidelis. St. Fidelis showed so much generosity and charity during his life, that if someone needed clothing, St. Fidelis would give the person the clothes that he was wearing right away, so that person could be clothed. The life of complete generosity and charity that St. Fidelis lived helped St. Fidelis leave a huge impact on others.

St. Fidelis was born during the year 1577 in Sigmaringen, Germany. St. Fidelis was given the name Mark Rey and he became a lawyer who would upheld the causes of the poor and the oppressed people. Due to the fact that St. Fidelis would do this he was given the nickname “the poor man’s lawyer.”

Eventually, after a couple of months St. Fidelis grew disgusted with the corruption and injustice he saw among his colleagues. Therefore St. Fidelis made the decision to leave his law career behind and become a priest.

St. Fidelis joined his brother George as a member of the Capuchin Order. St. Fidelis decided to make his religious name Fidelis. St. Fidelis’ wealth was divided between all the needy seminarians and all the poor.

St. Fidelis looked up to St. Francis of Assisi. Due to the fact that St. Fidelis admired St. Francis of Assisi, St. Fidelis continued his devotion to the weak and needy.

When a large epidemic had taken over a city, St. Fidelis protected over the friary even if it meant that he could get sick. St. Fidelis spent a lot of his time during the epidemic caring for and curing many sick people especially soldiers.

After the epidemic had ended, St. Fidelis was appointed head of a group of Capuchins who were sent to preach against a lot of the Calvinists and Zwinglians that were located in Switzerland.

The Capuchins who preached were greatly threatened. All of the people who were able to observe the mission felt that success was more attributable to the prayer of St. Fidelis that occurred during the night.

While St. Fidelis was preaching in Seewis, he had gone against some of the advice that his friends had recommended , and he was shot. However, St. Fidelis was able to escape unharmed. St. Fidelis continued to preach after he had been shot, he was so devoted to preaching that nothing could stop him, which shows how much St. Fidelis trusted in God's plan for him.

After this event had occurred a Protestant offered to watch over St. Fidelis, however he declined, saying his life was in God’s hands. When St. Fidelis was returning home, he was approached by a group of armed men and he was killed.

St. Fidelis was canonized by Pope Benedict XIV during the year 1746. Fifteen years later he was recognized as a martyr. St. Fidelis’ feast day is celebrated on April 24. St. Fidelis can help each one of us gain the trust and wisdom we need to follow and trust in God's plan. St. Fidelis can help us spread God's love even when we may be endangered.

Prayer to St. Fidelis

St. Fidelis through your service to Christ you help each one of us realize how important it is that we serve others before ourselves and guide others to Christ. St. Fidelis we pray that you may help more people to find Christ through our actions and help us to be a light to everyone. St. Fidelis help us to follow God's plan and help us to surrender ourselves to him, so that we may fulfill his will.

We ask this through Christ Our Lord and Mary Our Mother in Heaven

Amen

St. Fidelis pray for us

St. Joseph pray for us

May we continue to strengthen our journey to sainthood and keep others in our prayers.

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Works cited:

Information (read from, not taken):

Catholic Online. “St. Fidelis of Sigmaringen. ”St. Fidelis of Sigmaringen - Saints & Angels - Catholic Online. Accessed 24 April 2021.

Images:

St. Fidelis of Sigmaringen. April 24, 2021. st. fidelis of sigmaringen - Google Search.