Today February 19

Today is the feast day of St. Conrad of Piacenza (died 1351), layman. He could be a patron of honesty -- or against capital punishment. Conrad was a layman (technically, he died one, too; but as I've mentioned before, being in a third order was a much bigger deal in those days). He was out with a hunting party and he ordered his servants (he was a nobleman) to flush out the prey with fire. This fire spread to the grainfields and then to the surrounding villages. Conrad panicked and took off with all his men. A beggar collecting firewood in the area was rounded up and charged with setting the fire. He was sentenced to death. Conrad, watching the innocent man being led to his execution, was seized with compunction and honestly declared that he alone was the culprit. The man was freed but Conrad and his beloved wife lost almost all their possessions, her dowry and their house (to make restitution). This enforced penance had the salutary effect of turning their minds to God; and, undistracted, they discerned the radical call to poverty -- his wife to the Poor Clares and Conrad to the Third Order Franciscans.

Nowadays the Third Orders live at home with secular employment and follow their own pursuits pretty much, but back then they lived separate from the world (with a full habit), in a hermitage (in this case). Conrad was sought out as a wise man (or perhaps as a curiosity) and so he took off from Italy (where Piacenza is) to the remote fastnesses of Sicily. Even there he could not escape visitors -- many came for his advice and prayers. When a famine was suddenly relieved after his fervent prayers, it seemed as if he were never alone! But he resigned himself to it as an act of charity. He still lived in utter poverty, but he was surrounded by grace. When the Bishop suddenly descended on him -- with all his retinue -- he was unprepared; but when the Bishop jokingly asked him what he had to offer the visitors, Conrad went in to his little hovel and returned with delicious loaves of freshly-baked bread! A decidedly homely miracle, one that warms the Anonymous Catholic Housewife's heart (and which probably any housewife can appreciate).

Conrad returned the favor and decided to drop in on the Bishop unexpectedly; when he did so, he was surrounded by a mass of fluttering birds. They stayed outside during the visit and then escorted our saint back to his home.

And when he died (of natural causes), he lay prostrate on the ground in front of a crucifix, not unlike his spiritual leader, Francis. St. Conrad, pray for us.