February 19 Saint Conrad of Piacenza Hermit († 1351)
catholictv on Feb 1, 2016. Saint Conrad was living peacefully as a nobleman of Piacenza. He had married when quite young and led a virtuous and God-fearing life. One day, when engaged in his usual pastime of hunting, he ordered his attendants to set fire to some brushwood where game had taken refuge. The prevailing wind caused the flames to spread rapidly, and the surrounding fields and forest were soon in a state of conflagration. A mendicant who happened to be found near the place where the fire had originated was accused of being the author; he was imprisoned, tried and condemned to death. As the poor man was being led to execution, Conrad, stricken with remorse, declared the man innocent and confessed his own guilt openly. In order to repair the damage of which he had been the cause, as he then volunteered to do, he was obliged to sell all his possessions. He repaid his neighbors for all the losses they had suffered, then retired …More
Saint Conrad of Piacenza - February 19
Also known as
Conrad of Noto
Conrad Confalonieri
Corrado…
Currau…
Kerrew…
Memorial
19 February
Profile
Born to the nobility. Married to Euphrosyne, the daughter of a nobleman; the two led a pious life in the world. One day while hunting, Conrad ordered attendants to set fire to some brush in order to flush out the game. A strong wind carried the flames to nearby fields, forests, towns and villages, and Conrad fled in panic. An innocent peasant was imprisoned, tortured into a confession and condemned to death for the fire. Remorseful, Conrad stepped forward to confess, saving the man. He then paid for the damaged property, selling nearly all he owned in order to raise the cash.
Conrad and his wife saw the hand of God in the dramatic events, and chose to give the poor everything they had left. They then separated, she to a Poor Clare monastery, he to a group of Franciscan tertiary hermits. Conrad lived such a life of piety that his reputation for holiness spread quickly. He had the gift of healing. Visitors destroyed his solitude, so he fled to a the valley of Noto, Italy 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.
Born
c.1290 at Piacenza, Italy
Died
19 February 1351 at Noto, Sicily of natural causes while kneeling before a crucifix
body found incorrupt in 1485
Canonized
relics formally enshrined in 1485, indicating a local cultus
in 1515 Pope Leo X approved the celebration of his feast by the town of Noto, Italy
in 1625 Pope Urban VIII approved celebration by all Franciscans
Patronage
against hernias
hunters
—
locations in Italy
Cacciatori
Calendasco
Noto, Sicily, city of
Noto, Sicily, diocese of
Piacenza
Representation
Franciscan hermit with a cross upon which birds perch
bearded, old man with a tau staff, bare feet, Franciscan cincture, and small birds fluttering around him
old man with stags and other animals around him
Saints of the Day:
Alvarez of Cordova
Auxibius
Baoithin
Barbatus of Benevento
Beatus
Belina
Boniface of Lausanne
Conrad of Piacenza
Gabinus
George of Lodeve
Julian the Martyr
Lucia Yi Zhenmei
Mansuetus of Milan
Marcellus of North Africa
Mesrop the Teacher
Odran
Publius of North Africa
Valerius of Antibes
—
Martyrs of Palestine
—
Asia the Physician
Conon of Alexandria
Dositeo
Frederic Hirsau
Joseph Zaplata
Proclus of Bisignano
Zambdas of Jerusalem
catholicsaints.info/19-february/
One more comment from Irapuato
Friday of the First week of Lent
Book of Ezekiel 18:21-28.
Thus says the Lord GOD: If the wicked man turns away from all the sins he committed, if he keeps all my statutes and does what is right and just, he shall surely live, he shall not die.
None of the crimes he committed shall be remembered against him; he shall live because of the virtue he has practiced.
Do I indeed derive any pleasure from the death of the wicked? says the Lord GOD. Do I not rather rejoice when he turns from his evil way that he may live?
And if the virtuous man turns from the path of virtue to do evil, the same kind of abominable things that the wicked man does, can he do this and still live? None of his virtuous deeds shall be remembered, because he has broken faith and committed sin; because of this, he shall die.
You say, "The LORD'S way is not fair!" Hear now, house of Israel: Is it my way that is unfair, or rather, are not your ways unfair?
When a virtuous man turns away from virtue to commit iniquity, and dies, it is because of the iniquity he committed that he must die.
But if a wicked man, turning from the wickedness he has committed, does what is right and just, he shall preserve his life;
since he has turned away from all the sins which he committed, he shall surely live, he shall not die.
Psalms 130(129):1-2.3-4b.4c-6.7-8.
Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD
LORD, hear my voice!
Let your ears be attentive
to my voice in supplication.
If you, O LORD, mark iniquities,
LORD, who can stand?
But with you is forgiveness,
that you may be revered.
I trust in the LORD;
my soul trusts in his word.
My soul waits for the Lord
more than sentinels for dawn.
Let Israel wait for the Lord
For with the LORD is kindness
and with him is plenteous redemption;
and he will redeem Israel
from all their iniquities.
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew 5:20-26.
Jesus said to his disciples: "I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter into the Kingdom of heaven.
You have heard that it was said to your ancestors, 'You shall not kill; and whoever kills will be liable to judgment.'
But I say to you, whoever is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment, and whoever says to his brother, 'Raqa,' will be answerable to the Sanhedrin, and whoever says, 'You fool,' will be liable to fiery Gehenna.
Therefore, if you bring your gift to the altar, and there recall that your brother has anything against you,
leave your gift there at the altar, go first and be reconciled with your brother, and then come and offer your gift.
Settle with your opponent quickly while on the way to court with him. Otherwise your opponent will hand you over to the judge, and the judge will hand you over to the guard, and you will be thrown into prison.
Amen, I say to you, you will not be released until you have paid the last penny."
Commentary of the day : Saint Augustine
"Go, be reconciled with your brother"
dailygospel.org/main.php