17th century
Feast: April 24
A lawyer turned Capuchin friar who was martyred while preaching against Protestant reforms.
Fidelis of Sigmaringen (1578-1622) was a German lawyer who gave up his successful practice to become a Capuchin friar. Known for his defense of the poor and his preaching skills, he was sent to minister in Protestant regions of Switzerland during the Counter-Reformation. While preaching in Grisons, he was murdered by Calvinist townspeople who opposed his attempts to restore Catholicism. He became the first martyr of the Congregation for the Propagation of the Faith. His martyrdom represented the religious conflicts of the Reformation era.