The life of St. Fidelis of Sigmaringen tells a story of love: for God, for neighbor, and for the one, true, Catholic church.
The great saint was born Mark Rey in 1577 in a hilly town near the source of the Danube River, in what is now southwestern Germany. Young Mark pursued the practice of the law and became known as “the poor man’s lawyer” because of his immense charity toward the impoverished.
Mark eventually left the legal profession to become a Capuchin Franciscan priest, taking the name “Fidelis,” Latin for “faithful.” St. Fidelis’ chosen name beautifully illustrates his selfless love, sacrifice, and eventual martyrdom.
In 1622, Fidelis was stationed in a heavily Calvinist area of Switzerland and succeeded in converting many of the locals to Catholicism. On April 22 of that year, a vicious mob stabbed him to death for refusing to renounce the Church.
For boldly standing for the truth of the Catholic faith in public life, St. Fidelis is honored as one of the patron saints of CatholicVote.
As we celebrate his April 24 feast day, here are 5 quotes from St. Fidelis that show his enduring, unceasing love.
O Catholic faith, how solid, how strong you are! How deeply rooted, how firmly founded on a solid rock! Heaven and earth will pass away but you can never pass away. From the beginning the world opposed you but you mightily triumphed over everything.
It’s because of faith that we exchange the present for the future.
Woe to me if I should prove myself but a halfhearted soldier in the service of my thorn-crowned Captain.
The Catholic religion is the faith of all ages, I fear not death.
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!
