May 5: Blessed Caterina Cittadini

Blessed Caterina Cittadini, 1801 – 1857

May 4: Saint Richard Reynolds, Martyr Of England

Saint Richard Reynolds, 1492-1535

Prophet Jeremiah

May 24: Blessed Juan de Prado

Blessed Juan de Prado, 1563 – 1631
Spanish Franciscan priest, missionary and martyr in Morocco.

May 23: Blessed Wincenty Matuszewski

Blessed Wincenty Matuszewski, 1869 – 1940

May 22: Saint Michael Ho Dinh Hy

Saint Michael Ho Dinh Hy, 1808 – 1857

May 17: Blessed Giulia Salzano

Blessed Giulia Salzano, 1846 – 1929

May 5: Blessed Nunzio Sulprizio

Blessed Nunzio Sulprizio, 1817 -1836

Saint Augustine Webster, Martyr Of England

Saint Augustine Webster, +1535

May 2: Blessed Stanislas Kazimierczyk

Blessed Stanislas Kazimierczyk, 1433 – 1489

March 24: Blessed Maria Karlowska, Foundress – Good Shepherd Sisters

Blessed Maria Karlowska
1865 – 1935

March 20: Saint Józef Bilczewski

Saint Józef Bilczewski, 1860 – 1923

September 24: Blessed Anton Martin Slomsek

Blessed Anton Martin Slomsek
1800 – 1862

September 23: Blessed Bernardina Maria Jablonska

Blessed Bernardina Maria Jablonska
1878 -1940

June 6: Blessed Józef Innocenty Guz, Martyr Of Poland

Blessed Józef Innocenty Guz, 1890 – 1940

June 6: Saint Alessandro di Fiesole

Saint Alessandro di Fiesole

May 31: Saint Felix of Nicosia

Saint Felix of Nicosia , 1715 – 1787

May 30: Blessed Marta Maria Wiecka

Blessed Marta Maria Wiecka, 1874 – 1904

May 25: Saint Cristobal Magallanes

Saint Cristobal Magallanes, 1869 – 1927

May 25: Saint Agustin Caloca Cortes, Martyr of Mexico

Saint Agustin Caloca Cortes
1898 – 1927

May 24: Blessed Blessed Louis-Zéphirin Moreau Of Canada

Blessed Louis-Zéphirin Moreau, 1824 – 1901

May 23: Blessed Józef Kurzawa, New Martyr Of Poland

Blessed Józef Kurzawa, 1910 – 1940
Diocesan Priest Martyr

May 22: Blessed Maria Domenica Brun Barbantini

Blessed Maria Domenica Brun Barbantini, 1789 – 1868

May 17: Blessed Ivan Ziatyk – Greek Catholic New Martyr

Blessed Ivan Ziatyk, 1899 – 1952

May 14: Saint Théodore Guérin

Saint Théodore Guérin, 1798 – 1856

May 13: Feast of Our Lady of Fatima

Pray your rosary!

May 9: Prophet Isaiah

May 8: Blessed Luigi Rabatà

Blessed Luigi Rabatà, 1443 -1490

May 5: Blessed Grzegorz Boleslaw Frackowiak, New Martyr Of Poland

  Blessed Grzegorz Boleslaw Frackowiak, 1911-1943

May 3: Blessed Blessed Marie-Leonie Paradis, Foundress From Canada

Blessed Marie-Leonie Paradis, 1840 – 1912

May 2: Blessed William Tirry, Martyr Of Ireland

Blessed William Tirry, 1608 – 1654

May 1: Saint Joseph The Worker

May 1: Prophet Jeremiah

May 1: Blessed Kliment Septyckyj, Greek Catholic New Martyr

Blessed Kliment Septyckyj, 1869 – 1951 

April 28: Saint Gianna Beretta Molla

Saint Gianna Beretta Molla, 1922 – 1962

April 24: Saint Fidelis of Sigmaringen, Counter-reformationist Martyred By Calvinists

Saint Fidelis of Sigmaringen, 1577 – 1622

Born in 1577, at Sigmaringen, Prussia, of which town his father Johannes Rey was burgomaster; died at Sevis, 24 April, 1622. On the paternal side he was of Flemish ancestry. He pursued his studies at the University of Freiburg in the Breisgau, and in 1604 became tutor to Wilhelm von Stotzingen, with whom he travelled in France and Italy. In the process for Fidelis’s canonization Wilhelm von Stotzingen bore witness to the severe mortifications his tutor practised on these journeys. In 1611 he returned to Freiburg to take the <!––>doctorate<!––> in <!––>canon<!––> and civil law, and at once began to practise as an advocate. But the open corruption which found place in the law courts determined him to relinquish that profession and to enter the Church. He was ordained priest the following year, and immediately afterwards was received into the Order of Friars Minor of the Capuchin Reform at Freiburg, taking the name of Fidelis. He has left an interesting memorial of his novitiate and of his spiritual development at that time in a book of spiritual exercises which he wrote for himself. This work was re-edited by Father Michael Hetzenauer, O.F.M. Cap., and republished in 1893 at Stuttgart under the title: “S. Fidelis a Sigmaringen exercitia seraphicae devotionis”. From the novitiate he was sent to Constance to finish his studies in theology under Father John Baptist, a Polish friar of great repute for learning and holiness. At the conclusion of his theological studies Fidelis was appointed guardian first of the community at Rheinfelden, and afterwards at Freiburg and Feldkirch. As a preacher his burning zeal earned for him a great reputation.

From the beginning of his apostolic career he was untiring in his efforts to convert heretics nor did he confine his efforts in this direction to the pulpit, but also used his pen. He wrote many pamphlets against Calvinism and Zwinglianism though he would never put his name to his writings. Unfortunately these publications have long been lost. Fidelis was still guardian of the community at Feldkirch when in 1621 he was appointed to undertake a mission in the country of the Grisons with the purpose of bringing back that district to the Catholic Faith. The people there had almost all gone over to Calvinism, owing partly to the ignorance of the priests and their lack of zeal. In 1614 the Bishop of Coire had requested the Capuchins to undertake missions amongst the heretics in his diocese, but it was not until 1621 that the general of the order was able to send friars there. In that year Father Ignatius of sergamo was commissioned with several other friars to place himself at the disposal of this bishop for missionary work, and a similar commission was given to Fidelis who however still remained guardian of Feldkirche. Before setting out on this mission Fidelis was appointed by authority of the papal nuncio to reform the Benedictine monastery at Pfafers. He entered upon his new labours in the true apostolic <!––>spirit<!––>. Since he first entered the order he had constantly prayed, as he confided to a fellow-friar, for two favours: one, that he might never fall into mortat sin; the other, that he might die for the Faith. In this Spirit he now set out, ready to give his life in preaching the Faith. He took with him his <!––>crucifix<!––>, Bible, Breviary, and the book of the rule of his order; for the rest, he went in absolute <!––>poverty<!––>, trusting to Divine Providence for his daily sustenance. He arrived in Mayenfeld in time for Advent and began at once preaching and catechizing; often preaching in several places the same day. His coming aroused strong opposition and he was frequently threatened and insulted. He not only preached in the Catholic <!––>churches<!––> and in the public streets, but occasionally in the conventicles of the heretics. At Zizers one of the principal centres of his activity, he held conferences with the magistrates and chief townsmen, often far into the night. They resulted in the conversion of Rudolph de Salis, the most influential man in the town, whose public recantation was followed by many conversions.

Throught the winter Fidelis laboured indefatigably and with such success that the heretic preachers were seriously alarmed and set themselves to inflame the people against him by representing that his mission was political rather than <!––>religious<!––> and that he was preparing the way for the subjugation of the country by the Austrians. During the Lent of 1622 he preached with especial fervour. At Easter he returned to Feldkirch to attend a <!––>chapter<!––> of the order and settle some affairs of his community. By this time the Congregation of the Propaganda had been established in Rome, and Fidelis was formally constituted by the Congregation, superior of the mission in the Grisons. He had, however, a presentiment that his laborers would shortly be brought to a close by a martyr’s death. Preaching a farewell sermon at Feldkirch he said as much. On re-entering the country of the Grisons he was met everywhere with the cry: “Death to the Capuchins!” On 24 April, being then at Grusch, he made his <!––>confession<!––> and afterwards celebrated Mass and preached. Then he set out for Sevis. On the way his companions noticed that he was particularly cheerful. At Sevis he entered the <!––>church<!––> and began to preach, but was interrupted by a sudden tumult both within and without the <!––>church<!––>. Several Austrian soldiers who were guarding the doors of the <!––>church<!––> were killed and Fidelis himself was struck. A Calvinist present offered to lead him to a place of security. Fidelis thanked the man but said his life was in the hands of God. 0utside the <!––>church<!––> he was surrounded by a crowd led by the preachers who offered to save his life if he would apostatize. Fidelis replied: “I came to extirpate <!––>heresy<!––>, not to embrace it”, whereupon he was struck down. He was the first martyr of the Congregation of Propaganda. His body was afterwards taken to Feldkirch and buried in the <!––>church<!––> of his order, except his head and left arm, which were placed in the cathedral at Coire. He was beatified in 1729, and canonized in 1745. St. Fidelis is usually represented in art with a <!––>crucifix<!––> and with a wound in the head; his emblem is a bludgeon. His feast is kept on 24 April.

Publication information

Written by Father Cuthbert. Transcribed by Joseph P. Thomas.

April 21: Saint Apollonio Of Rome, Martyr

Saint Apollonio Of Rome, †175

April 20: Blessed Chiara Bosatta

Blessed Chiara Bosatta, 1858 – 1887

April 19: Pope Saint Leo IX

Pope Saint Leo IX, 1002 – 1054