Conrad of Saxony

CONRAD OF SAXONY. - Franciscan, preacher and ascetical writer, b. at Braunschweig, in the early years of the 13th century; d. at Bologna on 30 May 1279. A lector in the Studium of Hildesheim, he was elected provincial minister of Saxony (1247). He governed his province for 16 years with zeal and prudence; having resigned that office at his own request in 1262, he took it up again upon a new election at the Chapter of Magdeburg in 1272. Death overtook him while he was on his way to the General Chapter of Assisi.

Among his works are remembered the Commentaries on the 4 books of the Sentences, and a great number of unpublished Sermons, such as the Sermones de Tempore, de Sanctis, de Communi Sanctorum; a Quadragesimale and perhaps also the Sermones ad Religiosos et Praelatos of cod. G. IX. 19 of Siena of the 14th century. Nevertheless the most famous work of C., attributed for several centuries to St. Bonaventure, is the Speculum Beatae M. Virginis, known also under the title of Expositio de Salutatione Angelica, for which he earned a distinguished place among the ascetical writers of the 13th century. C. holds the opinion of the sanctification of Mary before her birth (lect. XI); and he reports the phrase that has remained famous: Maiorem mundum posset facere Deus, maius coelum posset facere Deus, maiorem matrem quam matrem Dei non posset facere Deus (lect. X).

Lorenzo Di Fonzo