St. Conrad of Piacenza was an Italian nobleman who abandoned his wealth to live as a hermit in Sicily. After an accident caused widespread destruction, he renounced his possessions in repentance and dedicated himself to prayer, fasting, and charity. He is honored as a patron of penitents and those seeking conversion.
St. Conrad was born around 1290 in Piacenza, Italy, into a noble family. As a young man, he enjoyed a privileged life and was passionate about hunting. However, one event dramatically changed his path.
One day, while hunting, Conrad ordered his servants to set fire to dry brush to drive out game. The fire spread uncontrollably, burning fields, houses, and crops. Authorities arrested an innocent peasant, accusing him of starting the fire. Overcome with guilt, Conrad confessed his responsibility, paid for the damages, and gave away all his wealth as an act of repentance.
Now destitute, he and his wife agreed to separate—she joined a Poor Clare convent, and Conrad became a Third Order Franciscan. He soon withdrew to live as a hermit, spending years in prayer, fasting, and contemplation in Sicily.
Over time, his holiness became widely known, and pilgrims sought his guidance and miracles. Though he desired solitude, he often helped the sick and poor, offering spiritual advice. He spent his final years near Noto, Sicily, where he died in 1351.
After his death, many miracles were reported at his tomb. His relics are enshrined in the Cathedral of Noto, a popular pilgrimage site. Pope Urban VIII canonized him in 1625.