Mark Rey was born at Sigmaringen in Germany. He studied at the well-known University of Freigburg to become a lawyer. Even as a student, he liked to visit the sick and the poor and daily spent time in prayer. When Mark, finished his studies he became a famous lawyer.

His brother George chose to become a Capuchin Franciscan priest.

As a lawyer, Mark often took on the cases of poor people who had no money to pay. He was nicknamed, “The Poor Man’s Lawyer.” Now, because he was very honest, Mark was shocked at the dishonesty of the law courts and gave up the law.

Instead, he gave away all his wealth to the poor and followed his brother to priesthood. When he became a priest, he took the name Fidelis, which means “faithful.”

Father Fidelis was filled with joy when he was asked to go preach in Switzerland where there were many enemies of the Catholic faith. He wanted to win these people called the Calvinists and Zwinglians back to the Church. His preaching brought wonderful results and many people were converted.

Enemies of the Church grew angry at his success. St. Fidelis knew that his life was in danger, but he went right on preaching. In the middle of a sermon one day, someone shot at him, but the bullet missed.

Father Fidelis knew he had to leave town at once and he did. But as he was walking down the road to the next town, a mob of angry men stopped him. They ordered the priest to give up the Catholic faith. St. Fidelis firmly refused.

The men then attacked him with spiked clubs and crude tools. The wounded priest pulled himself up to a kneeling position. He prayed: “Lord, forgive my enemies. They do not know what they are doing. Lord Jesus, have mercy on me! Holy Mary, my Mother, help me!”

Then the men attacked him again until they were sure he was dead. St. Fidelis died a martyr in 1622 at the age of forty-four at Grusch, Grisons in Switzerland.

St. Radbertus was born in France. No one knows who his parents were. They left their newborn infant on the doorstep of the Notre-Dame of Soissons convent. The nuns loved and cared for the baby. They named him Radbertus.

When he was old enough for school, Radbertus was sent to the monks of St. Peter nearby. The boy loved learning and especially enjoyed the Latin classics. When he grew up, he spent many years in quiet study.

Then he felt God calling him to become a monk. He joined a community led by two good and pious abbots, St. Adalhard and his brother, Abbot Wala. Radbertus tried hard to be a holy monk and often went with the two abbots on their journeys. After they died, he wrote stories about their life called biographies.

Radbertus became a Scripture scholar (a person who learns especially about the Word of God). He wrote a long explanation about the Gospel of St. Matthew. He wrote explanations on other parts of the Bible, too. But his most well-known work is called “The Body and Blood of Christ.”

He was a very good teacher and helped to make the monastery at Corbie one of the most famous places of learning in those days. He traveled all over Europe, speaking at councils, and acting as peacemaker in both political and religious disagreements.

Radbertus did not think he would make a suitable priest but he was made the head and abbot of the Corbie monastery for seven years. Although he did his best, his term as abbot was very difficult for him.

Then he insisted on returning to his life of prayer, meditation, study and writing. He spent the rest of his life as a hermit at the monastery at Saint Riquiet at Cenula. He wrote a lot about history, philosophy and religious studies.

Radbertus died in 860.