St. Fidelis of Sigmaringen

"I am sent to you to confute, not to embrace your heresy. The Catholic religion is the faith of all ages, I fear not death."

- St. Fidelis of Sigmaringen, to the protestant soldiers who killed him

On this day 385 years ago, St. Fidelis received the crown of martyrdom, the foreseen culmination of a life of faithful service to our Lord in dangerous times. He was beatified by Pope Benedict XIII on the 24th of March, 1729, and canonized on the 29th of June, 1746 by Pope Benedict XIV.

Blessed counsellor and advocate for the poor, pray for us who have become spiritually poor.
Courageous refuter of heresy, pray that your Church may find again the zeal for truth it once possessed.
Zealous advocate of the Faith of all ages, please pray that your Church may once again freely pray the Mass of ages.
And may it please God that you, who have been honored by two popes named Benedict, will have your prayers answered through the good offices of a third.
We ask this through Christ our Lord, Who, with our Father in Heaven, reigns in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God for ages of ages until the end of time. Amen.