(Here’s an RoL article from Brian.)

In this segment of “Faith in Action,” I would like to introduce you to a great Jesuit saint, Joseph Pignatelli, who carried, like a great badge over his heart, the virtue of “fidelity.”
Joseph was born in 1737 in Saragossa, Spain. At the age of 16, he entered the Society of Jesus and was ordained a priest in 1762. Five years later, Joseph found himself on board a ship with other Jesuits leaving Spain and heading for the Island of Corsica. The enemies of the Jesuits convinced the Portuguese, Spanish and French governments to send the religious order into exile, and they did exactly that. After spending time in Corsica, Joseph along with his Jesuit companions were taken to and dropped off, in Ferrara, Italy. In 1773, Pope Clement XIV, under great pressure, suppressed and disbanded the Jesuit Order. From 1767 to his death in 1811, Joseph Pignatelli’s life was full of hardships, misunderstanding and sufferings.
Joseph underwent a slow, dry martyrdom for over forty years, experiencing exile and the suppression of his Order. While watching fellow Jesuits abandoning the Order, either leaving religious life altogether or becoming secular priests, the virtue of fidelity shined like the brightest of stars within his soul. He remained a faithful Jesuit, living his religious vows and the Jesuit ideal, from the time he left Spain to his arrival in Parma in 1797 where he became Jesuit Provincial. Joseph’s entire religious life was a sign of heroic fidelity.
In a country where we daily read and hear about contracts being nullified, vows being broken and promises being dismissed, it is rather safe to say that fidelity or faithfulness is lacking in our society. Unfortunately, this lack of fidelity does not only exist in the secular world, but can even be found amongst the lay faithful, which is why I believe the example of St. Joseph Pignatelli is so relevant.
Fidelity is extremely important to one’s spiritual life because it is a prerequisite for discipleship. By putting fidelity into practice, we become more faithful to Jesus Christ, more faithful to His Church and her teachings and we become more faithful to the sacramental life and a life of prayer. Fidelity guides and helps us be faithful to our baptismal vows and Catholic calling.
St. Joseph Pignatelli was a man of fidelity. Even in those dark days when the Jesuit Order was suppressed, he remained faithful to his religious vows and Jesuit ideals. Fidelity is important to the life of every Catholic if he or she wants to remain faithful to Christ and His Church.
St. Joseph Pignatelli, pray for us and help us practice fidelity so we can always remain faithful to Jesus Christ, Our Lord and Savior. Amen.
God bless.