Marco Royera, the mayor’s son from Sigmaringen, got his doctorate in philosophy and in both civil and church law from Freiburg im Breisgau. He then became a tutor for young princes, traveling with them to France, Spain, and Italy.
After working as a legal consultant, he became a priest and, at thirty-four, joined the Capuchin friars in Freiburg.
Besides being in charge of several friaries, he was really passionate about preaching and being a chaplain for the Austrian emperor’s troops. Later, he became the head of the mission in Rhaetia, where he successfully converted many Protestants, even Count Rudolf de Salis!
But, he got a rule passed that banned Protestant preachers and their services, and this made people really angry.
While he was preaching at a church in Seewis, Switzerland, some Calvinist farmers killed him on this very day in 1622.
He was made a saint by Pope Benedict XIV in 1746.
