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 EONRAD

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EONRAD

book, less voluminous than the okl manuals and one more adapted to the peculiar conditions existing in North .\inerica. Father Konings thereupon under- took the task of writing such a handbook, which he subsequently published in two volumes (Boston, 1874).

This work, based on the moral theology of Gurj', was greeted with hearty approxal on its ap- pearance, not only on account of the simplicity of its language, but also by reason of the succinct form into which he cast the teachings of the great theologian, St. Alphonsus. He was the first to give a methodical exposition of the views of the saint regarding the vexed question of equiprobabilism. His thorough ac- quaintance with .\merican law also greatly enhanced tne value of his work. A devoted son of the great doc- torj he knew how to recognize the merits of other theo- logians. Later, at the suggestion of the Rt. Rev. T. Mullen, Bishop of Erie, Pa., he published a commen- tary on episcopal faculties (intended for the United States), a work which was afterwards re\-ised and en- larged by Rev. Jos. Putzer, C.SS.R. It has since gone through four more editions. In addition to these works he published several smaller books on various theological siilijects. He rendered a great service to the cause of the parochial schools by his little work, "De Absolut ionel'arcntibus, etc.", a pamphlet which despite strong opposition, was taken by the Holy Office as the basis of an Instruction to the bishops of the I'nited States. As a matter of fact the very words of Konings were employed in the Instruction sent liy the Holy Father and incorporated in the "Acta et De- creta C'oncilii Plenarii Baltimorensis tertii", p. 279 sq. Since th:it time this Instruction has been the norm in the difficult matter of absoh'ing parents that send their cliildreii to the public schools. The gist of his pamphlet is founil in his "Moral Theology".

Konings, on account of his great learning, was con- sulted by prelates and priests from the entire United States; he was invited to examine candidates for de- grees in theology and canon law, and was summoned as an expert in trials touching ecclesiastical questions, especially in the celebrated trial resulting from the financial difficulties of the late .\rchbishop of Cincin- nati, J. B. Purcell. His last charge was that of prefect of the second novitiate, in which the Redemp- torist priests immediately after ordination are trained for the .^iiostolie %vork of the missions. \\'hilst occu- pying this post, he fell seriously ill, but nothing could daunt his zeal. From his sick-lied he continued his work of in.structing antl directing with his experience the young priests committed to his care. In the nii(l.st of these labours he passed away to his eternal reward. To quote the words of the Freeman's Journal (12 July, 1884), "those who studied him found liim a profound theologian, and a true exponent of St. Alphonsus. The beacon light of theologians in .\merica has gone down, but his fame will linger in the heart of the ( 'ath- olic Church in America. As a scholar he was known to the world."

Konings's writings include the following: "Theol- ogia Moralis", two editions by Konings and two by H. Kuper, C.SS.R.; "Commentarium in Fac- ultates Apostolicas" (New York, 18S4); "De .\b.so- lutione Parentilnis qui prolem scholis publicis sen promiscuis iustitucndam tradunt neganda necne " (Boston, 1874): "Bulla Jubihri 1875 cum nulis \niic- ticis" (New York, 1875); "SS. D. N. Leonis XIII I.it- terae Apostolicie quibus extraordinarium Jubihcum indicitur in usum cleri notis praclicis illustrator" (2 editions. New York, l.SSl); "tieneral Confession Made Easy" (\ew York, 1879), and in (liMiuan "Die Cvu- eralbeichte erleichtert " ; "Theologia Moralis I'unda- mentalis seu Traotatus de .\ctibus llumanis" (.New York, 1882); " Verortlningen x-oorde Missien en andcre apostolische Werkzaandieden ". He left in manu- script: " Introdtictio in Jus Canonieura "; "Compen-

dium Juris Canonici " ; " De Jure Regularium " ; and a complete set of cases in moral theology (Latin) for American students, some of which were published over the initial "R" in "The Pastor", edited by the late W. J. Wiseman.

Provincial and Domestic Chronicles C. SS. R.; Katholische Volkszeitung, XXV (Baltimore), n. xiv, p. Ill; New York Freeman's Journal, XLV, nn. xix, xx; Catholic Home Almanac (New York, 1885), 61-2; Evidence of Father Anthony Konings, C.SS.R., in Court of Common Pleas, Hamilton County, Ohio, No. 61, 172. J. B. Manning, .\ssignee. vs. J. B. Purcell et a!.; WisEM.tN. The Pastor, II (New York. 1883-4), 288; Hurter, Nomenclator.

John A. Handley.

Eonrad, svirnamed der Pf.\ffe (the priest), a Ger- man ejiic poet of the twelfth century, author of the "Rolandslied ", a version of the famous "Chanson de Roland". We know almost nothing concerning his life. In the epilogue of the Heidelljerg MS. the poet calls him.self "der Pfaffe Kuonrat ", and informs us tliat he translated from the French, first into Latin, and then into Cierman, without adding or omitting. We learn further that the French original was procured for him by Duke Henry, at whose request he com- posed his lay. Formerly it was supposed that this duke w-as Henry the Lion (1156-80), and that the poem was composed between 1173 and 1177. But it is now agreed that the duke in question was Henry the Proud, who ruleil Bavaria from 1126 to 1139; the date of the composition of the poem woidtl then be about 1131, in which year Henry is known to have made a journey to Paris, where he presumalily procured the French manuscript. The lay itself was written in Bavaria, probably at Ratisbon, as is indicated also by the frequent mention of Bavarian names and places. Tliat a translation was first made into Latin is shown by the nvimerous Latin endings that remain. The Cierman version, however, is not slavishly literal. .\ comparison with the French original, as we know it, reveals quite a number of ailditions, especially in the way of passages in praise of the Bavarian prince anil people. The crusatling spirit, already noticeable in the "Chanson", is still more marked in the German poem. The fervour of the crusiider has displaced the patriotic enthusiasm of the French epic, and gives the "Rolandslied" a pronounced ri'ligious tone. Charle- magne is depicteil as the model ( 'hristian prince, while Roland is the peerless Christian knight who loses his life in battle for his Faith. Yet the influence of the folk-epic is quite evident, as, for instance, in the pas- sage where the emperor's dazzling eyes are tlescribed. Altogether, there are 9094 verses. The form is the short rhymed couplet, the rhyme being often mere assonance. To Konrad has also been ascribed the authorship of the " Kaiserchronik ", but not on con- vincing evidence.

We possess no complete MS. of the poem. The oili- est and miisl important MS., that of Strasburg, was burned during the siege of 1,S70. .\ portion of it had appeared in i)rint in Schiller's "Thesaurus" as early as 1727. Next in importance is the Heidelberg MS., adorned with thirty-nine miniatures. The other ex- tant MSS. are mere fragments. Editions by Grimm, "Ruolandes liet" (tiiittingen, 1838), based on the Heidelberg MS.: and liy Bartsch (Leipzig, 1874), based on the Strasburg" MS. Selections by Piper, "Die Siiielmannsdichtung", II, 14-91 (in Kursch- ner, "Deut.sehe .National Litteratur", II).

CiuLTHKH, HoUtmld,„l ,Us J'Jnffai KonraU (Munich, 1887): BAU.MGARTEN, Slilislijsche Vntersuchunucn zum dcutschen Ko- landaliede (Halle, 1899); cf. introduction in Piper's edition.

Arthur F. J. Remy.

Eonrad of Lichtenau, a medieval German chron- icler, (1. at UrsixTg, in the year 1'240. He descended from a noble Swal)ian family, and resided for some time at the iniix-rial court. Having become _a monk, probalily during a temjxir.ary residence in Rome at the court of Pope Innocent III, he entererl