This saint was one of many who God rose up during the "Century of Saints" to counter the Protestant Revolt of the 16th Century. Saint Fidelis was born in Sigmaringen, France in 1577 of noble parents. Ordained in 1612. Always devout to the sacraments, Fidelis became a Capuchin monk, embracing a life of austerity and prayer. The Congregation of Propaganda appointed him to go to Switzerland to save as many souls as possible from the growing heresy of Calvinism.

While preaching in Sevis, Switzerland a Calvinist fanatic shot at him, but he would not be deterred. After his sermon, a mob of Protestants confronted him, headed by a Calvinist minister who ordered him to renounce his faith. Fidelis replied, "I came to refute your errors, not to embrace them. I will never renounce Catholic doctrine, which is the truth of all ages, and I fear not death." Incensed, the Swiss Calvinists pierced him through with their scabbards in 1622. He died for the true faith and Jesus Christ. He is the proto-martyr of the later reformed Capuchin Friars Minor.

Resources: We are grateful to Friends of Our Lady of Fatima for providing the Propers for the faithful. Sources: Saint Andrew Daily Missal and the Marian Missal , 1945

Thou last protected me, O God, from the assembly of the malignant, alleluia: from the multitude of the workers of iniquity, alleluia. alleluia. (Ps. 63: 2) Hear, O God, my prayers, when I make supplication to Thee: deliver my soul from the fear of the enemy
v. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost, as it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. Repeat If thou lovest Me...

O God, Who didst vouchsafe to adorn with the grace of working miracles and the palm of martyrdom in the propagation of the true faith the blessed Fidelis, inflamed with seraphic ardor of soul, we beseech Thee, by his merits and intercession, so to strengthen us through Thy grace in faith and charity that we may be worthy to be found faithful in Thy service even unto death. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who livest and reignest with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, one God Forever and ever.R.Amen.

Lesson from the Epistle of blessed Paul the Apostle to Timothy.
Dearly beloved, be mindful that the Lord Jesus Christ is risen again from the dead, of the seed of David, according to my gospel. Wherein I labor even unto bands, as an evil-doer: but the word of God is not bound. Therefore I endure all things for the sake of the elect, that they may also obtain the salvation, which is in Christ Jesus, with heavenly glory. But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, long-suffering, love, patience, persecutions, afflictions, such as came upon me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra; what persecutions I endured and out of them all the Lord delivered me. And all that will live godly in Jesus Christ shall suffer persecution.
Thanks be to God.

The Lord be with you.R. And with thy spirit. The continuation of the holy Gospel according to John.R. Glory to Thee, O Lord

At that time, The Lord said to His disciples: "I am the true Vine; and My Father is the husbandman. Every branch in Me, that beareth not fruit, He will take away: and every one that beareth fruit, He will purge it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Now you are clean by reason of the word, which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abide in the vine, so neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the Vine: you the branches: he that abideth in Me, and I in him, the same beareth much fruit: for without Me you can do nothing. If any one abide not in Me, he shall be cast forth as a branch, and shall wither, and they shall gather him up, and case him into the fire, and be burneth. If you abide in Me, and my words abide in you, you shall ask whatever you will, and it shall be done unto you."Praise be to Christ

Sanctify the gifts we offer Thee, O Lord, and through the intercession of blessed Fidelis, Thy martyr, cleanse us by them from the stains of our sins. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, one God Forever and ever.R.Amen.

The Lord be with you. R. And with thy spirit.
Lift up your hearts.R.We have lifted them up to the Lord.Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. R. It is meet and just.
It is truly meet and just, right and for our salvation that we should at all times and in all places, give thanks unto Thee, O holy Lord, Father almighty, everlasting God: through Christ our Lord. Through Whom the Angels praise Thy Majesty, the Dominations worship it, the Powers stand in awe. The Heavens and the Heavenly hosts together with the blessed Seraphim in triumphant chorus unite to celebrate it. Together with them we entreat Thee, that Thou mayest bid our voices also to be admitted, while we say in lowly praise:
HOLY, HOLY, HOLY...

The Lord be with you. R. And with thy spirit.Let us pray. We beseech Thee, O almighty God, that those whom Thou dost refresh with Thy sacrament, Thou also grant them, by the intercession of blessed Fidelis, Thy martyr, to serve Thee, as befits them, with behavior pleasing unto Thee. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, one God Forever and ever. R. Amen.