St. Fidelis of Sigmaringen was born in 1576 in the town of Sigmaringen, southwestern Germany, where his father was mayor. He practiced law for some six years and, famed for his scrupulous honesty and life of mortification, made himself a name as the sympathetic "advocate of the poor." But the law courts then were so corrupt that at 34, he abandoned his profession in favor of the priesthood, and then, having sold all his possessions for the benefit of the poor, he joined the Capuchins at Freiburg in the Black Forest, taking the name of Fidelis, on 4 October 1612.
St. Fidelis was passionate about converting those influenced by Calvinism and Zwinglianism. He utilized his oratory skills and wrote anonymous pamphlets. In 1621, he reformed a Benedictine monastery in Pfaefers and conducted missionary work among the Zwinglians in the Grisons, achieving remarkable success. This led Pope Gregory XV to appoint him head of the Grisons missions in 1622.
Traveling through the Alps in poverty, Fidelis relied solely on God's Providence, armed with a Crucifix, Bible, Breviary, and the Capuchin rule. He preached multiple times daily, undeterred by threats from angry Protestants. By engaging with city magistrates, he helped convert influential citizens, which sparked further conversions. His success alarmed Protestant ministers, leading to a hostile crowd forcibly removing him from the pulpit on 24 April 1622. Fidelis refused to renounce his faith, resulting in his brutal murder. He was canonized by Pope Benedict XIV on 20 June 1746 as the first martyr of the Capuchin Order and the Propagation of the Faith.
St. Fidelis, pray for an increase in our faith and zeal that we may more earnestly desire the salvation of all people.
Jonathan Fabian Ginunggil,
Pelayan Atasan Tertinggi / Most High Servant,
Yesus, Maria, Yusuf Pelayanan Kasih / Jesus, Mary, Joseph Ministry of Love
(Blessed and Saints and the Nine Choirs of Angels)
My vocation is Blessed and Saints.
"I am the most humble of all the Saints in Heaven" Mary, Mother of God."
"I am the handmaid of the Lord, said Mary ‘let what you have said be done to me."
Mother Mary is the most humble Saint in Heaven and she is also the Mother of God for us all
(Luke 1:38)
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