St. Conrad was born Corrado Confalonieri in 1290, Piacenza, northern Italy. He came from a noble family and married a woman named Ephrosyne at a young age. One day, he started a small fire to drive away pests from his land but the fire grew and caused great damage to surrounding property. As a result, the government seized all of his property. Reduced to poverty and seeking penance, Conrad and Ephrosyne aggred to seperate. Conrad became a hermit of the Third Order of St. Francis while Ephrosyne joined the Order of Poor Clares. St. Conrad became a counsel to many, and was known for prophesy, but sought a life of solitude. He travelled to Rome, Malta, the Holy Land, and Sicily. St. Conrad then spent two years ministering to the sick at a hospital. He died while in prayer, kneeling before a crucifix, on February 19, 1351, the day he had predicted. (Source: New Advent)

St. Conrad of Piacenza, pray for us!