FEBRUARY 19TH 2003
ST. CONRAD OF PIACENZA
Confessor (1290-1351)
LIFE:
A member of one of the first families of Piacenza in northern Italy,
he married to Euphrosyne, daughter of a nobleman. He was passionately fond of
hunting, and one day while hunting , his quarry escaped into a thicket,he
ordered attendants it to be set on fire. A strong wind carried the flames to nearby
fields, forests, towns and villages.and caused a wide spread damage. For this a
poor woodcutter who happened to be in the neighbourhood, was blamed , tried
and condemned to death on circumstantial evidence.
Upon hearing of this turn of events , St.Conrad
acknowledged his own guilt and promised to make amends as far as lay
his power by selling all of his possessions.
Conrad and his wife saw the hand of God in the dramatic events and chose to give the
poor everything they owned. They then separated: she to a Poor Clare monastery, he to
a group of Franciscan teriary hermits. Conrad lived such a life of piety that his
reputation for holiness spread quickly; had the gift of healing. Visitors destroyed
his solitude, so he fled to a the valley of Noto in Sicily where he lived 36 years in
prayer as a hermit.
Legend says that when the Bishop of Syracuse visited him, the bishop asked if Conrad
had anything to offers guests. Conrad said he would check in his cell. He returned
carrying newly made cakes, which the bishop accepted as a miracle. Conrad returned the
bishop's visit, and made a general confession to him. As he arrived, he was surrounded
by fluttering birds, who escorted him back to Noto.
Each friday for about 30 yard years , he visited the cleberated
Crucifix at Noto, and here he was found dead on his knees on february
19th , 1351.
St.Conrad was vouchsafed the gift of miracles.
He was canonized in 1625.
PATRONAGE: invoked in cases of hernia..
REFLECTION: ** THY CROSS, O LORD, IS THE SOURCE OF ALL BLESSINGS, THE
CAUSE OF ALL GRACES , BY IT THE FAITHFUL FIND STRENGTH IN WEAKNESS ,
GLORY IN SHAME , LIFE IN DEATH..*** ( ST. LEO)
COMMENT: As i typed about Today`s saint, one little thought came to my
mind---how often we take the help of saints -(- who r very eager to help
us especially in thier particular patronage)--- while we try to help ( by
prayers or action) persons with particular disease or infirmity??!!!! an
elderly gentleman of my team patients complained of severe hernial pain ,but
he couldnt get the immediate attention as there were few very poorly
patients who got the priority & , he had to suffer few more hours with
help of simple analgesics & wait for the medics to review .His guesture of
pain on the face was unforgetful... i think i would have asked St .Conrad
to take care of him ..wouldnt i ?!!!
.
Oh! sweet Eucharist ! & beloved Mother keep me as thy own.....
S.THOMAS
NOTTINGHAM
ENGLAND
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