Blessed Conrad of Offida
Profile
Conrad joined the Franciscans at age 14. He became a noted scholar, but gave up his studies to be a convent cook. However, his superiors knew of his speaking skills and ordered him out of the kitchen and into the pulpit, leading to an influential vocation as a preacher; he died while preaching.
Born
- c.1241 in Offida, diocese of Ascoli Piceno, Italy
- 12 December 1306 at Bastia, Umbria, Italy of natural causes
Readings
One day as Brother Conrad of Offida was praying before an altar, the soul of a young man whom he had been instrumental in converting appeared to him and saluted him as “Father”. Brother Conrad asked: “Who art thou?” And the other said: “I am the soul of that young brother who died this day.” And Brother Conrad said: “O my son, most beloved, how is it with thee?” And he answered: “By the grace of God and by thy instructions, so far well inasmuch as I have escaped damnation; but indeed for my sins which I had not time to purge sufficiently I suffer the exceedingly great pains of purgatory; but I pray thee, Father, that, as by thy pity thou didst succor me whilst I yet lived, so now it may please thee to help me in my pains saying for me some Pater nosters, because thy prayer is very acceptable in the sight of God.”
Then Brother Conrad, consenting with benignity to his request, and having said for him once the Pater noster with the Requiem aeternam, the soul cried: “O most beloved Father, how well and how refreshed I feel myself! Now, I pray thee, say it once again.” And Brother Conrad said it; and when he had done so the soul said to him: “Holy Father, when thou prayest for me I feel my pains lightened; therefore I pray thee that thou cease not to pray for me.” Then Brother Conrad, seeing that this soul was so much helped by his prayers, said for him a hundred Pater nosters; and when he had done so, the soul said to him: “I return thee thanks, most dear Father, in the name of God and of holy charity, because by thy prayers thou hast delivered me from all pains and I am going to the heavenly kingdom.” Then the soul departed. – Little Flowers
MLA Citation
- “Blessed Conrad of Offida“. CatholicSaints.Info. 7 October 2022. Web. 27 April 2024. <>