Conrad of Saxony
Biographical Details:
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Biography:
Conrad of Saxony, born around 1230, was a prominent Franciscan friar, preacher, and writer known for his deep spirituality and dedication to promoting the Franciscan ideals of humility and poverty. Little is known of his early life, but he eventually joined the Franciscans and quickly gained respect for his piety and knowledge. Conrad became known for his preaching and theological writings, including the influential Speculum Beatae Mariae Virginis (Mirror of the Blessed Virgin Mary), which celebrated the virtues and life of the Virgin Mary and became a popular text in the Middle Ages. His writings focused on Marian devotion, encouraging a closer relationship with Mary as a pathway to Christ. Conrad’s contributions also extended to Franciscan reform, as he emphasized strict adherence to the Rule of Saint Francis, seeking to renew and inspire his fellow friars. His life exemplified a balance of contemplative devotion and active ministry, and he was widely respected for his spiritual insight and humility. Conrad died around 1279, leaving a legacy that continued to shape Franciscan thought and devotion, especially through his encouragement of Marian piety and his commitment to the ideals of his order.
Quotes and Excerpts:
Conrad of Saxony: Mirror of the Blessed Virgin Mary
On Mary’s Queenship
“Mary is that Queen entering in, of whom it is said that the queen entered into Jerusalem with a great company and with riches (3 Kings, X, 1.) Truly Mary is a queen. St. Augustine says: “We truly confess her to be the Queen of Heaven, because she brought forth the King of angels.’” –Speculum Beatæ Mariæ Virginis Chapter XIII
“Thirdly, consider that we find Mary entering into the glory of Heaven without obstacle. For what could have opposed such a great queen advancing with so great a retinue ? She was prefigured by the Queen of Saba, of whom it is said: “Entering into Jerusalem with a great train, and riches, and camels that carried spices, and an immense quantity of gold and precious stones” (3 Kings X, 2.) Consider in these words the glory of Mary entering into the heavenly Jerusalem. Consider, I say, the excellence of her who enters, her power and her wealth. Consider the excellence of the primacy of our Queen Mary, insomuch as she is compared to the Queen of Saba, which signifies a cry. For Mary is the Queen of the world, where there is a cry of mourning. She is also the Queen of Heaven, where there is a cry of joy.” –Speculum Beatæ Mariæ Virginis Chapter XIII
On Mary’s Intercession
“Do you wish to know how meek Mary was? Listen to St. Bernard: ‘Turn over diligently in your mind the whole of the Gospel story, and if you note in Mary anything of rebuke, anything hard, or even the slightest sign of indignation, you may perhaps suspect her in other things and fear to approach her. But if you find that in all things she was rather full of grace and loving kindness, full of meekness and mercy, give thanks to Him who with such kind compassion has provided thee with such a mediatrix.’” –Speculum Beatæ Mariæ Virginis Chapter XV
Immaculate Conception
“Blessed art thou among women, by whose virginal bringing forth the curse of the first mother was excluded from those born of women.” –Speculum Beatæ Mariæ Virginis, Chapter XV
On Immaculate Mary
“First, consider how Mary is truly blessed because of the fullness of grace to be venerated in her, as Gabriel shows most aptly when he says: “Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among women.” Blessed art thou, because thou art full of grace. Thou hast found grace with God, and therefore thou art blessed with the Lord. St. Bernard well says of this blessedness of Mary: “By thee we have access to thy Son, O blessed among women, finder of grace, Mother of life, Mother of salvation.” Blessed art thou, O Mary, because of grace.” –Speculum Beatæ Mariæ Virginis, Chapter XIV
Mary’s Intercession
“Blessed, therefore, is Mary for the manifold mercy which man received through her; blessed indeed, because by her, God was induced to be favorable to man; blessed is she also, because by her, man was made acceptable to God; blessed, moreover, is she, because by her, the devil was overcome.” –Speculum Beatæ Mariæ Virginis, Chapter XIV
Mary as the Ark of the Covenant
“The house of this servant is Mary, of whom it is said in the Psalm: ‘We shall be filled with the good things of His house.’ The ark placed in that house signifies Christ… Because of this ark, because of Jesus Christ, the Son of Mary, the Lord blessed the house of Mary.” –Speculum Beatæ Mariæ Virginis, Chapter XIV
On Mary’s Veneration
“Again, Mary is blessed because of her Child, not only by the Lord Himself being her blessing, not only by the Angel announcing her blessing, but by man prophesying her blessing. Elizabeth, when the infant in her womb exulted, cried out and said: “Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.” Therefore, thou art blessed indeed, because the fruit of thy womb is blessed; as a field is blessed because the fruit of it is blessed. Mary is that blessed field of which it is said: “Behold the smell of my son is as the smell of a plentiful field, which the Lord hath blessed” (Gen. XXVII, 27.) St. Jerome says: “Well is Mary called a full field, because she is said to be full of grace, from whose womb the Fruit of life came forth to all believers.” O field truly blessed above all fields because of its fruit! O Mother truly blessed above all mothers because of thy Son! St. Augustine exclaims: “O Woman blessed above all women, who knew not man, yet encompassed a Man in her womb!” Behold we have seen, O most sweet Mary, that thou, because of the blessed Son of thy womb, art truly blessed with a divine blessing, an angelic blessing, and a human blessing !’” –Speculum Beatæ Mariæ Virginis, Chapter XIV