Mary appears to Brother Conrad, Mary: Day 090

Mary appears to Brother Conrad

The Little Flowers of St. Francis of Assisi collects anecdotes from the lives of the saint and his first followers. In this story, Brother Conrad and Brother Peter discover the sweetness of seeing Our Lady and her Child.

One day, Brother Conrad went into the forest to meditate on God.
Brother Peter followed him to see what would happen to him. Brother Conrad began to beg the Virgin Mary, with great fervor and devotion, to obtain from her blessed Son that he might experience something of the sweetness that St. Simeon had experienced on the day of her purification in the temple.

When he had finished this prayer, the Virgin Mary obtained his request, and behold! the Queen of Heaven appeared in great splendor, with her blessed Son in her arms. Approaching Brother Conrad, she placed the holy Child in his arms. He received him most reverently and, embracing him, clasped him to his breast. His heart was overflowing with divine love and inexpressible consolation. Brother Peter, who witnessed this scene at a distance, felt in his soul as well great sweetness and joy.

When the Virgin Mary had departed from Brother Conrad, Brother Peter hurried back to the convent so that he might not be seen. But when Brother Conrad arrived, full of joy and happiness, Brother Peter said to him: “Brother, you’ve received great consolation today!”

“What are you saying, Brother Peter?” Brother Conrad answered. “How do you know? Have you seen me?”

“I know,” answered Brother Peter, “that the Virgin Mary, with her blessed Son, has visited you.” And Brother Conrad, because of his great humility, wanted to keep secret the grace with which God had favored him. So he begged Brother Peter to tell no one. From then on, so great was the love between these two brothers that they seemed to have only one heart and soul in all things. —The Little Flowers of St. Francis of Assisi

IN GOD’S PRESENCE, CONSIDER . . .
Mary could have appeared to Brother Conrad without appearing to Brother Peter. Why, do I think, did she reveal herself to both friars, even though Peter had come only to satisfy his curiosity? How did this experience form such a close bond between the two men?

CLOSING PRAYER
From a prayer of St. Ildephonsus: Mother of God, grant me the grace to unite myself in affection with your Son as my God, and with you as the Mother of my God.

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