SAINT OF THE DAY -- April 20 - Saint Conrad of Parzham
April 20
St. Conrad of Parzham
Patron Saint of Capuchin-Franciscan province of Mid-America(1818 - 1894)
"It was God's will that I should leave everything that was near and dear
to me.
I thank him for having called me to religious life where I have found
such peace and joy as I could never have found in the world.
My plan of life is chiefly this: to love and suffer, always meditating
upon, adoring and admiring God's unspeakable love for his lowliest
creatures."
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Conrad spent most of his life as porter in Altoetting, Bavaria, letting
people into the friary and indirectly encouraging them to let God into
their lives.
His
parents, Bartholomew and Gertrude Birndorfer, lived near Parzham,
Bavaria. In those days this region was recovering from the Napoleonic
wars. A lover of solitary prayer and a peacemaker as a young man,
Conrad joined the Capuchins as a brother. He made his profession in
1852 and was assigned to the friary in Altoetting. That city’s shrine
to Mary was very popular; at the nearby Capuchin friary there was a lot
of work for the porter, a job Conrad held for 41 years.
At first
some of the other friars were jealous that such a young friar held this
important job. Conrad’s patience and holy life overcame their doubts.
As porter he dealt with many people, obtaining many of the friary
supplies and generously providing for the poor who came to the door. He
treated them all with the courtesy Francis expected of his followers.
Conrad’s
helpfulness was sometimes unnerving. Once Father Vincent, seeking quiet
to prepare a sermon, went up the belltower of the church. Conrad
tracked him down when someone wanting to go to confession specifically
requested Father Vincent.
Conrad also developed a special rapport
with the children of the area. He enthusiastically promoted the
Seraphic Work of Charity, which aided neglected children.
Conrad
spent hours in prayer before the Blessed Sacrament. He regularly asked
the Blessed Mother to intercede for him and for the many people he
included in his prayers. The ever-patient Conrad was canonized in 1934.
Comment:
As
we can see from his life as well as his words, Conrad of Parzham lived
a life that attracted others because of a special quality, something
Chesterton alluded to when he wrote, "The moment we have a fixed heart
we have a free hand" (Orthodoxy, p. 71). If we want to
understand Conrad, we have to know where he fixed his heart. Because he
was united to God in prayer, everyone felt at ease in Conrad’s presence.
Quote:"It
was God’s will that I should leave everything that was near and dear to
me. I thank him for having called me to religious life where I have
found such peace and joy as I could never have found in the world. My
plan of life is chiefly this: to love and suffer, always meditating
upon, adoring and admiring God’s unspeakable love for his lowliest
creatures" (Letter of Saint Conrad).
I have come to spend a few moments with Thee, O Jesus, and in spirit I
prostrate myself in the dust before Thy Holy Tabernacle to adore Thee,
my Lord and God, in deepest humility.
Once more a day has come to its close, dear Jesus, another day which
brings me nearer to the grave and my beloved heavenly home.
Once more, O Jesus, my heart longs for Thee, the true Bread of Life,
which contains all sweetness and relish.
O my Jesus, mercifully grant me pardon for the faults and ingratitude
of this day, and come to me to refresh my poor heart which longs for
Thee.
As the heart pants for the waters, as the parched earth longs for the
dew of heaven, even so does my poor heart long for Thee, Thou Fount of
Life.
I love Thee, O Jesus, I hope in Thee, I love Thee, and out of love for
Thee I regret sincerely all my sins.
May Thy peace and Thy benediction be mine now and always and for all
eternity.
Amen.
-a spiritual communion by Saint Conrad
Resolutions of Saint Conrad at the time of his novitiate:- I resolve in the first place to remain continually in the presence
of God and to ask myself frequently if I would do this or that if my confessor were present.
or superior were watching me and especially if God and my guardian angel
- I resolve to ask myself, whenever I have to encounter crosses of suffering, "Conrad, why have you come here?"
- I resolve to avoid leaving the friary, as far as possible
unless it be out of love for my neighbor, obedience, reasons of health,
a pious pilgrimage or some other good cause.
- I resolve to foster fraternal charity in myself and in
others.
Therefore I resolve to take care never to say an unkind word.
I resolve to bear up patiently with the defects and weaknesses of
others, and as far as possible to hide them with the mantle of charity
unless I am in duty bound to manifest them to someone who is in a
position to correct them.
- I resolve to observe silence conscientiously.
I resolve to speak briefly and so avoid many pitfalls and be better able to converse with God.
- When at table I resolve to place myself in the presence of God
as far as I can, to remain recollected and to pass up my favorite
dishes so as to practice a hidden form of mortification.
I resolve not to eat between meals unless ordered to do so under
obedience.
- I resolve to answer the first call of the bell unless legitimately hindered.
- I resolve to avoid, as far as possible, conversing with the
opposite sex unless obedience imposes duties on me which make it
necessary to speak with women.
In that case I resolve to be very reserved and maintain custody of the
eyes.
- I resolve to carry out orders punctually and to the letter.
I resolve especially to make every effort to conquer my own will in all things.
- I resolve to force myself to pay close attention to minor details and as far as possible avoid every imperfection.
I resolve to observe the holy rule faithfully and not to depart from it a hairsbreadth, come what may.
- I resolve to cultivate a deep devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary and strive to imitate her virtues.
Source: American Catholic Organization
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SIGNS OF AN ABUSIVE RELATIONSHIP
Do you:
feel afraid of your partner much of the time?
avoid certain topics fear of angering your partner?
feel that you can’t do anything right for your partner?
believe that you deserve to be hurt or mistreated?
wonder if you’re the one who is crazy?
feel emotionally numb or helpless?
Does your partner:
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Does your partner:
have a bad and unpredictable temper?
hurt you, or threaten to hurt or kill you?
threaten to take your children away or harm them?
threaten to commit suicide if you leave?
force you to have sex?
destroy your belongings?
Does your partner:
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- constantly check up on you?