Born in present day Austria where he attended seminary, von der Thannen was ordained a diocesan priest. Named pastor of a very extensive parish in the mountains where sick-calls had to be made on foot, sometimes requiring a journey of several hours. He also served as a chaplain in the War of 1859. Quick-tempered, he often clashed with the obstinate mountaineers. That may have induced him to offer his services to Bishop John Martin Henni of Milwaukee who accepted him and assigned him to the parishes at Brothertown and Charlesburg near Mt. Calvary where he frequently visited.
Finally, Fidelis asked to be admitted to the Capuchin Order. He spent the entire twenty three years of his religious life at Mt. Calvary, many of them as pastor of St. Joseph. He also taught religion at St. Lawrence College and worked in the bookbindery, the trade he had practised before joining the Order. In the course of those twenty three years, he bound 5,000 volumes for the monastery.
Fidelis was most appreciated as a confessor of the friars. Despite his natural defects of temper, Fidelis was a very good priest who was respected by all, mostly because of his sincerity. Fidelis died during a Provincial Chapter and is buried at Mount Calvary.
Finally, Fidelis asked to be admitted to the Capuchin Order. He spent the entire twenty three years of his religious life at Mt. Calvary, many of them as pastor of St. Joseph. He also taught religion at St. Lawrence College and worked in the bookbindery, the trade he had practised before joining the Order. In the course of those twenty three years, he bound 5,000 volumes for the monastery.
Fidelis was most appreciated as a confessor of the friars. Despite his natural defects of temper, Fidelis was a very good priest who was respected by all, mostly because of his sincerity. Fidelis died during a Provincial Chapter and is buried at Mount Calvary.
Born in present day Austria where he attended seminary, von der Thannen was ordained a diocesan priest. Named pastor of a very extensive parish in the mountains where sick-calls had to be made on foot, sometimes requiring a journey of several hours. He also served as a chaplain in the War of 1859. Quick-tempered, he often clashed with the obstinate mountaineers. That may have induced him to offer his services to Bishop John Martin Henni of Milwaukee who accepted him and assigned him to the parishes at Brothertown and Charlesburg near Mt. Calvary where he frequently visited.
Finally, Fidelis asked to be admitted to the Capuchin Order. He spent the entire twenty three years of his religious life at Mt. Calvary, many of them as pastor of St. Joseph. He also taught religion at St. Lawrence College and worked in the bookbindery, the trade he had practised before joining the Order. In the course of those twenty three years, he bound 5,000 volumes for the monastery.
Fidelis was most appreciated as a confessor of the friars. Despite his natural defects of temper, Fidelis was a very good priest who was respected by all, mostly because of his sincerity. Fidelis died during a Provincial Chapter and is buried at Mount Calvary.
Finally, Fidelis asked to be admitted to the Capuchin Order. He spent the entire twenty three years of his religious life at Mt. Calvary, many of them as pastor of St. Joseph. He also taught religion at St. Lawrence College and worked in the bookbindery, the trade he had practised before joining the Order. In the course of those twenty three years, he bound 5,000 volumes for the monastery.
Fidelis was most appreciated as a confessor of the friars. Despite his natural defects of temper, Fidelis was a very good priest who was respected by all, mostly because of his sincerity. Fidelis died during a Provincial Chapter and is buried at Mount Calvary.
Inscription
Fr. Van Der Thannen was a member of the Order of Franciscans Minor Capuchin. He was a Capuchin for 23 years, and a Priest for 53 years.
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