Conrad of Parzham
Encyclopedia
Saint
Conrad of Parzham, O.F.M. Cap.
, was born in 1818 and was baptized with the name of John. He was the son of Bartholomäus Birndorfer and Gertrude Niedermayer and was born on the family farm near the town of Parzham in Bavaria
, Germany.
From his earliest years, the young John gave indications of his future sanctity by his modesty and love of solitude. His devotion was noticeable especially when he prayed in church, the distant location of which was no hindrance to his visiting it frequently even in inclement weather. He had a great devotion to the Blessed Virgin, and each day fervently recited the Rosary
. On feast days he frequently made a journey to some remote shrine
of the Blessed Mother. During such pilgrimage
s, always made on foot, he was engaged in prayer, and when he returned in the evening, he was usually still fasting.
John spent his early years on the family farm. At the age of 31 he decided to leave the secular world. After disposing of his inheritance, he received permission to be admitted as a lay brother
among the Capuchin Franciscan Friars. Upon entering the novitiate
, he took the name of Conrad.
Immediately after his profession he was sent to the friary of St. Ann in the city of Altötting
. This place is known for its shrine to the Mother of Mercy. Conrad was given the position of porter at this shrine, and retained it until his death. Because it was a large and busy city, the duty of the friary porter was a very difficult one. Conrad was known to be diligent at his work, sparing in words, bountiful to the poor, eager and ready to receive and help strangers. Brother Conrad fulfilled the task of porter for more than forty years, assisting the inhabitants of the town in their needs of body and soul.
Conrad loved silence in a special way. His spare moments during the day were spent in a nook near the door where it was possible for him to see and adore the Blessed Sacrament
. During the night he would deprive himself of several hours of sleep, to devote the time to prayer either in the oratory of the friar
s or in the church. It was generally believed that he never took any rest, but continually occupied himself in work and exercises of devotion. On April 21, 1894, Conrad died in the shrine where he had worked for forty-one years.
His heroic virtue
s and the miracles he performed won for him the distinction to be ranked among the Blessed
by Pope Pius XI in 1930. Four years later, the same pope, approving additional miracles which had been performed, solemnly inscribed his name in the list of saints.
Saint
A saint is a holy person. In various religions, saints are people who are believed to have exceptional holiness.In Christian usage, "saint" refers to any believer who is "in Christ", and in whom Christ dwells, whether in heaven or in earth...
Conrad of Parzham, O.F.M. Cap.
Order of Friars Minor Capuchin
The Order of Friars Minor Capuchin is an Order of friars in the Catholic Church, among the chief offshoots of the Franciscans. The worldwide head of the Order, called the Minister General, is currently Father Mauro Jöhri.-Origins :...
, was born in 1818 and was baptized with the name of John. He was the son of Bartholomäus Birndorfer and Gertrude Niedermayer and was born on the family farm near the town of Parzham in Bavaria
Bavaria
Bavaria, formally the Free State of Bavaria is a state of Germany, located in the southeast of Germany. With an area of , it is the largest state by area, forming almost 20% of the total land area of Germany...
, Germany.
From his earliest years, the young John gave indications of his future sanctity by his modesty and love of solitude. His devotion was noticeable especially when he prayed in church, the distant location of which was no hindrance to his visiting it frequently even in inclement weather. He had a great devotion to the Blessed Virgin, and each day fervently recited the Rosary
Rosary
The rosary or "garland of roses" is a traditional Catholic devotion. The term denotes the prayer beads used to count the series of prayers that make up the rosary...
. On feast days he frequently made a journey to some remote shrine
Shrine
A shrine is a holy or sacred place, which is dedicated to a specific deity, ancestor, hero, martyr, saint, daemon or similar figure of awe and respect, at which they are venerated or worshipped. Shrines often contain idols, relics, or other such objects associated with the figure being venerated....
of the Blessed Mother. During such pilgrimage
Pilgrimage
A pilgrimage is a journey or search of great moral or spiritual significance. Typically, it is a journey to a shrine or other location of importance to a person's beliefs and faith...
s, always made on foot, he was engaged in prayer, and when he returned in the evening, he was usually still fasting.
John spent his early years on the family farm. At the age of 31 he decided to leave the secular world. After disposing of his inheritance, he received permission to be admitted as a lay brother
Lay brother
In the most common usage, lay brothers are those members of Catholic religious orders, particularly of monastic orders, occupied primarily with manual labour and with the secular affairs of a monastery or friary, in contrast to the choir monks of the same monastery who are devoted mainly to the...
among the Capuchin Franciscan Friars. Upon entering the novitiate
Novitiate
Novitiate, alt. noviciate, is the period of training and preparation that a novice monastic or member of a religious order undergoes prior to taking vows in order to discern whether they are called to the religious life....
, he took the name of Conrad.
Immediately after his profession he was sent to the friary of St. Ann in the city of Altötting
Altötting
Altötting is a town in Bavaria, capital of the district Altötting.This small town is famous for the Gnadenkapelle , one of the most-visited shrines in Germany. This is a tiny octagonal chapel which keeps a venerated statue of the Virgin Mary...
. This place is known for its shrine to the Mother of Mercy. Conrad was given the position of porter at this shrine, and retained it until his death. Because it was a large and busy city, the duty of the friary porter was a very difficult one. Conrad was known to be diligent at his work, sparing in words, bountiful to the poor, eager and ready to receive and help strangers. Brother Conrad fulfilled the task of porter for more than forty years, assisting the inhabitants of the town in their needs of body and soul.
Conrad loved silence in a special way. His spare moments during the day were spent in a nook near the door where it was possible for him to see and adore the Blessed Sacrament
Blessed Sacrament
The Blessed Sacrament, or the Body and Blood of Christ, is a devotional name used in the Roman Catholic Church, Eastern Catholic Churches, Old Catholic, Anglican, and Lutheran churches, to refer to the Host after it has been consecrated in the sacrament of the Eucharist...
. During the night he would deprive himself of several hours of sleep, to devote the time to prayer either in the oratory of the friar
Friar
A friar is a member of one of the mendicant orders.-Friars and monks:...
s or in the church. It was generally believed that he never took any rest, but continually occupied himself in work and exercises of devotion. On April 21, 1894, Conrad died in the shrine where he had worked for forty-one years.
His heroic virtue
Heroic virtue
Heroic virtue is a phrase coined by Augustine of Hippo to describe the virtue of early Christian martyrs and used by the Roman Catholic church. The Greek pagan term hero described a person with possibly superhuman abilities and great goodness, and "it connotes a degree of bravery, fame, and...
s and the miracles he performed won for him the distinction to be ranked among the Blessed
Beatification
Beatification is a recognition accorded by the Catholic Church of a dead person's entrance into Heaven and capacity to intercede on behalf of individuals who pray in his or her name . Beatification is the third of the four steps in the canonization process...
by Pope Pius XI in 1930. Four years later, the same pope, approving additional miracles which had been performed, solemnly inscribed his name in the list of saints.