dominican saints

Blessed Conradin of Brescia, C.O.P.

Feast Day November 1st

Born: 1397 in Brescia (Lombardy, Italy)

Died: November 1, 1429, Bologna, of the plague.

During the time of the Western Schism, Conradin was born to staunch Catholics of nobility and wealth. His parents provided their children with a thoroughly Catholic education and upbringing, which paid dividends in the lives of their offspring. Conradin studied civil and canon law at the University of Padua, where he became acquainted with the Dominicans. He was professed a Dominican in 1413, finished his studies, was ordained, and became a model friar just as he was formerly a model student of purity and charity.

After being chosen priority of his friary in Brescia at a young age, he was appointed priority of the larger house at Bologna, sent there to restore primitive observance of the Rule of Saint Dominic. It was a difficult task because plague and schism had infected the order, the country, and the Church. Few were entering religious life, so even the most idealistic felt it might be good to rewrite the rule to relax the discipline and shorten the training period to keep the novitiate alive. Conradin held the line and continued to enforce the primitive form of the rule.

Twice Conradin was imprisoned for defending the pope. Plague had stricken Bologna forcefully during Conradin’s abbacy. The situation was especially bleak for Bologna, which was under a published papal interdict because the populace had rebelled against papal authority. The ban was ignored by most. Conradin tried to sway the people to repentance before it was too late, hoping that the interdict might be lifted. The Bolognese refused to listen, even as they were dying of the plague. Tired of his hounding, Conradin was captured, badly beaten, and imprisoned. Later, the prior prevailed and the city submitted to the pope.

In recognition of his work as mediator, Pope Martin V intended to name Conradin a cardinal, but the prior refused. He was re-elected prior. In 1429, when a fresh outbreak of the plague called all the friars once more to the streets to assist the dying, Conradin also fell victim to the disease (Benedictines, Dorcy).

Prayers/Commemorations

First Vespers:

Ant. Strengthen by holy intercession, O Conradin, confessor of the Lord, those here present, have we who are burdened with the weight of our offenses may be relieved by the glory of thy blessedness, and may by thy guidance attain eternal rewards.

V. Pray for us, Blessed Conradin.
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Lauds:

Ant. Well done, good and faithful servant, because Thou hast been faithful in a few things, I will set thee over many, sayeth the Lord.

V. The just man shall blossom like the lily.
R. And shall flourish forever before the Lord.

Second Vespers:

Ant. I will liken him unto a wise man, who built his house upon a rock..

V. Pray for us. Blessed Conradin.
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Prayer:

Let us Pray: O God, who didst enable Blessed Conradin, Thy Confessor, to preach the gospel of peace by word and deed, make us, we beseech Thee through his intercession, to receive Thy law with a perfect heart and fulfill it by holy deeds. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Pascal Times

First Vespers:

Ant. Come, O daughters of Jerusalem, and behold a Martyr with a crown wherewith the Lord crowned him on the day of solemnity and rejoicing, alleluia, alleluia

V. Pray for us, Blessed Conradin alleluia
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ, alleluia.

Lauds:

Ant. Perpetual light will shine upon Thy Saints, O Lord, alleluia, and an eternity of ages, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

V. The just man shall blossom like the lily, alleluia.
R. And shall flourish forever before the Lord, alleluia.

Second Vespers:

Ant. In the city of the Lord the music of the Saints incessantly resounds: there the angels and archangels sing a canticle before the throne of God, alleluia.

V. Pray for us, Blessed Conradin, alleluia
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ. alleluia.

Prayer:

Prayer

God of all truth, you chose Blessed Conradin to preach the gospel of peace and to promote the regular life. By the help of his prayers may we devote ourselves to proclaiming the faith and bearing the yoke of Christ with fidelity. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Ghost, one God, for ever and ever. – General Calendar of the Order of Preachers