Plaque
dorée représentant Saint Conrad de Constance, Cathédrale de Constance
Saint Conrad de Constance
Évêque de
Constance (+ 975)
ou Kurt, évêque de
Constance en Suisse, dont la bonté et les libéralités envers les pauvres sont
légendaires. Il fit trois fois le pèlerinage en Terre Sainte. Il sut ne pas se
laisser prendre dans les affaires politiques de son temps. Il fut reconnu
officiellement comme un saint en 1123.
À Constance en Souabe,
l’an 975, saint Conrad, évêque, qui fut un excellent pasteur de son troupeau et
fit profiter largement de ses biens l’Église et les pauvres.
Martyrologe romain
SOURCE : http://nominis.cef.fr/contenus/saint/172/Saint-Conrad-de-Constance.html
Master of the Drapery Studies (fl.
circa 1470–1500), Saint Conrad de Constance et donateur Conrad de Duntzenhei,
circa 1480, oil and tempera on fir wood, 149 x 51,
Musée de l'Œuvre Notre-Dame / Frauenhausmuseum,
Strasbourg
Saint Conrad patron de la
ville de Constance
Issu de la famille
princière des duc d’Altdorf, Conrad naquit vers 900 et reçut une éducation
choisie à l’école cathédrale de Constance. En 934, il devint évêque de cette
ville, et conduisit l’histoire de ce diocèse pendant 40 ans environ. Ami proche
de saint Ulric, ancien évêque d’Augsbourg, saint Conrad se fit remarquer par la
construction d’églises et de monastères, ainsi que d’un hôpital. De ses voyages
en Terre sainte et à Rome, il rapporta de nombreuses reliques pour son évêché,
notamment un fragment de la sainte Croix. Saint Conrad est célébré par les
Orthodoxes et les Catholiques‑romains chaque année le 26 novembre, date de son
passage à la vie éternelle.
Conrad venait de la
famille des ducs d’Altdorf et naquit vers 900. Il était le fils du duc Henri
d’Altdorf, aujourd’hui Weingarten, dans le land allemand de Baden‑Württemberg.
Son nom signifie en vieil allemand un « conseiller avisé ». Ses parents, des
gens pieux et avec la crainte de Dieu, confièrent Conrad à l’évêque Nothing,
pour lui donner une haute éducation. Comme il détestait l’art de la guerre,
Conrad décida de consacrer toute sa vie à Dieu et opta pour la carrière
ecclésiastique. Sous la direction de l’évêque Nothing, Conrad étudia à l’école
cathédrale de Constance et non au monastère Saint‑Gall, comme l’affirme
l’historiographie la plus ancienne (HH, art. Konrad von Konstanz, în: LThK 6
(1997), p. 416).
Comme il avait acquis de
nombreuses connaissances et qu’il était paré de toutes les vertus, l’évêque
Nothing ne le laissa pas partir loin de lui après son ordination en tant que
prêtre, et le nomma ecclésiarque de l’église épiscopale de Constance. Mais
bientôt l’évêque Nothing passa à la vie éternelle, et fut enseveli par l’évêque
d’Augsbourg, Ulric. C’est ainsi que Conrad fut élu évêque de Constance en 934,
et ordonné par l’évêque Ulric, avec lequel il conserva une étroite amitié toute
sa vie.
Quoiqu’il fût toujours
proche du roi Othon I (+ 973), Conrad ne s’impliqua pas dans la vie politique
du royaume (Empire à partir de 964). Selon certains, dans la vie politique,
Conrad resta dans l’ombre de son ami Ulric. Pourtant, Conrad participa au
couronnement d’Othon I comme empereur à Rome, aux côtés de saint Ulric et
d’autres évêques et représentants de la cour impériale.
Un fondateur d’églises et
de monastères
S’il ne prit pas une part
active à la vie politique, Conrad se fit remarquer par une prodigieuse activité
dans le domaine architectural. De nombreuses églises érigées pendant cette
période furent construites à son initiative. De même, il construisit des
monastères, les édifiant pour la plupart sur ses fonds personnels. L’évêque
Conrad visita plusieurs fois Rome, la « Ville éternelle », et se préoccupa de
construire plusieurs églises à Constance suivant le modèle des églises
patriarcales de Rome. Il entreprit également plusieurs voyages en Terre sainte,
et rapporta même un fragment de la sainte Croix. Partout où il voyageait,
Conrad était préoccupé de recevoir des saintes reliques, pour transformer sa
ville en un important centre de pèlerinage. Parmi les églises construites par
Conrad on compte la Rotonde Saint‑Maurice, les églises Saint‑Jean‑Baptiste et
Saint‑Laurent, et celle qui est dédiée au saint apôtre Paul. Comme il voulait
que les pèlerins se sentent plus proches de la Terre sainte, Conrad construisit
l’église Saint‑Maurice sur le modèle de l’église du Saint‑Sépulcre à Jérusalem
(Thomas ZOTZ, art. Konrad I, în: BBKL 4 (1992), p. 280). Selon certains
chercheurs, l’église Saint‑Maurice avait pour Conrad également un symbolisme
politique, puisque saint Maurice, avec saint Laurent, avait été choisi comme
patron de l’Empire romain‑germanique à l’époque othonienne.
Conrad érigea également
un hôpital à Stadelhofen, et y apporta une parcelle de la sainte Croix. En
raison de l’accueil du bois de la Croix, la ville reçut le nom de Crucelin
(Crucis Lugdunum), puis ensuite de Crucelingen ou Creuzlingen, et est
aujourd’hui la plus grande ville suisse du lac de Constance, sous le nom de
Kreuzlingen.
Relations avec les
monastères de Saint‑Gall et d’Einsiedeln
L’évêque Conrad eut des
relations très étroites avec le monastère de Saint‑Gall, comme il ressort de
l’ouvrage du moine Ekkenhard intitulé: Casus sancti Galli. Il semble que, à la
demande de l’empereur Othon I, l’Evêque fit une visite canonique au monastère,
en raison d’une plainte exprimée contre l’abbé du monastère. Suite à la visite,
Conrad donna une recommandation positive du monastère, et devint plus tard son
soutien et son bienfaiteur (Johannes DUFT, Bischof Konrad und St. Gallen, in:
Johannes DUFT, Die Abtei St. Gallen. Beiträge zur Kenntnis ihrer
Persönlichkeiten, Sigmaringen 1991, p. 201‑202).
En 948 l’abbé Eberhard du
monastère d’Einsielden (aujourd’hui le plus grand monastère bénédictin du
territoire de la Suisse) invita l’évêque Conrad (le territoire appartenait
canoniquement à l’évéché de Constance) à consacrer l’église du monastère.
Conrad célébra la consécration avec son ami l’évêque Ulric d’Augsbourg. Un
miracle se produisit alors, que l’évêque Conrad raconta au pape Léon VIII, à
l’occasion du couronnement impérial d’Othon à Rome en 964. Suivant cette
tradition, l’église aurait été consacrée par un ange, motif pour lequel chaque
année les moines du monastère fêtent cet évènement le 14 septembre.
L’évêque Conrad est resté
dans l’histoire de l’évêché de Constance comme un bon organisateur et un
administrateur talentueux, ainsi qu’un évêque pieux et miséricorieux. Certains
disent qu’il avait également le charisme de la prophétie. Une légende raconte
qu’un jour de Pâque pendant la sainte liturgie une araignée tomba dans le saint
Calice. L’Evêque consomma les saints Dons, et au moment de l’agape l’araignée
sortit intacte de sa bouche. C’est pourquoi, dans l’iconographie, il est
quelquefois représenté tenant d’une main un calice et de l’autre une araignée.
Le patron de l’ancien
évêché de Constance
Après 40 ans d’activité à
la tête du diocèse de Constance, le plus grand au nord des Alpes à l’époque
médiévale, Conrad passa à la vie éternelle le 26 novembre 975 à Constance et
fut inhumé dans la chapelle Saint‑Maurice. En 1089 ses reliques furent
transférées dans la cathédrale nouvellement construite. Quelques années plus
tard l’évêque Ulric I, constatant la vénération dont était l’objet son
prédécesseur, demanda au moine Udalschalk d’écrire sa vie. Vers 1120, le moine
Udalschalk écrivit ainsi une biographie consacrée à saint Conrad, sous le
titre: Vita Chuonradi Constantiensis episcopi. Probablement, l’évêque Ulric I
demanda la rédaction de cette vie, pour la présenter à Rome en vue de la
reconnaissance de la vie sainte de l’Evêque. C’est ainsi que l’évêque Conrad
fut canonisé officiellement par le premier concile du Latran, qui se tint en 1123.
Etant donné qu’il a vécu
avant le grand Schisme, le saint évêque Conrad est commémoré chaque année par
les Orthodoxes également à la date de sa mort, le 26 novembre. Dès le 12ème siècle
saint Conrad fut consacré comme patron de l’évêché de Constance, aux côtés de
la sainte Vierge et de saint Pélage, jusqu’à la suppression du diocèse en 1821.
La même année fut fondé l’archevêché catholique de Fribourg, et saint Conrad
fut considéré comme l’un de ses patrons. Jusqu’à nos jours, les chrétiens de la
région du lac de Constance (Bodensee) vénèrent saint Conrad, et aux
manifestations organisées chaque année en novembre en son honneur participe un
évêque catholique romain.
P. Alexandru Nan
SOURCE : https://www.apostolia.eu/fr/articol_1239/saint-conrad-patron-de-la-ville-de-constance.html
Master of Messkirch (fl. 1520–1540),
Sankt Gallener Abendmahlsretabel, circa 1535. Teil der ehemaligen
Retabelausstatung der St. Martinskirche, Meßkirch, geöffneter Zustand. Mittelteil:
Fußwaschung Petri durch Christus und letztes Abendmahl. Flügelinnenseite links:
Heiliger Antonius Abbas als Abt (Vater der Mönche). Flügelinnenseite rechts:
Heiliger Konrad als Bischof von Konstanz. Eingescannt aus: Anna Moraht-Fromm
und Hans Westhoff: Der Meister von Meßkirch – Forschungen zur südwestdeutschen
Malerei des 16. Jahrhunderts, Ulm, 1997, S. 134.
Retable
de la Cène de Saint-Gall, circa 1535. Élément de l'ancien ensemble de retables
de l'église Saint-Martin de Meßkirch ; présenté en position ouverte. Panneau
central : Le Christ lavant les pieds de saint Pierre et la Cène. Volet
intérieur gauche : Saint Antoine le Grand (père des moines). Volet intérieur
droit : Saint Conrad, évêque de Constance. Numérisé d'après : Anna Moraht-Fromm
et Hans Westhoff, *Der Meister von Meßkirch – Forschungen zur südwestdeutschen
Malerei des 16. Jahrhunderts*, Ulm, 1997, p. 134.
SAINT CONRAD
Saint Conrad naquit en
Allemagne de parents nobles, et y fut élevé. Comme c'était un personnage, de
vie et de moeurs irréprochables, Nothing, évêque de Constance, l’appela pour le
faire auditeur des causes du ressort de tout son évêché. Plus tard il fut élu
prévôt de la cathédrale. Nothing étant mort, on manda saint Udalric, évêque
d'Augsbourg, qui célébra les funérailles du prélat et qui ordonna au clergé et
au peuple un jeûne de trois jours pour obtenir de la bonté de Dieu un chef qui
lui fût agréable. Au jour fixé pour l’élection ou plutôt pour s'entendre unanimement,
saint Udalric fit le portrait d'un évêque tel que l’apôtre le trace à Timothée
et à Tite. « Il faut que l’évêque soit irréprochable... » Après la lecture de
ces divers passages, l’accord fut unanime pour choisir Conrad qui fut pris,
traîné de force et institué évêque, malgré ses résistances. Après son
élévation, saint Conrad enrichit de précieuses reliques et de riches ornements
la principale église dédiée à la sainte Vierge. Il fit bâtir trois églises,
l’une dans l’intérieur de la ville et les deux autres au dehors. La première
dédiée à saint Maurice était la reproduction exacte de l’église du
Saint-Sépulcre à Jérusalem. Il y fonda douze prébendes à perpétuité pour les
clercs qui devaient la desservir; ce qui ne l’empêcha point d'augmenter le nombre
des chanoines de sa cathédrale avec ses revenus propres. Ce saint homme, plein
du désir de châtier réellement son corps avec l’apôtre, passa trois fois la mer
pour aller en la sainte cité de Jérusalem où il visita, avec une extrême
ferveur, les lieux témoins de la passion, de la sépulture, de la résurrection
et de l’ascension de J.-C. Etant un jour avec saint Udalric au château de
Laufen, il vit des oiseaux entrer et sortir d'un' gouffre dont les eaux agitées
étaient écumantes : le saint comprit intérieurement que sous la forme de ces
oiseaux étaient deux âmes qui subissaient là leur purgatoire en punition d'une
multitude de crimes qu'elles avaient commis. Touchés tous les deux de
compassion, Udalric s'empressa de dire une messe pour les morts, et le même
jour Conrad en célébra de suite une seconde à la même intention : après quoi
ils ne virent plus cette espèce d'oiseaux Un excellent jeune homme appelé
Gebhard s'était assis, sans penser à rien, sur le trône épiscopal. Conrad lui
adressa cette prophétie : «C'est trop tôt t'asseoir sur mon siège, Gebhard; mon
successeur sera celui qui occupera ma place avant toi, savoir
: Gamelon. Le saint jour de Pâques, pendant la messe solennelle, une
araignée tomba après la consécration dans le calice, et saint Conrad l’avala.
Les saints mystères, étant achevés, on se mit, comme de juste, à table, mais le
saint ne mangea pas, comme si c'eût été le carême ; tout exténué qu'il fût. On
lui demanda pourquoi il ne mangeait point : « C'est, dit-il, que (508)
j'attends l’arrivée prochaine d'un hôte », puis baissant, la tête, sur la
table, il rendit l’araignée par la bouche.. On peut penser quelle joie ce fut
pour tous ceux qui se trouvaient là, a cette occasion, ou plutôt, à ce miracle.
Saint Conrad, consommé dans l’exercice de toutes les vertus, mourut le 6 des
calendes de décembre, l’an du Seigneur 976, après un épiscopat de 442 ans, dans
une vieillesse avancée.
La Légende dorée de
Jacques de Voragine nouvellement traduite en français avec introduction,
notices, notes et recherches sur les sources par l'abbé J.-B. M. Roze, chanoine
honoraire de la Cathédrale d'Amiens, Édouard Rouveyre, éditeur, 76, rue
de Seine, 76, Paris mdcccci
SOURCE : https://www.bibliotheque-monastique.ch/bibliotheque/bibliotheque/voragine/tome03/186.htm
Schlosskirche (heute ev. Pfarrkirche), Neues Schloss Meersburg. Gottfried Bernhard Göz: Deckengemälde von 1741; vorderes Viertel (über dem Altar): Einsiedelner Engelweihe (Christus nimmt nach der Legende 948 selbst die Konsekration der Kirche Einsiedeln vor; rechts unten der zu dieser Amtshandlung angereiste Konstanzer Bischof St. Konrad)
Schlosskirche
(heute ev. Pfarrkirche), Neues Schloss Meersburg. Gottfried Bernhard Göz:
Deckengemälde, 1741; vorderes Viertel (über dem Altar): Ensiedelner
Engelweihe, Detail "Der hl. Konrad" mit den Gesichtszügen des
Kardinals und Fürstbischofs Damian Hugo von
Schönborn; darunter die Signatur von Gottfried Bernhard Göz
Also
known as
Konrad of Konstanz
Corrado di Costanza
Profile
Second son of Count Heinrich
von Altdorf, part of the Guelf family. Educated at
the cathedral school at Constance, Germany (in
modern Switzerland). Priest.
Provost of the cathedral. Bishop of Constance from 934 to 975.
Made three pilgrimages to
the Holy Lands. Accompanied Emperor Otto
I to Rome, Italy.
Renovated churches in his diocese,
and built three new ones on lands he inherited. Known for his charity to
the poor,
and his lack of concern over the power politics that occupied so many
other bishops of
the day.
During Mass one
day a spider dropped into the chalice of
Precious Blood; though Conrad believed all spiders were poisonous, his love
of communion overcame
his fear, and he drank the Blood, spider and all. He did, of course, survive.
On 14
September 948 Conrad
was witness to the miraculous consecration
of the Chapel of Mary, Einsiedeln, Switzerland by
Christ and some angels.
975 of
natural causes
1123 by Pope Callistus
II
Constance, Germany, diocese of
Freiburg
im Breisgau, Germany, archdiocese of
bishop holding
a chalice with
a spider above or in it
performing an exorcism
Additional
Information
Book
of Saints, by the Monks of
Ramsgate
Lives
of the Saints, by Father Alban
Butler
Lives
of the Saints, by Father Francis
Xavier Weninger
Saints
of the Day, by Katherine Rabenstein
books
Our Sunday Visitor’s Encyclopedia of Saints
Saints
and Their Attributes, by Helen Roeder
other
sites in english
Courtly
Lives of German Saints, by Margaret Odrowaz-Sypniewski
images
sitios
en español
Martirologio Romano, 2001 edición
fonti
in italiano
websites
in nederlandse
nettsteder
i norsk
MLA
Citation
“Saint Conrad of
Constance“. CatholicSaints.Info. 25 December 2023. Web. 16 August 2026.
<https://catholicsaints.info/saint-conrad-of-constance/>
SOURCE : https://catholicsaints.info/saint-conrad-of-constance/
Wallfahrtskirche
Maria zum Berge Karmel, Baitenhausen, Stadt Meersburg, Bodenseekreis
Josefsaltar von Johann Michael Hegenauer, 1764/1765 Statue "Hl. Konrad von
Konstanz" und Putto
Wallfahrtskirche
Maria zum Berge Karmel, Baitenhausen, Stadt Meersburg, Bodenseekreis
Josefsaltar von Johann Michael Hegenauer, 1764/1765 Statue "Hl. Konrad von
Konstanz" und Putto
(Saint) Bishop (November
26) (10th century) Bishop of Constance in Switzerland, to which dignity he was
raised A.D. 934 on account of the great repute for ability and holiness of life
in which he was held. His zeal and charity as Bishop made him grow yet more in
popular esteem. His piety led him to make thrice the pilgrimage to the Holy
Land. He died A.D. 976 and was buried in the Church of Saint Maurice, one of
those built by himself. Many miracles followed, and he was canonised by Pope
Calistus II (A.D. 1120).
MLA
Citation
Monks of Ramsgate.
“Conrad”. Book of Saints, 1921. CatholicSaints.Info. 12 October 2012.
Web. 16 August 2026. <http://catholicsaints.info/book-of-saints-conrad/>
SOURCE : https://catholicsaints.info/book-of-saints-conrad/
August
Krumm (1887–1942), Deutschland (D) - Baden-Württemberg (BW) -
Landkreis Konstanz (KN) - Konstanz: Notgeld-Schein der Stadt Konstanz, 100
Milliarden Mark (1923), Rückseite
St. Conrad
Feastday: November 26
Death: 975
St. Conrad died 975. Of
the famous Guelph family and
son of Count Henry of Altdorf, he was educated at the cathedral school
of Constance and
was ordained. He was made provost of
the cathedral and
in 934 was elected bishop of
Constance. He gave his share of his inheritance to the Church and to the poor
and built and renovated many churches in his see. He accompained Emperor Otto I
to Italy in
962 though he concentrated on ecclesiastical matters and avoided secular
affairs diring the forty two years he was bishop. He was canonized in
1123. Feast day Nov.
26
SOURCE : https://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=175
Konradikapelle des Konstanzer
Münsters, gestaltet 1875/76 durch Künstler der Beuroner Schule. Seit der
„Bockstorfer-Altar“ in die Blasiuskapelle verbracht wurde, kommen die
Wandmalereien und die Sitzstatue des Heiligen Konrad wieder zur Geltung.
Conrad of Constance B
(RM)
Died 975; canonized in
1123 (1823 per Attwater 2). Of the famous Guelph family and son of Count Henry
of Altdorf, he was educated at the cathedral school of Constance, Switzerland,
and was ordained. He was made provost of the cathedral and in 934 was elected
bishop of Constance. He gave his share of his inheritance to the Church and to
the poor and built and renovated many churches in his see.
Three times he made the
pilgrimage to the Holy Land, and in an age when most prelates were continually
involved in secular politics, he succeeded in attending exclusively to
ecclesiastical interests during the 42 years of his episcopacy. Nevertheless,
he accompanied Emperor Otto I to Italy in 962 (Attwater 2, Benedictines,
Coulson, Delaney).
Saint Conrad is pictured
as a bishop holding a chalice with a spider above or in it (Roeder). This
depiction relates to the story that a spider once dropped into the chalice as
he celebrated Mass. Although it was believed then that all spiders were deadly
poisonous, Conrad nevertheless swallowed the Blood of Christ, out of respect
(Coulson). Sometimes images of Saint Conrad contain (1) a serpent and chalice
(not to be confused with Saint John); (2) asperges; or exorcising
(Roeder).
SOURCE : https://catholicsaints.info/saints-of-the-day-conrad-of-constance/
Bischof
Konrad von Konstanz. Deutscher Maler um 1680. Öl auf Leinwand 86 x 59,6
November 26
St. Conrad, Bishop of
Constance, Confessor
THIS eminent servant of
God was, by his humility and sanctity, the bright ornament of the most
illustrious house of the Guelphs, in Germany, which so many princes have
honoured with their martial achievements and sovereign dignities. Their
pedigree is derived by some from Clodion, king of the Franks, and Wittekind the
Great, (who was created by Charlemagne first duke of Saxony,) and consequently
from Woden, the chief god, and the stock of the principal royal families of the
Saxons which founded the Heptarchy in England. The name of Guelph or Guelf was
taken by this family in the reign of Charlemagne, 1 at
which time they were counts of Altorff, now called Weingarten in Suabia, not
Altorff, the university near Nuremberg in Franconia; nor the capital of Uri in
Switzerland. Conrad, abbot of Ursperg, who gives the noble pedigree of this
family, exceedingly extols the devotion of its princes and princesses, their
piety towards God, and their most religious attachment to the apostolic see. 2 Guelph
I. whose name was retained by his descendants, was son of Isenbart, count of
Altorff, and his wife Irmentrudis, sister-in-law to Charlemagne, and foundress
of the great Benedictin abbey of Altorff. 3 Judith,
daughter of Guelph I. was married to the emperor Lewis Debonnair, and is famous
in the history of his troubles. Two of her brothers became dukes of Bavaria.
Conrad Rudolf, brother of Judith, was the second count of Altorff of this name,
and his son Henry the third count, and founder of the monastery of
Altonmunster. He left two sons, St. Conrad, and Rudolf, fourth count of
Altorff, whom Rimius calls Henry II. against the authority of the abbot Ursperg
and Manlius, the former of whom was intimately acquainted with this illustrious
family in the twelfth age, and copied his account of it from original records.
Conrad was a saint from
the cradle, and was sent young to the famous schools which then flourished at
Constance under the direction of the bishop of that city. For the city of
Vendonissa or Vindisch, near Baden, being destroyed by Childebert II. king of
France, in 594, the episcopal see which had been founded there by St. Bert,
about the year 490, was removed to Constance, a city so called from the emperor
Constans. As the love of God had moved Conrad to despise the vanities of the
world, so it inspired him with an uncommon fervour in his service, lest he
should lose the crown by sloth, to purchase which he had forsaken all things.
His seriousness showed how deeply the great concerns of eternity were impressed
upon his mind, and restrained all sloth, levity, or dissolute mirth; yet was it
far from carrying with it any thing of sourness and melancholy, which no less
than all capriciousness, changeableness of temper, and uneasiness of mind, are
certain signs of pride and unmortified passions. The temper of our saint’s mind
was always even, serene, and cheerful, which discovered at the bottom a lasting
joy, which is always the fruit of inward peace, and produces an unalterable
sweetness in conversation even under the greatest disappointments. An
unaffected simplicity, which is also an attendant of sincere virtue, shone with
lustre in all his actions, and, joined with his perfect humility and religious
piety, gave him in his whole deportment an air of dignity which belongs to
virtue only, and is far superior to that which worldly greatness bestows. Hence
every one approached him with awe and veneration mixed with confidence and
affection, which the charms of his tender and obliging charity and humility
inspired. Soon after he was ordained priest, the provostship of the cathedral,
the next dignity to that of the bishop, was conferred upon him; and that
prelate, whose name was Noting, dying in 934, our saint was unanimously chosen
to fill the episcopal chair, though it was a considerable time before his
consent could by any means be extorted. St. Ulric, bishop of Ausburg, who had
strenuously promoted his election, frequently visited him for the sake of
holding pious conferences together, and so close were the bands of holy
friendship in which these two great prelates were linked together, that they
almost seemed to have but one soul which animated two bodies. St. Conrad having
dedicated himself with all that he possessed to God, made an exchange of his
estates with his brother for other lands situate near Constance, and settled
them all upon that church and the poor, having first built and endowed three
stately churches at Constance, in honour of St. Maurice, St. John Evangelist,
and St. Paul.
The holy wars having made
pilgrimages to Jerusalem very frequent in that age, our saint thrice visited
those holy places, making his journeys truly pilgrimages of austere penance and
devotion. Worldly conversation the saint always shunned as much as possible,
not only as a loss of time (which is of all things the most precious to the
servant of God) but also as the bane of the spirit of recollection and
compunction, which in one who has dedicated himself to the divine service, and
to the daily ministry of the altar, ought always to be most perfect. How
religiously exact the holy bishop was in whatever belonged to his sacred
functions, particularly to the adorable sacrifice of the mass, appears from the
following instance: It happened that a great spider dropped into the chalice
whilst the prelate was saying mass on Easter-day; the insect might have been
taken out, and then decently burnt, some spiders being poisonous and dangerous;
but out of devotion and respect for the holy mysteries, the bishop swallowed
the spider; which he vomited up some hours after without receiving any harm. 4 In
comforting and relieving the poor, in instructing and exhorting his flock, and
in all other functions of his charge our saint was indefatigable; and he
laboured in the vineyard of the Lord with equal fervour and watchfulness from
the very beginning of the morning to the last hour of the day. He went to
receive his salary in eternal joys in the year 976, having been bishop
forty-two years. He was buried in the church of St. Maurice, and two blind men
recovered their sight, and other sick their health, at his tomb. Other miracles
are recorded in the Chronicle of Constance, subjoined to his life, and he was canonized
by Calixtus II. about the year 1120. The Roman Martyrology commemorates him on
the 26th of November. See his life published by Leibnitz, Scriptor.
Brunswicens, t. 3, p. 1. Also in the History of the Illustrious Family of the
Guelphs, ib. t. 2, p. 783. Likewise in F. Raderus’s Brevaria Sancta, t. 1,
p. 101.
Note 1. Some say
this name was the Roman Catulus or Catiline turned into German. Others tell us,
that Charlemagne complimenting the Count of Altorff at court upon the birth of
his son, called him his young Guelph, whence the count gave his son that name.
(See these and other etymologies in Leibnitz’s collection.) From the silence of
the ancient historians of this family the fabulous story of the birth of three
hundred and sixty-five children, which was not so much as heard of by any of
them, is abundantly confuted. This family was ingrafted upon that of Este by
Azo of Este marrying the heiress of the Guelphs. The Actii, a Roman family in
the time of the republic, retired to Este or Ateste (now in the Venetian
Lombardy) and thence took the name of Este, or Atestina Domus. Henry of Este
was created by Charlemagne prince of Treviso and margrave of Este. The princes
of his posterity were often vicars of the empire in Italy, and much increased
their territories. Boniface, a prince of this family, became margrave of
Tuscany, and possessed Ferrara, Placentia, Mantua, Modena, Reggio, Parma,
Lucca, Ancona, and Spoletto. His daughter and heiress Mathildes married
Godfrey, duke of Lorrain, and after his death Guelph VI. duke of Bavaria. She
bequeathed great part of her estates to the see of Rome. (See Vita Mathildis
Comitissæ, a Denizone scripta, ap. Murat. Scrip. Ital. t. 5, p. 244; Ejusdem
Chartula Donationis bonorum suorum facta Ecclesiæ Romanæ, p. 384.) From Azo IV.
of Este, in 1060, the present house of Modena is descended. Ottoberto, of this
family of Este, passed into Germany, with the Emperor Otho I. in 963. Azo, his
descendant, in the next century, by a marriage with an only daughter of Guelph
II. and sister to Guelph III. upon the death of this latter, inherited the
dominions of that family in Suabia, and left them to his son Guelph IV. count
of Altorff, who was afterwards made duke of Bavaria by the Emperor Henry IV.
All his posterity took the name of Guelph: amongst them Henry the Lion was duke
of Bavaria and Upper and Lower Saxony, and united in his own dominions the
hereditary estates of five families. After many prosperous wars he was
proscribed by the Emperor Henry I. in the diet of Wurtzburgh, in 1180, but
afterwards recovered, by the intercession of the king of England and other
friends, the duchies of Brunswick and Lunenburg, with other territories in
Lower Saxony, lying between the Elbe and the Weser, which have been ever since
possessed by his illustrious posterity. Bavaria passed from Henry the Lion into
the family of Otho, count Wittelsbach, from which are descended the present
electoral families of Bavaria and the Palatinate. See the collection of the
Brunswick historians, made by the celebrated Leibnitz, who searched, for that
purpose, the monasteries and libraries of Germany. See also Origines Guelphicæ,
in two additional volumes, folio, by Schaldius, present historiographer to the
house of Brunswick Lunenburg, at Hanover, in 1750. [back]
Note 2. Abbas
Ursperg, in Chron. ad an. 1126. [back]
Note 3. Guelph III.
count of Altorff; being created duke of Carinthia, removed the monastery of
Altorff into his own neighbouring palace upon the hill called Weingarten, or of
the vineyards, in 1094; whence this whole place took that name. Guelph IV. duke
of Bavaria, and his wife, Judith, natural daughter to the King of England, much
enriched this abbey. Their son, Guelph IV. who died without issue, was buried
there in St. Oswald’s chapel, with his father, mother, and grandfather. His
brother and successor, Henry, duke of Bavaria, after the death of his wife, in
1124, resigned his dominions to his son, Guelph VI. and made his monastic
profession in this house. See Bruschius, Hist. Cœnobii Vinearum. Item, Manlii
description, ejusdem. [back]
Note 4. Alpinus, in
his History of Spiders, shows that some species of spiders are medicinal, and
most others are harmless. Yet some are poisonous. See Philosophical
Transactions, &c. [back]
Rev. Alban
Butler (1711–73). Volume XI: November. The Lives of the
Saints. 1866.
Kalender
für katholische Christen auf das Jahr 1855
Conrad, Saint
Conrad, Saint a German
prelate, was son of Henry, count of Altdorf, and was educated by Noting, bishop
of Constance, who brought him through the various clerical degrees and placed
him in charge of his church. The chapter chose him for provost. Noting having
died in 934, the people and the clergy of Constance elected Conrad bishop. He
fulfilled with zeal his episcopal functions, and founded three churches and a
hospital. Three times, according to Udalric, he made a pilgrimage to the Holy
Land, returning with the gift of prophecy and miracles. He foretold to St.
Gebhard who would be his successor. Conrad died November 26, 976. Pope Calixtus
II canonized him at the Council of Lateran, held in 1123. His anniversary is
Nov. 26. An account of his miracles is given in the Chronique de
Constance. A history of his life is given by Ulric or Udalric, one of his
successors, as related by Surius. See Hoefer, Nouv. Biog.
Generale, s.v.; Biog. Universelle, s.v.
SOURCE : https://www.biblicalcyclopedia.com/C/conrad-saint.html
August von Wörndle (1829–1902), Sanctus
Conradus, Spätnazarenisches Deckengemälde, Wallfahrtskirche Maria Witterschnee
(Schneekreuz), Löffingen, Breisgau-Hochschwarzwald, in Baden-Württemberg, Germany.
Saint Conrad of Constance
Century: 10th
Century
Patronage: -
Feast Day: November
26th
St. Conrad was a member
of the powerful Welf Family, and the son of Count Heinrich of Altdorf. He
was educated at the Cathedral School in Constance, and became the provost of
Constance Cathedral and in 934 was made the Bishop of Constance.
One of his noted
achievements was that he avoided becoming wrapped up in the politics of his
day, and spent his energies on his Episcopal duties. He was however, very
close to Emperor Otto I, whom he accompanied to Italy in 962. St. Conrad
is said to have made three pilgrimages to Jerusalem as well as a number of them
to Rome. He founded a number of churches on the Episcopal estates and the
hospital at Kreuzlingen. It was named after a portion of the True Cross,
which St. Conrad brought back from Jerusalem.
His following was
entirely due to the efforts of Bishop Ulrich I, of Dillingen, Bishop of
Constance 1111 – 1127. He wrote extensively about St. Conrad. St.
Conrad was canonized at the First Lateran Council in 1123. St. Conrad is
sometimes represented as a Bishop holding a chalice with a spider in it or over
it. This refers to a story that once when he was celebrating Mass, a
spider fell into the chalice. Spiders were believed at the time to be
deadly poisonous, but St. Conrad drank the Precious Blood with the spider in
it, as a token of faith.
Practical Take Away
St. Conrad of Constance
was a member of the powerful Welf Family. He was educated at the
Cathedral School in Constance, and became the Bishop of Constance. He was
noted for not getting wrapped up in the politics of his time, but rathered
focused on his Episcopal duties. He did a lot to convert and meet the
sacramental needs of his See.
SOURCE : https://connection.newmanministry.com/saint/saint-conrad-of-constance/
Saint
Adolari church ( Tyrol ). Church gallery ( 1688 ) - Saint Conrad of Constance.
Filialkirche
St. Adolari ( Tirol ). Empore ( 1688 ) - St. Konrad von Konstanz.
San Corrado di
Costanza Vescovo
900 c. - 26 novembre 975
Nato verso il 900 dal
guelfo conte Enrico di Altdorf ed entrato come «frater adscriptus» nel
monastero di San Gallo, fu affidato alla scuola della cattedrale di Costanza
per esservi educato allo stato clericale. Nel 934, in presenza di sant'Ulrico,
vescovo di Augusta, venne eletto vescovo di Costanza. Benché non abbia
svolto un'attività politica, sembra fosse molto apprezzato da Ottone I al cui
seguito probabilmente si trovò durante il viaggio a Roma per l'incoronazione
imperiale (964). Secondo una notizia leggendaria sarebbe stato tre volte a
Gerusalemme. Morì il 26 novembre 975 e fu sepolto nella basilica di San
Maurizio, da lui costruita. Callisto II, in una lettera del 28 marzo 1123,
indirizzata al vescovo, clero e popolo di Costanza, dichiarò Corrado
santo. (Avvenire)
Etimologia: Corrado =
consigliere audace, dal tedesco
Emblema: Bastone
pastorale
Martirologio Romano: A
Costanza nella Svevia in Germania, san Corrado, vescovo, che, ottimo pastore
del suo gregge, con i suoi beni provvide largamente alla Chiesa e ai poveri.
Nato verso l'anno 900 dal
guelfo conte Enrico di Altdorf ed entrato come frater adscriptus nel monastero
di S. Gallo, fu affidato alla scuola della cattedrale di Costanza per esservi
educato allo stato clericale. Nel 934, in presenza di s. Ulrico, vescovo di
Augusta, con cui fu in rapporti di amicizia, venne eletto vescovo di Costanza,
dove si distinse costruendo e dotando chiese e ospedali. Benché non abbia
svolto un'attività politica, sembra fosse molto apprezzato da Ottone I al cui
seguito probabilmente si trovò durante il viaggio a Roma per l'incoronazione
imperiale (964). Secondo una notizia leggendaria sarebbe stato tre volte a
Gerusalemme. Morì il 26 novembre 975 e fu sepolto nella basilica di S.
Maurizio, da lui costruita.
Il vescovo Ulrico di
Costanza (1111-27) pregò il papa Callisto II di voler canonizzare Corrado: il
pontefice gli rispose di inviare a Roma una Vita del santo. Fu mandata quella
scritta da Udalscalco, per incarico dello stesso Ulrico. Callisto II, in una
lettera del 28 marzo 1123, indirizzata al vescovo, clero e popolo di Costanza,
dichiarò Corrado santo: il 26 novembre successivo ebbe luogo la solenne
traslazione delle spoglie. Nell'anno 1526, al tempo della Riforma, i sacri
resti vennero gettati nel lago di Costanza; si salvò soltanto la testa. Corrado
è fra i patroni di Costanza e di Friburgo in Brisgovia: il suo culto è diffuso
nella Svizzera tedesca, nel monastero di S. Gallo e in quello di Einsiedeln,
nella Svevia e a Ottobeuren.
Nell'iconografia il santo
vescovo è spesso rappresentato con un calice in cui è caduto un ragno: il
motivo trae origine dall'episodio secondo il quale Corrado avrebbe inghiottito
senza esitazione e senza danno un ragno velenoso caduto nel calice durante la
Messa.
Autore: Ludwig
Falkenstein
SOURCE : https://www.santiebeati.it/dettaglio/79200
Bad
Wurzach, Pfarrkirche St. Verena, Deckenfresko im Mittelschiff von Andreas
Brugger, 1777
Mittelteil,
links oben: hl. Georg mit Palmzweig und Schwert, links unten: hl. Gregor der
Große mit Taube am Ohr; Mitte: hl. Konrad von Konstanz mit Bischofsstab
Den hellige Konrad av
Konstanz (~900-975)
Minnedag:
26. november
Skytshelgen for
erkebispedømmet Freiburg; for byene Konstanz og Freiburg i. Br.
Den hellige Konrad (lat:
Conradus) ble født ca år 900 i Altdorf i nærheten av Konstanz ved Bodensjøen i
Tyskland. Han tilhørte den mektige Welfer-slekten (Guelferne) og hans far, grev
Henrik av Altdorf, grunnla klosteret Weingarten, som fortsatt eksisterer. Ingen
pålitelige detaljer om Konrads liv er bevart, bortsett fra en
utilfredsstillende biografi skrevet omtrent et århundre etter hans død av
Udalschalk av Maissach. Han gikk på skole i klosteret i St. Gallen, og som
andre sønn ble han sendt til katedralskolen i Konstanz, hvor han fikk en
fremragende utdannelse og ble viet til prest. Han ble domprost da han var
ferdig med studiene.
Da biskopen av Konstanz
døde, ble den unge Konrad i desember 934 valgt til hans etterfølger i nærvær av
sin venn, den hellige biskop Ulrik av Augsburg.
Embetet som biskop av Konstanz hadde han i 41 år, og han preget for lang tid
utviklingen av bispedømmet og byen Konstanz. Han hadde avlagt fattigdomsløfte,
og han løste problemet hva han skulle gjøre med noen eiendommer han hadde fått
i arv ved å gi dem til sin bror i bytte med noen eiendommer ved Konstanz. Disse
ga han til bispedømmet og til de fattige etter først å ha bygd og utstyrt tre
nye kirker til ære for de hellige Mauritius, Johannes evangelist og Paulus og
restaurerte mange gamle kirker. Han brukte størstedelen av sin arv og inntekter
til å bygge kirker og sykehus og utstyre klostre. I 948 viet han den første
kirken i Einsiedeln. Til forskjell for mange biskoper på denne tiden holdt han
seg unna verdslig politikk og konsentrerte seg om kirkelige spørsmål. Likevel
var han en nær venn av keiser Otto I den Store, og fulgte ham til Italia i 962.
I løpet av sin tid som biskop gjorde han tre valfartsreiser til Jerusalem, mot
en som var det vanlige.
Legenden forteller at en
gang han feiret messe på påskedag, hadde det falt en giftig edderkopp i kalken.
Men av respekt for sakramentet svelget Konrad den sammen med vinen uten å bry
seg om den vanlige mening på den tiden at alle eller de fleste edderkopper var
giftige. Han led ingen overlast.
En annen legende
forteller at Konrad i 948 skulle vigsle den nye kirken i klosteret Einsiedeln,
som på denne tid var grunnlagt fra Reichenau. Natten før hadde han et
drømmesyn, hvor han så Guds Mor stige ned med engler og vigslet bygget. Derfor
avlyste Konrad vigslingen, for han syntes at englevigselen var mye mer virksom.
Konrad døde den 26.
november 975 i Konstanz og ble bisatt i Mauritius-kirken, som han selv hadde
grunnlagt. I 1089 overførte en av hans etterfølgere den helliges ben til
domkirken i Konstanz. Han ble kanonisert på Det første Laterankonsil i 1123 av
pave Callistus II (1119-24). Under reformasjonen ble hans relikvier kastet i
Bodensjøen, men hodet ble reddet unna og tilhører i dag domkirkens største
skatter.
Hans minnedag er 26.
november. I det tyske språkområdet feires han denne dagen sammen med den
hellige biskop Gebhard II av Konstanz (død 996). Hans navn står i Martyrologium
Romanum. Konrad fremstilles alltid i biskoppelige gevanter. Ofte har han i
hånden en kalk med en edderkopp på grunn av legenden.
Kilder:
Attwater/Cumming, Benedictines, Butler (XI), Delaney, Schnitzler,
Schauber/Schindler, Gorys, Dammer/Adam - Kompilasjon og oversettelse:
p. Per Einar
Odden - Sist oppdatert: 1999-10-05 23:29
SOURCE : https://www.katolsk.no/biografier/historisk/konrad
Konrad van Konstanz,
Duitsland; bisschop; † 975.
Feest 26 november.
Hij moet rond 900 te Altdorf bij Konstanz geboren zijn uit het beroemde geslacht der Welfen. Hij was proost aan de dom van Konstanz en hoofd van de domschool, toen hij in 934 tot bisschop benoemd werd.
Hij mocht zich een persoonlijke vriend noemen van keizer Otto I († 973). In een
tijd dat kerkelijke hoogwaardigheidsbekleders zich vooral met de landspolitiek
bemoeiden, bleek hij een goed herder en stond hij vanwege zijn heilige
levenswandel in hoog aanzien. Zo deelde hij nagenoeg zijn hele persoonlijk
vermogen uit aan de armen. Drie keer maakte hij een pelgrimstocht naar het
Heilig Land. In zijn diocees stichtte hij meerdere kerken.
Een legende weet nog te vertellen hoe te Einsiedeln (Zwitserland) de inwijding
van de Meinradskapel en van de kloosterkerk die aan Maria zou worden toegewijd,
in zijn werk is gegaan.
In de dagen die aan de
feestelijke wijding voorafgingen, hadden zich vele gasten, pelgrims en
kerkelijke hoogwaardigheidsbekleders ter plaatse verzameld. Bisschop Konrad kon
in de laatste nacht de slaap niet vatten en begaf zich midden in het
pikkedonker naar de kloosterkerk om er te bidden. Plotseling werd hij omgeven
door een hemelse liturgie. Christus zelf verscheen in bisschoppelijk ornaat,
juist zoals hij zelf, Konrad, morgen gekleed zou zijn voor de
wijdingsplechtigheid. De vier evangelisten assisteerden Hem, evenals Petrus en
de grote Paus Gregorius († 604; feest 3 september): ze gaven onze Heer
mijter, staf en wijwaterkwast aan. Talloze andere heiligen woonden de
plechtigheid bij. Ook Maria was natuurlijk aanwezig. Tenslotte werd de kerk aan
haar toegewijd. Zij troonde boven het hoogaltaar. Engelen deden intussen het
werk van misdienaars en acolieten: ze zwaaiden met het wierookvat, droegen
toortsen, gaven de nodige antwoorden, musiceerden en zongen hemelse
misgezangen. Konrad neuriede mee.
Toen het schouwspel ten
einde was, raakte bisschop Konrad in verlegenheid. Nu de kapel door de Heer
Jezus zelf was ingewijd, kon hij dat morgen toch niet nog eens over doen? Hij
verkeerde zolang in tweestrijd, dat hij door de monniken tot spoed moest worden
gemaand. De openingsgezangen waren al aan de gang en de bisschop was nog niet
eens met de voorbereidingen begonnen...! Ze reikten hem zijn tabberd, mijter en
staf; ze droegen wijwater en wierookvat mee.
Plotseling klonk luid en
duidelijk dwars door de liturgische gezangen heen een stem van boven:
"Laat maar, broeders; het hoeft niet meer. De kapel is al ingewijd door
God zelf." Iedereen viel stil. Toen vertelde bisschop Konrad wat hij die
nacht had meegemaakt. Uit dankbaarheid voor dit grote wonder werd een prachtig
genadebeeld van Maria gemaakt en boven op het hoofdaltaar geplaatst, juist
zoals Konrad het had gezien. Jaarlijks komen er nog duizenden pelgrims naar
deze plek; en elk jaar wordt op de gedenkdag van dit wonder, 14 april, de
zogeheten 'engelenwijding' gevierd.
Na veertig jaar het ambt
van bisschop bekleed te hebben overleed hij; hij werd te Konstanz begraven in
de door hem gestichte Mauritiuskerk. Later werd hij bijgezet in de domkerk.
Verering & Cultuur
Mede op grond van de vele wonderen die er na zijn dood rond zijn graf
gebeurden, werd hij door paus Callistus II († 1124) in 1123 heilig verklaard.
Tijdens de Reformatie werden zijn relieken in de Bodensee gegooid, alleen zijn
hoofd werd gered; het bevindt zich thans in de schatkamer van de dom.
Hij is patroon van het aartsbisdom Freiburg en van het bisdom Konstanz.
Hij wordt afgebeeld als bisschop (staf, mijter, tabberd) met een kelk waar een
spin uit tevoorschijn komt (volgens zeggen was er eens tijdens de mis een spin
in de kelk terecht gekomen. Hoewel spinnen in die tijd voor zeer giftig werden
gehouden, had hij hem mee opgedronken en was hij vervolgens gewoon in leven
gebleven).
[000; 000»sys; 000:Ulrich(broch.-Ottobeuren:10); 000:Wolfgang; 101»Conrad;
101a/102»Conrad-Constance; 103; 104»Conrad-Constance; 106»Conradus; 107; 108;
111ȠGebhard; 122; 126; 132; 151p:144; 233p:272; 340; 500; Dries van den Akker
s.j./2007.11.12]
© A. van den Akker
s.j. / A.W. Gerritsen
SOURCE : https://www.heiligen-3s.nl/heiligen/11/26/11-26-0975-konrad-konstanz.php
