Conrad of Grossis

Contents

Conrad of Grossis (died 10 March 1426), also known as Conrad of Prussia,[1] was a Dominican reformer, the earliest promoter of the order's strict observance in the German lands.

Early life and career

Conrad's surname indicates that he hailed from Prussia unless it derives from a misspelling of Brussels, as has been argued.[2] He entered the Dominican Order in 1370.[3][4] On several visits to Rome, he developed a reputation for wild living.[2][5] In 1387, he was appointed vicar of a church in Berlin, Sancta Maria in Valle Iosaphat iuxta Berlin, and given permission to undertake a pilgrimage to the Holy Land.[5] After his return from pilgrimage in 1388, he was named vicar general of the Dominican province of Teutonia by the general chapter of the order meeting in Vienna and charged with reforming the friaries.[2][3][4]

Observant reform

Conrad was named vicar of the convent of Bern in 1388 and vicar and prior of the first Observant convent in Germany at Colmar in 1389.[5] He introduced the observance into the female house of Schönensteinbach in 1397.[6] In 1396, he reformed the convent of Nuremberg.[4] From these origins, the observance spread throughout the Rhineland, Switzerland and the Netherlands.[3][5] He also introduced the observance at Utrecht in the province of Saxonia.[5]

Later life and death

The death in 1399 of the master general Raymond of Capua, who had supported Conrad's career since 1387, set back the observant movement.[3] In 1416, Conrad retired soon after to Schönensteinbach, where he was the sisters' confessor.[2][3][7] He enjoyed a high reputation as a preacher and for his knowledge of the Bible. He died at Schönensteinbach on 10 March 1426.[5] He was buried in Schönensteinbach.[7] He was succeeded as vicar of the observant Dominicans in Germany by Johannes Nider.[2] The Dominican historian Johannes Meyer tried to promote sainthood by collecting accounts of his holiness, including miraculous visions.[7]

Attributed works

Conrad may be the Conrad of Prussia to whom two philosophical commentaries are attributed, but this author's dates are usually placed much earlier.[8]

References

  1. 1.His name is also given as Conrad de Grossis, Conrad Grossius, Conrad of Brussia, Konrad von Preussen (Preußen) or Konrad von Brüssen.
  2. 2.[2.2][2.3][2.4][2.5]Fournier 1989.
  3. 3.[3.2][3.3][3.4][3.5]Morsel 2000.
  4. 4.[4.2][4.3]Wehrli-Johns 2008.
  5. 5.[5.2][5.3][5.4][5.5][5.6]Eßer 1980.
  6. 6.Eßer 1980 and Wehrli-Johns 2008, but Morsel 2000 gives a date of 1395.
  7. 7.[7.2][7.3]Huijbers 2015, p. 128.
  8. 8.Fidora 2009.