Saint of the Day for 24 April: St. Fidelis of Sigmaringen
St. Fidelis of Sigmaringen: Martyr of the Faith and Defender of Justice
Name
St. Fidelis of Sigmaringen
Title
Priest and martyr
Baptismal Name
Markus Roy
Birth
1577, Sigmaringa, Germany
Death
April 21, 1622, Seewis, Switzerland
Recurrence
24 April
Martyrology
2004 edition
Beatification
March 24, 1729, Rome, Pope Benedict XIII
Canonization
June 29, 1746, Rome, Pope Benedict XIV
Prayer
O Father, who to your priest St. Fidelis, burning with charity, you gave the grace to witness with blood the missionary proclamation of the Gospel, through his intercession grant us also to be rooted and grounded in the love of Christ, that we may know the glory of the risen Lord. He is God, and lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, for ever and ever.
Patron of
Castelnuovo Magra, Portalbera, Montenerodomo, Monchiero
Roman Martyrology
In Sèvis, Switzerland, St. Fidelis of Sigmaringa, Priest of the Order of Capuchin Minors and Martyr, who, sent there to preach the Catholic faith, in the same place, killed by heretics, accomplished martyrdom, and by Pope Benedict the tenth-fourth was numbered among the Holy Martyrs.
The Saint and Mission
St. Fidelis of Sigmaringen lived a life of extraordinary dedication, characterized by a deep commitment to the mission of the Church. Converted from a lawyer to a Capuchin friar, he adopted poverty and prayer as his means of drawing closer to God and serving his faithful. His mission was fueled by a burning passion for truth and justice, leading his fight against the heresies of his time. St. Faithful spent the last years of his life preaching tirelessly, carrying the message of faith across the Alps despite dangers and resistance. His dedication to the ministry and his death as a martyr reflect the essence of what it meant for him to live and die for the mission, demonstrating immeasurable courage and commitment that continue to inspire faithful around the world.
The Saint and Mercy
St. Fidelis of Sigmaringen embodied a mission of compassion and truth in his daily life, showing exceptional commitment in his role as an advocate for the poor before becoming a friar. His spiritual journey led him to embrace a life of severe austerity and fervent preaching, marked by a desire to reach and convert those who were far from the Catholic faith. At the heart of his actions was a deep love for justice and truth, qualities that guided him through active and dangerous ministry, often in territories hostile to his faith. St. Faithful committed himself to living the Gospel so radically that his very existence became a living sermon, one that culminated in his martyrdom. His life shows how true mission is not just proclaiming words, but living by the ideals one preaches.
Hagiography
He was born in 1577 in the city of Sigmaringa. His birth name was Mark, later changed to Faithful in religious profession. In giving him this name, the novice master told him these words from Revelation, “Be faithful unto death and I will give you the crown of life.” Nature and grace favored him of their gifts, and our young man made in a short time such admirable progress in science that he was pointed out as an example to his fellow disciples, and