Saint Conrad

Saint Conrad was born into a noble family in northern Italy. He married the daughter of a nobleman, Euphrosyne. One day, while hunting, Conrad ordered his attendants to make a fire. The wind carried the flames, which set fire to nearby fields, forests, towns, and villages. Upon seeing this, Conrad ran away in fear. An innocent man was convicted for spreading the fire and condemned to death. Upon hearing this, Conrad stepped forth to accept the blame, saving the innocent man's life. 

He paid for the damaged property, and he and his wife gave everything they owned to the poor in recompense. Conrad then left to join a group of Franciscan hermits, and his wife joined the Poor Clares. His reputation for holiness, piety, and the gift of healing spread quickly. Since his many visitors destroyed his solitude, Conrad went to a more remote spot in Sicily, where he lived 36 years as a hermit, praying for himself and for the rest of the world. 

Legends say that when the Bishop of Syracuse visited him, the Bishop asked Conrad if he had any food to offer guests. Conrad returned from his cell with newly made cakes, which the Bishop accepted as a miracle. Conrad visited the Bishop later to make a general confession to him. As he arrived, Conrad was surrounded by fluttering birds. Prayer and penance were his answer to the temptations that beset him. Conrad died kneeling before a crucifix. He was canonized in 1625.

Saint Conrad, pray for us to be patient with ourselves when we fail, rely on our Lord when we are weak, and surrender ourselves completely to His unfathomable mercy. Amen.

Prepared and updated by:

Jonathan Fabian Ginunggil,

Penampang, Sabah Malaysia.