CAPG's Blog 

"From his youth, this saint was eminent for singular gifts both of nature and grace. His modesty, meekness, chastity, and other virtues, charmed all who had the happiness of his acquaintance. He received the Blessed Sacrament very frequently: in every town where he came, he visited the hospitals and churches; and passed several hours upon his knees before the Blessed Sacrament. He gave to the poor sometimes the very clothes off his back.

For some time he practiced the law as a counselor at Colmar, with great reputation, but still greater virtue. He abstained from all invective, detraction, and whatever might affect the reputation of any adversary. He conceived a disgust, however, for a profession, which was to many an occasion of sin; and determined to enter among the Capuchin friars. He first received holy orders, and having said his first mass in their convent at Fribourg, he consecrated himself to God by taking the habit. From that moment, humiliations, mortification, and implicit obedience were his delight. In regard to dress and furniture, he always chose that for his own use, which was the least valuable and convenient. His life was a continued prayer and recollection; and at his devotions he seemed rather like an angel than a man.

When he had finished his course of divinity, St. Fidelis was employed in preaching and hearing confessions. He reformed many by his zealous labors, and converted several Calvinists. When a pestilential fever infected the Austrian army, he exercised wonderful charity in assisting the sick and dying. He also exerted himself indefatigably in composing differences between neighbors, and relieving those who were in distress. He was most devout to the Blessed Virgin, and regularly recited the holy rosary. By her prayers and those of other saints, he begged that he might shed his blood in the defense of the Catholic faith. His prayer was granted. For the Calvinists were so incensed against him, for his pious labors to convert them, that they murdered him in the year 1622, the forty-fifth of his age.

Pray for all who are engaged in the holy ministry, and laboring for the conversion of souls. To contribute to the conversion of a sinner, is something more excellent than to raise the dead to life. The soul, which from the death of sin is raised to the life of grace, passes from slavery to the devil, to the dignity and privileges of a child of God. By this divine adoption, she is rescued out of the abyss of infinite misery, and exalted to the most sublime state of glory and happiness, in which all the treasures of grace and of heaven are her portion for ever." The Catholic Year by Fr. John Gother

The three women on the tomb of Christ, by Irma Martin,  1843

"As the angel said to the holy women, who were looking for Christ among the dead: He is risen, He is not here; so the state of every Christian at this time ought to be such, that as to all wilful and affected sin, it may with truth be said of him: "He is risen, he is not here". The past time ought to suffice for sin: and now as to what remains, all ought to live to the will of God. This is what St. Paul says to the Corinthians: "You have been sinners, but now you are washed, now you are sanctified, now you are justified in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. You have been darkness; but now you are light in our Lord: walk therefore as children of the light." This is the fruit of Christ's Passion, which ought to be found in every Christian. This it is which the present solemnity of the Resurrection demands of every one in particular; and wherever this is not, those who have it not are not the children of God, nor have they any part in Christ. And the Resurrection of our Lord, which is a day of joy to repenting sinners, what must it be to such as obstinately or carelessly abide in sin, but a day of reproach and confusion, even a beginning of that confusion, which, if not timely prevented, will be eternal?

For where the mercies of a Redeemer do not raise up from the grave of sin, what can be expected, but to lie buried in sin for ever?

Wherefore, it being a common interest to escape this confusion, it is plain that it can be no other way effected, than by rising with Christ from sin, and beginning the life of the new man. And because the weight of our corruption is a general hindrance to this work, and the occasion of its being unfinished, though often begun; it is our present duty to consider of the means proper for carrying it on. And since this was the time of our Saviour's beginning a new life, beg of Him to give a new life to all who believe in Him, that they may begin such a method, as may give them well-grounded hopes of rising with Him to a life immortal." The Catholic Year by Rev. Fr. John Gother