Blessed Conrad of Offida

After his profession, Conrad was applied to theological studies, and appeared there with distinction, then he was raised to the priesthood. But he loved the hidden life so much that he asked, as a signal favor, to be employed in the kitchen and in the work of begging. His requests could not be refused, and, for more than fifteen years, devoted to these obscure and arduous labors, he shared his moments between contemplation and work.

The excess of his humility sometimes prevented him from ascending to the holy altar to offer the divine sacrifice; he was reproved for this abstention by a holy soul whom he directe d, the Blessed Benvenuta of Anc bienheureuse Bienvenue d'Ancône Franciscan tertiary who advised Conrad on the celebration of the Mass. ona, a tertiary. "You are wrong to act this way," she exclaimed one day; "I saw on the altar the adorable majesty of the Son of God, who was inviting you and waiting for you; He expressed dissatisfaction with your timidity. Approach Him with more confidence." That day, in fact, Conrad had not dared to ascend to the altar, for fear of being distracted by a funeral service that was to take place.

The high reputation for holiness of the servant of God prompted his superiors to send him to the conve nt of Mount Mont-Alverne Famous site of the Franciscan Order where Conrad stayed. La Verna, a convent forever famous for the miracle of the Stigmata and for the stay there made successively by Saint Bonaventure, Saint Anthony of Padua, and the other principal Saints of the Seraphic Order. The superiors took great care to place in this blessed place only religious eminent in virtue. Conrad devoted his days and nights there to contemplation and the austere practices that accompany it. In return, he received a quantity of extraordinary favors there:

LIVES OF THE SAINTS. — VOLUME XIV. 25

frequent apparitions of the glorious Virgin Mary, of the holy Angels, of several Saints, and more particularly of Blessed Giles, companion of Saint Francis. Finally, one can say of our Saint what the Holy Scripture says of Moses, that "he spoke with God as a friend speaks to his friend," and that "all his conversation was in heaven."

All these wonders spread the fame of our Saint far and wide. The many pilgrims from La Verna all asked to receive the blessing of Brother Conrad and commended themselves to his prayers. Rather than remain exposed to the eager tributes of the multitude, the humble Conrad preferred to leave the sanctuary where he had been favored with so many graces. O humility of the Saints! He obtained permission from the Father General to move to the convent of Sirolo, and, on the very day of his arrival, he miraculously delivered a possessed woman from the demon. Conrad foresaw that the gathering of the people toward him would begin again; he therefore spent the night in prayer, and, at daybreak, he left secretly and w ent to join his Pierre de Treja Novitiate companion and close friend of Conrad. faithful friend Peter of Treia Forano Site of the mystical vision of the Virgin and Child. at the solitary convent of Forano, in the March of Ancona. One day, Brother Conrad went deep into the woods near the convent to devote himself to divine contemplation. Brother Peter followed him from a distance and wished to be a witness to what was about to happen to his friend. It was the day of the Purification of Mary, and Conrad was asking the divine Mother to obtain for him a little of that sweetness which the old man Simeon had experienced when she had placed the holy Child Jesus in his arms. Granting the prayer of her faithful servant, Mary suddenly appeared, surrounded by light and carrying the divine Child in her arms. She approached Brother Conrad and gave him the Savior. In possession of this ineffable treasure, the happy brother covered the Son of the Virgin with kisses, pressed Him to his heart, and, in that moment, he felt as if liquefied in divine love and plunged into an ocean of inexpressible sweetness. Brother Peter, who from afar was contemplating this ravishing spectacle, felt a great consolation himself. The friendship that already intimately united these two holy brothers grew to such an extent that they seemed to form but one heart and one soul. Thus, they agreed to confide to one another all the consolations with which God would deign to favor them.

Conrad was also employed in preaching, and, in this difficult ministry, he appeared all the more eloquent as his examples supported his doctrine. "It is an eternal truth that one must carry the cross; but," says a famous orator (Bourdaloue), "this truth, although eternal, does not have the same grace in everyone's mouth. It does not belong to all sorts of people to preach the cross." This grace, of which Bourdaloue speaks, our Saint possessed to an eminent degree. His listeners, upon hearing him speak of the narrow way, were easily persuaded, because they saw in him a man crucified to the world, a man dead to himself, a model finally of that life of renunciation and fervor whose necessity his preaching made felt. Moreover, he appeared surrounded by the halo of miracles, decorated with the gift of prophecy; thus he wrought wonderful fruits of salvation in souls.

A perfect observer of his Rule, Conrad applied himself so much to walking in the footsteps of Saint Francis that the surviving companions of this holy Patriarch took pleasure in pr saint François Founder of the Order of Friars Minor. oclaiming Conrad the living and faithful copy of their Father. A passionate lover of poverty and humility, he wore the same worn-out and patched habit for more than fifty years. He always walked barefoot, without sandals and with his eyes cast down.

While, despite his advanced age, Co nrad w Conrad Thirteenth-century Italian Franciscan friar, a model of poverty and contemplation. as preaching the mission in Bastia, on Lake Perugia, full of days and merits, he fell asleep in the Lord on December 12, 1306.

Pope Pius VII , by a brief pape Pie VII Pope who authorized the cult of Blessed Rainier. dated April 21, 1817, solemnly approved the cult rendered from time immemorial to Blessed Conrad, and permitted the entire Order of Saint Francis to celebrate his feast on December 19. This feast is celebrated on December 12 by the secular clergy of the cities of Perugia, Assisi, and Offida.

Excerpt from the Franciscan Annals.