Saint Fidelis of Sigmaringen was a Capuchin Friar of
the late seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries. He was born Mark Rey in Sigmaringen, Prussia
in 1577. At an early age, he showed
signs of sanctity, practicing many mortifications and charities. He studied the law and practiced it for
several years – he was notable for never trying to defame or trick his
opponents in court. Finally, having had
enough of the corruption and deceit which marked his profession, he determined
to enter the Capuchin Order.
The Capuchins (an off-shoot of the Franciscan Order)
was founded in 1520. The early Capuchins
felt that the Franciscans had strayed from the strict purity of the earlier
order; and sought to regain the earlier discipline and spirit of St. Francis. Upon entering the Capuchins, Rey was given
the name Fidelis (Faithful) and was ordained a priest in 1612 in Fribourg (a
Swiss canton.) His gift for hearing
confessions and preaching were quickly recognized; and many of the Calvinists
in his area were converted to the true faith through his ardent zeal. Recognizing Fidelis’ gift, the Church
assigned him to preach among the Grisons (another Swiss canton). Here he again made miraculous conversions,
but also faced stiff opposition and threats against his life.
On April 24, 1622, Fidelis said his morning mass in the
town of Grusch. His preaching was more ardent
than ever and following his homily, Fidelis stood silent for some time, caught
up in the ecstasy of the Spirit. With
some companions, he set out for the town of Seewis. It was remembered by his companions that he
seemed to be exceptionally cheerful that morning. Upon entering Seewis, a mob greeted him and
he was forced to turn around. A
contemporary account describes what happened next:
“From Grüsch he went to
preach at Seewis, where, with great energy, he exhorted the Catholics to
constancy in the faith. After a Calvinist had discharged his musket at him
in the Church, the Catholics entreated him to leave the place. He answered that
death was his gain and his joy, and that he was ready to lay down his life in
God's cause. On his road back to Grüsch, he met twenty Calvinist soldiers with
a minister at their head. They called him a false prophet, and urged him to
embrace their sect. He answered: "I am sent to you to confute, not to
embrace your heresy. The Catholic religion is the faith of all ages, I fear not
death." One of them beat him down to the ground by a stroke on the head
with his backsword. Fidelis rose again on his knees, and stretching forth his
arms in the form of a cross, said with a feeble voice "Pardon my enemies,
O Lord: blinded by passion they know not what they do. Lord Jesus, have mercy
on me. Mary,
Mother of God,
succor me!." Another sword stroke clove his skull, and he fell to the
ground and lay in a pool of his own blood. The soldiers, not content with this,
added many stab
wounds to his body with their long knives, and hacked-off his left leg, as they
said, to punish him for his many journeys into those parts to preach to them.”
Saint Fidelis was canonized by Pope Benedict XIV in
1746. A eulogy of the Saint beautifully
captures the love and zeal that animated his life:
“What is it today that
makes true followers of Christ cast luxuries aside, leave pleasures behind, and
endure difficulties and pain? It is living
faith that expresses itself through love! It is this that makes us put aside the goods
of the present in the hope of future goods.
It is because of faith that we exchange the present for the future.”
In venerating this Saint, let us humbly reflect on our
own witness to the faith. Are we true witnesses
of Christ; or does our comfort and convenience, our never-ending appetites and
desires, our need for approval and esteem determine how we live our lives? Do we nourish faith, true faith, in our lives, willing to sacrifice the passing things
of this world, for the life with God in eternity? Let us pray that like Saint Fidelis we may be
true to the end, embracing the Truth of God and not the vanities of this world.
V. Pray for us, Saint Fidelis of Sigmaringen,
R. That we may be worthy of the promises of Christ!
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