IFTTT Autopost 
Mark Roy, or Rey, was born sometime in 1577 in Sigmaringen in what is now Germany.
As a young man, he studied law at the University of Freiburg. As a college student, Mark exhibited certain qualities that foreshadowed his later attraction to the Religious life. For example, he abstained from wine, wore a hair shirt, and was noted for the virtues of chastity and humility.
After graduation, he taught philosophy at this same university. In 1604, he took a small group of aristocratic students on an amazing trip all over Western Europe. While traveling, Mark not only served as a tutor to the young men as guide of Europe, he also taught them to treasure their Catholic Faith and to care for the poor that they met on their journey.
In 1611, Mark obtained a Doctor of Law degree in civil and canon law. After obtaining his degree, he began practicing law. Soon, he became known as “the poor man’s lawyer” because of his love of the poor and his readiness to help them in spite of their lack of money.
After practicing law for a while, however, Mark became disillusioned by the shady practices of his fellow lawyers. Therefore, he decided to leave law and become a priest.
Mark joined his brother, George, who was in the Franciscan Capuchin Order. In Religious Life, Mark took the name Fidelis, which in English means “Faithful.” He gave away his money to needy seminarians and the poor and was eventually ordained a priest.
As a priest, he spent much of his time preaching and celebrating Reconciliation. Soon, he became known for his holiness, prayer life, and austerities.
From 1614-1618, he studied theology.
As a priest, Fr. Fidelis was not only a good administrator of the friaries he was in, but he was also a powerful preacher who converted many to the Faith.
But no matter in what type of ministry Fidelis found himself, he always had a special devotion to the poor and the sick. During a very severe epidemic, for example, he distinguished himself as an excellent nurse, caring for sick soldiers. Many of the soldiers that Fr. Fidelis cared for believed that it was through his nursing care that God performed miraculous cures.
Fr. Fidelis died on April 24, 1622.
Pope Benedict XIV canonized him on June 29, 1746.
St. Fidelis of Sigmaringen feast day is April 24th.
