St. Fidelis Of Sigmaringen

Fidelis of Sigmaringen, O.F.M. Cap. (1577 – 1622) was a Capuchin friar who was involved in the Catholic Counter-Reformation, and was martyred by his Calvinist opponents at Seewis im Prättigau, now part of Switzerland. He was born Mark Roy in 1577. In 1604, Roy accompanied, as preceptor (teacher-mentor), three young Swabian gentlemen on their travels through the principal parts of Europe. During six years of travel, he attended Mass very frequently. In every town they came to, he visited the hospitals and churches, passed several hours on his knees in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament, and was generous to the poor, sometimes giving them the very clothes off his back. He joined the Capuchin friars in France, and was given the name Fidelis. Because of his zeal and skill in preaching, he was sent to preach in eastern Switzerland, an area largely populated by Calvinists. On April 24th, 1622, Fidelis was confronted by 20 Calvinist soldiers who demanded unsuccessfully that he renounce the Catholic faith, and when he refused, they subsequently murdered him. Fidelis was canonized in 1746.