Baring-Gould’s sources: Roman and German Martyrologies. Canonized by Pope Calixtus II. Authorities: — A Life by Oudalschalk, abbot of SS. Ulric and Afra in Augsburg, d. 1150; written with the purpose of inducing Calixtus to grant the canonization of Conrad. In Pertz, Mon. Scr. Germ. iv. pp. 430-436. Another Life, by an anonymous writer ot the 12th century, containing no new matter, in Pertz, iv. pp. 436-445. A third Life, by an anonymous writer, in Mone, “Quellensammlung,” i. pp. 79-80.] The Lives we have of S. Conrad come to us from so late a date that they contain little that can give a lively portraiture VOL. XIV. T2 of the saint. They are shadowy creations of the biographers, based on a few historical facts and on more or less untrustworthy traditions.

Henry, count of Altdorf, of the Guelf family, had two sons, Conrad, and Rudolf, the fourth count of Altdorf. Conrad was brought up for the Church, and on being ordained priest was at once invested with the provostship of the cathedral of Constance. His rank and piety pointed him out to the electors in 934 as a suitable person to fill the vacant see of Constance [a bishop’s “see” is his diocese, named from his seat (Latin sedes)] on the death of Bishop Nothing. He was a friend of S. Ulric of Augsburg [St. Ulrich, bishop of Augsburg 923–973]. Conrad exchanged lands with his brother, so as to obtain estates near Constance, and he endowed the see with these. He made three pilgrimages to Jerusalem. One Easter Day a great spider fell into the consecrated chalice. In those times spiders were supposed to be poisonous. Conrad deemed it most reverent to swallow the spider, after which he sat in an agony of mind, expecting death. An hour or two after he threw up the spider, and now in art he is represented with a chalice and spider. He died in 976.