Subj : February 19: Saint Conrad of Piacenza
To   : All
From : rich
Date : Sun Feb 18 2018 09:09:38

From: rich <richarra@gmail.com>

February 19: Saint Conrad of Piacenza
Posted by Jacob

Today, February 19 marks the feast day of Saint Conrad of Piacenza
(1290-1350), a saint who is remembered for great piety, humility,
charity, and honesty. Born to one of the most noble and wealthy
families in the town of Piacenza in Northern Italy, Conrad grew up in
a lifestyle marked by privilege and leisure. Among his family and
peers, however, he was also noted for deep faith in the Lord, and led
a virtuous and God-fearing life. Having married quite young, both he
and his wife were recognized for their piety and charity.

As was common in noble families at that time, Saint Conrad spent much
of his time hunting. During one such outing, he ordered his attendants
to scatter some brush and light it on fire in attempts to smoke out
some game hiding there. Without warning, a great wind arose, and
mercilessly spread the fire beyond that planned, causing severe damage
to neighbors homes and land. Authorities mistakenly arrested a
mendicant friar living in the area, and the man was tried and
sentenced to death.

Both Conrad and his wife, seeing the injustice and unable to stand
their role in it, agreed to confess. As the friar was being led to
execution, Saint Conrad made a public confession of the crime. He sold
all his possessions, giving them away to those who had lost property.
Now destitute, he and his wife separated, Saint Conrad entering a
monastery of the Franciscan Order, and his wife entering the Order of
Poor Clares.

Saint Conrad spent the remainder of his life in Rome, and then in
Sicily, living a life of repentance, penance, and austerity. As news
of his piety and holiness spread, he received many visitors which
forced him to relocate numerous times, preferring the solitude of
penitence. He fled to the valley of Noto, Italy, where he lived as a
hermit for 36 years. During his hermitude, he lived a life of extreme
austerity, sleeping on the bare ground with a stone for pillow, and
with dry bread and raw herbs for food.

Numerous miracles have been attributed to him while he lived, and
subsequently at his tomb in Noto, Italy. Holy legend records, for
example, that when the Bishop of Syracuse visited him, the he asked
Saint Conrad if he had anything to offer guests. Conrad said he would
check in his cell and returned moments later carrying newly baked
cakes, which the bishop accepted as a miracle. Saint Conrad was also
reported to have traveled surrounded by a cloud of fluttering birds,
keeping him company.

Conrad died while praying before a crucifix in 1350, surrounded by a
bright light, in the presence of his confessor, who was unaware for
some time of his death because of his position. While he is recognized
and referred to as saint, Conrad has never been officially canonized.
Through Papal authority, he is recognized throughout the Franciscan
Order on February 19, but has also an established devotion throughout
the world.

Saint Conrad reminds us that holiness lies within each of us,
regardless of the acts or sins we have committed. In turning to the
Lord, and renouncing his ties to the world, Conrad entered a deeply
mystical and prophetic connection with God, atoning for his sins and
receiving the grace of forgiveness. Saint Conrad of Piacenza may be
looked to as a reminder of all we have done, and how the Lord graces
us with forgiveness and love, if only we ask for forgiveness.

Almighty God,
You attracted Saint Conrad through his zeal for justice to serve You
faithfully in the desert.
Through his prayers may we live justly and piously, and happily
succeed in coming to You.
Amen.


Saint Quote:
I know well that many of the rich show mercy to the poor, but they do
it by the hands of others. They give their gold, but not their
personal services, because the sight of misery inspires disgust and
makes them ill. I will not find fault with this weakness, nor will I
call it unmerciful. But I must be allowed to say that true love and
perfect faith raise the mind above such infirmities and make it strong
for holy services of love.
--St. Jerome

Bible Quote:
 In all truth [amen, amen] I tell you, whoever listens to my words,
and believes in the one who sent me, has eternal life; without being
brought to judgment such a person has passed from death to life.
[John 5:24]


<><><><>
Reflection:
 Do you listen to Jesus' words as if your life depended on it? Jesus
made a claim which only God can make--"if any one keeps my word, he
will never see death."
St. Augustine of Hippo, explains this verse from John 8:51:

"It means nothing less than he saw another death from which he came to
free us--the second death, eternal death, the death of hell, the death
of the damned, which is shared with the devil and his angels! This is
the real death; the other kind of death is only a passage" (Tractates
on the Gospel of John 43.10-11).
--- NewsGate v1.0 gamma 2
 * Origin: News Gate @ Net396 -Huntsville, AL - USA (1:396/4)

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