The Holy Scriptures warned us about corrupt judges some 3 000 years ago, particularly the Book of Judges and passages like Proverbs 17:23. It highlights the issue of corrupt judges. These judges, who were meant to uphold justice, often became swayed by bribes and did not deliver fair verdicts, as seen in the proverb "Corrupt judges accept secret bribes, and then justice is not done". The Book of Judges details the decline of Israel's judges, with the last judge, Samson, being a particularly corrupt figure.
It can be argued that Saint Fidelis of Sigmaringen was too arrogant to consider the legal profession, or top naive. After all, we've been all been warned about lawyers and judges. Lawyers are paid to come up with the best argument money can buy. Not to uncover the truth. A lawyer will argue that because a wealthy client broke the law, the law must be changed.
Just some 50 years earlier, Saint Thomas More was martyred. Saint Thomas More, ironically, patron of those in the legal profession, believed no lay ruler has jurisdiction over the Church of Christ. For his beliefs, Saint Thomas was beheaded on Tower Hill, London, on July 6, 1535, because he steadfastly refused to approve King Henry VIII’s divorce and remarriage and establishment of the Church of England.
The Justice System Isn't About Justice. And contrary to what some conservatives claim It aint a two-teared justice system
It aint a multi-teared justice system. It's about social control ....And has been used for thousands of years
Proverbs 17:23 warns us about corrupt judges: Corrupt judges accept secret bribes, and then justice is not done.
Colleen Kollar-Kotelly, a federal judge. issued an order temporarily blocking a part of President Trump's executive order that would require proof of citizenship to register to vote nationwide
Today, Any judge anywhere seemingly can block President Trump's executive orders everywhere, including the deportation of criminal illegal immigrants and predators, going as far as demanding the return of criminals.
Saint Luke (Luke 12:58)
warned us about lawsuits: If someone brings a lawsuit against you and takes you to court, do your best to settle the dispute before you get to court. If you don't, you will be dragged before the judge, who will hand you over to the police, and you will be put in jail. There you will stay, I tell you, until you pay the last penny of your fine." And
Saint Matthew (5:25) tells us:“When you are on the way to court with your adversary, settle your differences quickly. Otherwise, your accuser may hand you over to the judge, who will hand you over to an officer, and you will be thrown into prison
Saint Fidelis was born Mark Roy in 1577, in
Sigmaringen, a town in modern-day
Germany, then under the
Principality of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen. He studied law and
philosophy at the
University of Freiburg.
Saint Fidelis subsequently taught philosophy at this university, ultimately earning the degree of
Doctor of Law. During his time as a student he did not drink wine, and wore a
hair-shirt. He was known for his modesty, meekness and
chastity.
After only a short time in the legal profession, Saint Fidelis became disenchanted by the corruption common in his colleagues, many of whom were intent on making dishonest profit from lawsuits rather than act with honesty and integrity.
Disillusioned by the legal system, Saint Fidelis decided to follow in the footsteps of his brother who had become a Capuchin friar. In 1612, at the age of thirty-four, he was ordained a priest, entered the Capuchins, and took the name “Fidelis,” which means “faithful.” Finally realizing his true vocation as a Capuchin priest, he initially struggled with temptations of despair over what seemed to be thirty-four “lost years” of his life. The move to religious life was initially challenging because the freedoms he enjoyed as a layman were no more, but he persevered through this period with prayer and resolute determination. During this first year, he wrote a book for his own personal use that would be published more than a century later called Exercitia spiritualia seraphicae devotionis, a compilation of prayers and meditations. After four years of continued theological studies and formation, he was sent to the friary in modern-day Switzerland where he quickly became known for his preaching and strong defense of the Catholic faith against the ongoing battles with Protestantism, especially Zwinglianism and Calvinism.
On April 24, Father Fidelis was preaching in a Swiss church when an angry mob arrived. A shot was fired but missed him, and he quickly departed from the Church. As he journeyed to the next village where he was staying, the mob, which included a Zwinglian minister -A Zwinglian minister is a religious leader within the Zwinglian movement, a branch of Reformed Protestantism that emerged during the Reformation in Switzerland. Zwinglianism, named after Huldrych Zwingli, emphasizes the supremacy of Scripture, the importance of the Word of God in preaching, and the separation of the Church from the state. Zwinglian ministers, also known as pastors or ministers, lead worship services, preach sermons, and minister to the community in accordance with Zwinglian theological beliefs - caught up with him and demanded that he renounce the Catholic faith and embrace the teachings of Zwingli. To them he responded, “I am sent to you to confute, not to embrace your heresy. The Catholic religion is the faith of all ages, I fear not death.” With that, Father Fidelis was struck to the ground with a sword to his head. He then knelt and prayed, “Pardon my enemies, O Lord: blinded by passion they know not what they do. Lord Jesus, have mercy on me. Mary, Mother of God, assist me.” After that, he received many more blows, was stabbed repeatedly, and one of his legs was dismembered from his body in retaliation against him for the many missionary journeys he had made throughout their land. Father Fidelis was only forty-five, ten of those years being a religious.
The martyrdom of Father Fidelis had a profound effect upon many. The Zwinglian minister who participated in his martyrdom later repented and returned to the Catholic faith. The local authorities soon crushed the rebellion, and peace was restored. Six months later, Father Fidelis’ body was discovered to be incorrupt, so it was transferred to the Cathedral of Coire and buried under the main altar. Over the next century, as many as 305 miracles were attributed to his intercession by those who prayed at his tomb.
Saint Fidelis wrote:
"Catholic faith, how stable, how firm you are, how well‐rooted, how well‐founded on a strong rock. Heaven and earth will pass away, but you can never perish. From the beginning the whole world has spoken against you, but you have triumphed mightily over all. For this is the Victory which overcomes the world, our faith; this is what has brought the most powerful kings under Christ’s rule, and made peoples the servants of Christ." ~From Saint Fidelis’ final sermon
