Machine translation of the 1948–1954 Italian original. The original text is authoritative.
FEDELE da SIGMARINGA, saint. — Protomartyr of the Order of Friars Minor Capuchin and of the S. Congregation of Propaganda Fide, born in Sigmaringen (Swabia) around the beginning of October 1578, died at Seewis (Prättigau), murdered by Protestant criminals on 24 April 1622.
Having graduated in philosophy (1601) and in utroque iure (1611) at Freiburg in Br., he exercised the magistracy with integrity as a member of the Regency Council at Ensis-
(courtesy of Prof. R. Marquini)
FEDELE, PIETRO — Portrait.
(from Sauer Fideln, 32 [1918], plate f. 4.) FEDELE DA SIGMARINGA - Portrait. Pen drawing by an unknown contemporary.(Alsace); ordained a priest at Constance (1612), he entered the Capuchin Order and made his solemn profession at Fribourg in Br. on 4 October 1613; he distinguished himself as a preacher and was guardian at Rheinfelden (1618–19), Feldkirch (1619–20), Fribourg (1620–21), and Feldkirch (1621–22). He ministered religiously to the Austro-Spanish troops, especially during epidemics; he directed the mission among the Protestants of the Grisons entrusted to the Swiss Capuchins by Propaganda Fide (1621). Learned and effective in defending the Faith, both through preaching and private controversy, he obtained conversions even among distinguished persons, including Count Rodolfo de Salis. He brought about an edict proscribing Protestant preachers and worship, while Catholics were obliged to attend religious instruction. The partisan reaction of the Reformers crowned a life of eminent virtue with martyrdom. Of his devotional and controversial pamphlets, the Exercitia spirituale o seraphicae devozionis (Fribourg in Br. 1746 and 1753, Rome 1756, etc.) achieved wide circulation and were translated into various languages; they contain, in particular, the method of his spiritual life. His beatification was celebrated in March 1729. He was canonized by Benedict XIV on 29 June 1746. Feast: 24 April.
BIBL.: Rocco da Cesinale. Storia delle missioni dei Cappuccini, II, Rome 1872, pp. 61–117 and passim; F. Della Scala, Der heilige F. von S., Maponza 1866; Festschrift zur J. Jahrhundertfeier des Märtyrestodes des hl. F. von S., Strasbourg-Königshofen 1921; Edvardus Alenconiensis, De s. Fideli a S. quaedam historicae simul ac liturgicae indagines, in Analecta Ord. Min. Cappuccinarum, 38 (1922), pp. 18–23, 40–57, 84–89, 120–27, 329–332; Leone da Lavertezzo, S. F. da S., Milan 1922; Festschrift anäulich des 200 übrigen Jubiläums der Heiligsprechung unseres P. F. von S., in Sauer Fideln, 33 (1946), pp. 180–218; Siegfried von Kaiserstuhl, Zur Chronologie des Lebens des hl. F. von S., in Collectanea Franc., 18 (1948), pp. 273–83. Ilarino da Milano
Cite this article
“FEDELE DA SIGMARINGA, SANTO.” Enciclopedia Cattolica, vol. V (1950), p. 672. Azione Romana digital edition, https://azioneromana.com/article/fedele-da-sigmaringa-santo.
