Conrad of Ascoli was an Italian Friar Minor and missionary; his feast day is April 19.

Biography

Conrad was born at Ascoli in the March of Ancona in 1234. He belonged to the noble family of Miliani and from his earliest years made

penance Penance is any act or a set of actions done out of contrition for sins committed, as well as an alternative name for the Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, and Oriental Orthodox sacrament of Reconciliation or Confession. The word ''penance'' derive ...

the predominating element of his life. He entered the

Order of Friars Minor The Order of Friars Minor (commonly called the Franciscans, the Franciscan Order, or the Seraphic Order; Post-nominal letters, postnominal abbreviation OFM) is a Mendicant orders, mendicant Catholic religious order, founded in 1209 by Francis ...

at Ascoli together with his townsman and lifelong friend, Girolamo d'Ascoli, afterwards

minister general Minister general is the term used for the head or superior general of the different branches of the Order of Friars Minor. It is a term exclusive to the order and comes directly from its founder, St. Francis of Assisi. Terminology Francis chose ...

, and later pope under the title of Nicholas IV."Bienheureux Conrad d'Ascoli", Nominis
/ref> Later together they went to the

cloister A cloister (from Latin , "enclosure") is a covered walk, open gallery, or open Arcade (architecture), arcade running along the walls of buildings and forming a quadrangle (architecture), quadrangle or garth. The attachment of a cloister to a cat ...

in Assisi to complete their training in the religious life and then to

Perugia Perugia ( , ; ; ) is the capital city of Umbria in central Italy, crossed by the River Tiber. The city is located about north of Rome and southeast of Florence. It covers a high hilltop and part of the valleys around the area. It has 162,467 ...

to continue their education. Conrad received a doctor's degree in theology and was sent to Rome to teach.Donovan, Stephen. "Bl. Conrad of Ascoli." The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 4. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1908. 1 Apr. 2013
/ref> Conrad had a great devotion to the Holy Trinity. In 1274 he obtained permission to go to Africa, where he preached throughout the different provinces of

Libya Libya, officially the State of Libya, is a country in the Maghreb region of North Africa. It borders the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Egypt to Egypt–Libya border, the east, Sudan to Libya–Sudan border, the southeast, Chad to Chad–L ...

. Noted for his austerities, he was recalled from Africa, probably for reasons of health, to accompany his friend Girolamo, now papal legate, on a mission to the King of France, then at war with Spain. Conrad subsequently became lector of theology at Paris. When not engaged in teaching, Conrad preached to the people or ministered to the sick in hospitals. In 1288 he was summoned to Rome by the new pope, Nicholas IV, who wished to make him cardinal, but Conrad died on the way after reaching his native city on 19 April 1289, being then fifty-five years of age.

Veneration

Nicholas IV was deeply grieved because of the loss of his saintly friend, and declared that Conrad's death was a great loss to the Catholic Church. The people of Ascoli built a tomb over the remains of Conrad. In 1371 his body was removed to the new church of the Franciscans. But it was found incorrupt and gave forth a sweet odour.

Pius VI Pope Pius VI (; born Count Angelo Onofrio Melchiorre Natale Giovanni Antonio called Giovanni Angelo or Giannangelo Braschi, 25 December 171729 August 1799) was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 15 February 1775 to hi ...

approved the cultus of Blessed Conrad. His liturgical feast is kept in the Order of Friars Minor on 19 April.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Conrad Of Ascoli Italian beatified people 1234 births 1289 deaths 13th-century venerated Christians Italian Friars Minor People from Ascoli Piceno 13th-century Italian Christian monks Italian Roman Catholic missionaries Roman Catholic missionaries in Libya Franciscan missionaries Beatifications by Pope Pius VI