St. Fidelis of Sigmaringen

April 24th is not just another date on the liturgical calendar. It is the day when the life, passion and martyrdom of St. Fidel of Sigmaringa, a man who changed his sword for habit, died defending his truth. Who was this fearless saint who confronted his enemies with the weapons of spirit and word? You might be interested: Santoral: Who was St. Simplicio Pope and why is celebrated on March 2nd? Who was St. Fidel of Sigmaringa before being saint?…

Saint Fidelis of Sigmaringen

Saint Fidelis of Sigmaringen was born in 1577, at Sigmaringen, Prussia, of which town his father Johannes Rey was burgomaster; died at Sevis, 24 April, 1622. On the paternal side he was of Flemish ancestry. He pursued his studies at the University of Freiburg in the Breisgau, and in 1604 became tutor to Wilhelm von Stotzingen, with whom he travelled in France and Italy. In the process for Fidelis’s canonization Wilhelm von Stotzingen bore witnes…

Saint Fidelis’ Last and Greatest Sermon - Catholic Insight

Today is the feast of Saint Fidelis of Sigmaringen, (+1622) whose original name was Mark Rey: ‘Sigmaringen’ was his birthplace in what is now Germany, and he took the name ‘Fidelis’ – faithful – in religion, after he joined the Capuchins in the first decade of the 1600’s. This was in the era of the ‘wars of religion’, the eve of the brutal Thirty Years War (1618-48), as Catholics were put to death across Europe, even in Elizabethan England, whil…

St. Fidelis of Sigmaringen

St. Fidelis of Sigmaringen was born in 1577 in Sigmaringen, Germany. Originally a lawyer known for defending the poor, he grew disillusioned with the corruption of his profession and chose to become a Capuchin Franciscan priest. Taking the name Fidelis, which means “faithful,” he dedicated himself to preaching, penance, and caring for the sick during […]