His body was
interred
within his Oratory, 7 and in the Chapel he had
built to honour the Blessed Virgin.
built to honour the Blessed Virgin.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v8
But for his own manner of life, he wished to lead that of a recluse.
There he lived in a cell or oratory's apart from general intercourse with men, although, he frequently received visitors or guests, and especially penitents.
To all, he exercised a truly Irish hospitality, and in accord with the practice of the monastic establishments in his own country.
He there founded an hospital for the entertainment of pilgrims, travellers and poor people ; while he received all strangers coming to him with great charity and urbanity.
Towards himself he was most mortified. The practice of austerities,
vigils and fasting, joined with prayer, enabled him to attain the highest virtues. Although practised in seclusion, these diffused his reputation for sanctity through the most distant parts of that country, which became his by adoption. His time was divided between contemplation and prayer ; the cultivation of his garden ; and exercises of charity towards his neighbours, who resorted to him for advice or direction. 16 His fame went abroad, and thousands came from the most distant parts, to see the good saint. But, the poor seem to have been the objects of his chiefest solicitude.
In his retirement, St. Fiacre indulged his taste and skill in gardening, and that healthy exercise was a labour he specially loved. The manner in which his fruit-trees, shrubs, vegetables and flowers were cultivated excited the admiration of all beholders. •' If a man sows," he used to
say
" it is God who the increase if giveth ;
his
man plants, it is God who bringeth the flowers and the fruits. " He is said to have been a great botanist, and to have surrounded his hermitage with flowers. These acquisitions prove his taste and love for natural science. The afflicted and suffering in mind or body, believing in his miraculous gifts,soonflockedtohishermitageingreatnumbers. Thosewhowerevery infirm were brought thither by their relations or friends. Numbers of' sick and demented persons attended the place of his retreat; lame, blind, deaf and dumb, all received health and strength through his prayers, and by the imposition of his hands.
strangers praised
lovely garden,
In his garden, he cultivated roots for the refreshment of poor travellers. Wherefore to provide better for their support, he judged it necessary to procure a larger tract of land, than he at first possessed ; that by his own labours and those of his brethren, he might be able to cultivate all kind of vegetables, and thus minister to the wants of necessitous individuals. St. Faro had already given him permission, to appropriate so much of the wood, as he desired. '7 However, our humble eremite, would not presume to encroach on this privilege, without again referring the matter to his benefactor.
is " monasterium "
Ages, as Du Cange remarks, that word Sancta," part ii. , p. 102.
;
was often used for an oratory, as seems to be the signification in the present instance.
14
See Rev. Henry Sebastian Bowden's "Miniature Lives of the Saints for Every Day in the Year," vol. i. , March 17, p. 154.
15 Also dedicated to the Blessed Virgin "
•' In two manuscript Lives of our saint, in possession of the Bollandists, Fiacre is said to have received from the Bishop an instrument "quod Gallice Bkssa vocatur," and this was intended to mark out the ground, which had been granted to him.
but in the Middle l6 See Bishop Challenor's "Britannia
Mary. See Breviarium Meldensis," Pars The word means bcche in French, and the Estiva. In Festo S. Fiacrii, lect. iv. . English meaning is "a spade. "
when
August 30. J LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 431
The latter renewed permission to fell any quantity of timber, that might be
necessary for the proposed enlargement of his farm, telling him at the same time, he was at liberty to possess all the land he might be able to surround with a furrow in one day. After returning thanks for such a favour, our Saint is said to have marked out that furrow with his staff. A deep trench opened beneath the line he traced, and the woods within that enclosure
miraculously disappeared.
by
local peasantry.
T 9 While his work was in
progress,
and
beholding
the
18 the ditch was shown Long afterwards,
the results, a certain woman immediately brought word to the bishop, that our Saint had been seen by her in the act of using incantations, and witchcraft, while per- forming that miracle. Her representations at first made an unfavourable impression on the mind of St. Faro ; and emboldened by her successful accusation, with insolence in her words and gestures, she soon returned
bearing a message from the Bishop, that Fiacre should desist from the work he had commenced. This order he obeyed on the instant. She also announced, that the Bishop would come to see what had taken place. Somewhat saddened by this news and disconcerted, Fiacre sat down on a stone that was near, awaiting the result. This stone was afterwards pre- served with religious veneration, and according to popular tradition, it became hollowed into the form of a chair, so that the saint might the more easily rest in it. In course of time, when a church had been built in his honour at that place, the stone was removed to it, and preserved in attesta-
the illustrious prelate.
Several pious disciples placed themselves under the direction of the holy
Eremite, who had thus founded his religious establishment at Breuil, in the district of Brie, and which has since his time taken the name of Saint-Fiacre. We are led to the inference, that he drew up a strict rule of life for his monks.
Moved by that action of the woman, it is said that St. Fiacre made an
20 Meanwhile, when St. Faro he soon arrived,
tion of the miracle
learned the true state of affairs ; and the holy Bishop, much pleased with the ready obedience shown by our Saint to his mandate, was immediately reconciled to his humble subject. Having beheld those wonderful miracles wrought through the servant of God, that prelate conceived even a greater love and friendship for him than at first ; so that afterwards, Fiacre was still more honoured, through the constant familiarity and respect shown him by
81
wrought.
ordinance, which excluded all females from his Monastery.
22
Through his
prayers, it was held he obtained a request, that some bodily infirmity should
befall those women, who wilfully dared to disregard his regulation. ^ How-
ever, interpreted by popular tradition, his real motive appears to have been
rather guided by the example of the Ccenobiarchs in Ireland, who were
18
impression, produced by the labours of " Th—e following distich refers to this in-
monastic pioneers, on the popular mind. cident
diTMs 20
Thus was interpreted, that profound 335.
See LeComte de Montalembert's " Les
MoinesdelOccident,"tome11. , hvrevn. ,
:
« Faemina qu£e lsesit blasphemo murmure Sanctum
sancti non intret faemina tem-
Thes; ines occur in " De Gestibus Fran- i
corum " Jib iii '
23 " Orat ne loci intret limina Immunis ulla fsemina, Hoc est causa cur faeminae
chap. 111. , p. 437.
J9 "
Fecit nlum
See Mabillon s
Acta Sanctorum Or-
quod "
Benedicti," tomus ii. , p. 573.
The parochial church of Brie yet retains this relic. There, too, the sites of the saint's
and enclosure are
hermitage traditionally
pointed out ; but no remains of the ancient
J? -
.
buildings are now to be seen.
21'• "
Saints,"
tome
x. ,
xxxe
jour d'Aout, pp. 334,
Hymnus
S. Fiacrii,**
ejus Officio desumpta.
See Les Petits Bollandistes Vies des
—
Arcentur ejus limine.
432 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [August 30.
careful to remove any cause for temptation or human frailty from the precincts of their respective monasteries. 2*
It is related, that a certain noble lady, wishing to learn what should be the consequence of disobedience to St. Fiacre's rule, urged a servant-maid to venture within the monastery, yet against her own wishes. However, that servant escaped uninjured, while her mistress lost an eye, as a punishment for her temerity. Another woman, on daring to place one foot within the forbidden threshold, was immediately afflicted with a tumour, that ascended from the offending member through her entire body, which became affected
2 in a similar manner. *
CHAPTER III
VISIT OF ST. KILIAN TO ST. FIACRE—FABULOUS STORY OF THE LATTER BEING OFFERED THE CROWN OF SCOTLAND—HIS LIFE IN SOLITUDE—HIS DEATH AND BURIAL— TRANSFERENCE OF HIS RELICS—VARIOUS MIRACLES AND INCIDENTS—MEMORIALS OF THE VENERATION PAID TO ST. FIACRE—COMMEMORATIONS OF HIS FEAST— CONCLUSION.
Among others of his contemporaries, attracted by the popular report of St. Fiacre's sanctity, was his own countryman and kinsman, St. Kilian1 or Chillen,2whohadmadeapilgrimagetoRome. Hedeviated,however,from the direct route on returning, and bent his course towards Meaux. By St.
Fiacre, he was most affectionately received, and for some days the pilgrim remained with him. not alone giving information regarding their friends and native country, but also engaged much in religious conversation and study on the most elegant passages of Holy Scripture. Another curious incident is related,3 and to the effect, that St. Fiacre, a "Scot of Ireland," when he
met St. Killian in France, thus asked him " My dearest brother, what
:
"
The natural answer to such a query may be imagined, that it was his desire to serve God with less attach- ment to the situations of ease and enjoyment in which worldlings most delight. Commending each other to the care of Almighty God by mutual prayer, those holy relatives parted, having given and received the kiss of
peace/
To the regions of romance we may fairly relegate one of the stories told
regarding our Saint, by some of the Scottish5 and French writers. 6 Thus, it is stated, that while Fiacre enjoyed in tranquillity the delights of his beloved
brought you into these barbarous nations ?
24 "
See Ussher's Britannicarum Eccle-
siarum Antiquitates," cap. xvii. , pp. 488, 489.
as See " Messingham's Florilegium
PP- 39°» 39 1 - Chapter hi.
Dissertatio Historica, Articu! us xiii. , sect, x. ,
p. 270.
* The " Histoire de Saint Kilien Ev6que,
Missionnaire de l'Artois au vne has Siecle,"
been elegantly and learnedly written by A.
— Cuvillier,and published at Lille, 1861, i2mo.
*5
His festival occurs on Hector Boece seems to have been the
InsuLx Sanctorum. "' Vita S. Fiacrii ex Capgravio,
the 13th day of November. His Life and first to chronicle the succeeding narrative in
Act* are to be found at that date. his " Scotorum Hystoriae," lib, ix. He is
2 We are told Mubillon, that this was followed but in briefer by by John Lesley,
the Scottish St. Chillenus whom St. Faro fashion, in his work, " De Rebus Gestis
sent to preach the Gospel in Artois. See
" Annates Ordinis S. tomus Benedicti," i. ,
lib. xii. , num. vi , p. 344.
5 See Ward's or O'Sheerin's " Sancti
Rumoldi Martyris InclytiArchiepiscopiDub- liniensis, Mechlinieosium Apostoli," &c.
Scotorum," lib. iv.
6 Thus in his Saussay,
Martyrologium Gallicanum," and other writers adopt the
without examination as to whether or not they agree with the most
Scottish
accounts,
ancient manuscript Lives of the Saints.
August 30. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 433
solitude, the King of Scotland, his reputed father, died, and his younger son Ferchard succeeded him on the throne. However, having become infected
with the Pelagian heresy,? which had then spread over the kingdom of Scotland, and having been addicted to crimes, which drew the hatred of the peopleonhim,apublicassemblyofthestatewasconvened. Thenhewas deposed and cast into prison. After some deliberation, as to the choice of a successor, and as the reputation of St. Fiacre for justice and for every other
virtue was extensively known, the assembly unanimously resolved to offer
him the crown.
of Neustrie, in order to urge him for the influence he possessed
that Fiacre would consent to accept the position of King, and remove from his hermitage. 9 Having had an intimation of these proceedings, the Saint was much troubled in mind ; but, he besought the Almighty in tears and prayers, that he might not be brought away from his favourite solitude, which had become so delightful to him, or to obtain honours which for love of Him had been already abandoned, and which when attained were full of peril to the possessor. Whereupon, his prayers were heard, and immediately he was covered with a leprosy, which rendered him an object of horror to all beholders. 10 When the ambassadors then approached him, their purpose was altogether changed ; and now they felt interiorly moved to press their suit very coldly, as they believed such a person was utterly removed from the list of those, who were desirable candidates for the Scottish monarchy. They even wished Fiacre should decline acceding to the prayer of their petition. Nor were they long about learning his decision, when thus
addressing them " Know that this pest, with which I am covered, is not
:
the result of natural causes, but a grace of the Almighty conferred on me the more to confirm my humility, and be persuaded that I prefer this small cell to the greatest kingdom in the universe. When here, I work out my salva- tion with assured hope ; while taking the sceptre you now offer, my soul should be exposed to numberless dangers. " Satisfied with such refusal, the ambassadors took their leave. He then remained undisturbed as before in his beloved hermitage. Yet, as the Almighty had only afflicted him with the leprosy for a time, in order to favour his aspiring after true humility ; no sooner had the Scottish messengers departed, than Fiacre's face and body
resumed their natural beauty.
11
Totally irreconcilable with the old legend
Accordingly,
ambassadors were sent to Clotairc
8
II. , King
of his acts, as also with probability, is the statement, that he left France and
returned to Ireland, where, according to an unauthe—nticated account, he
becameabbotofamonastery,andattendedSt. Congel wemayassumethe
7 This derived its nomenclature from Pe- painting of this imaginary incident, viz. , the
lagius, as he had been called in Rome ; but deputation befoie St. Fiacre, who is repre-
he is supposed to have been previously sented as a good-looking young man, wearing named Morgan. According to St. Augustin, a white robe over which there is a black
scapular, and holding a spade in his right hand. The deputation, three warriors, offer him golden vessels. A turbaned negro holds their horses; but, with his left hand, St. Fiacre motions away the proffered gifts. To the left of the picture, are three kneeling women supplicating the saint not to leave La Brie. The figures are life-size. This curious picture is over two hundred years old.
I0 This incident, as in the narrative given
of Boece, has been omitted by Lesley.
in his epistle to Paulinus, 106, the heresiarch was called Pelagius Brito, to distinguish him as had been thought from another Pelagius ofTarentum. See "
Stillingfleet's Origines Britannicse, or the Antiquities of the British
Churches," chap, iv. , pp. 180, 181.
8 He was son of Chilperic or Childeric I. and Fredegonde. He succeeded his father as king of France in 584, when only four months old, and he reigned under the guar-
628,
» In the Salle de Cathechisme of the Cathedral at Meaux, there is a rude oil
of his mother. He died A. D.
dianship
in the 45th year of his age.
" See Les Petits Bollandistes, "Viesdes c
Saints," tome x. , xxx jour d'Aout, p. 335. 2£
—
engage
to
434
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [August 30.
proper rendering to be St. Comgall of Bangor"—during his last illness, and hi whose honour he built a monastery. ^
The Saint continued to be a hale old man, worshipping God in singleness
ofheart,untilhislatestmoments. Thisenjoymentofhealthwasthenatural
result of his regulated temperance of living, and in the physical exertion of labour, which he loved to exercise in the open air. He seems to have lived a very retired life in his oratory of Breuil for many years, and in it they were
finally closed. Rendered illustrious by the performance of so many miracles, 1
St. Fiacre departed to a life of glory, in the seventh century. * It should
prove a matter of great difficulty, to ascertain the exact period of his release,
which is not recorded. Nor do we know on what authority, it is stated, that
he died on the 18th of August, although his festival is celebrated on the
30th of this month. '5 That his soul went to Heaven, on the 30th of August,
has always been current in tradition ; the year is thought to have been, about
a. d. 670, apparently named for no better reason, than because St. Faro, his
contemporary, died about that time. However, even the true date for St.
Faro's death has not been discovered ; while that of St. Fiacre may have
been either before or after the departure of his friend and patron, the Bishop
16
of Meaux.
His body was interred within his Oratory, 7 and in the Chapel he had
built to honour the Blessed Virgin. There it lay until a. d. 1234, when
Peter, Bishop of Meaux, removed it from that place of deposition, and exposed it for veneration by the faithful. A priory was built after the death ofSt. Fiacre,atthatplacewherehedied. Sincethen,theprioryandchurch have been destroyed \ yet the faithful continue to visit the site, and they frequent the parish church of Breuil to venerate the relic of Fiacre, presented
toitspriorybyMonseigneurSeguier,BishopofMeaux. However,through respect for the saint's memory, women do not enter the precincts of his
former residence, nor the chapel in which he had been interred.
1'
After-
wards, the priory of Breuil became a dependency on the monastery of St. Faro, which was in charge of the Benedictines. 1 ? In the year 13 13, Adam Faronian, Abbot,. ordered thenceforth that nine choir-monks and a prior from
his monastery, with one lay-brother and one lay-sister, should live in St. Fiacre's establishment, and that they should serve under regular observance.
For their maintenance, it was regulated, that they might receive offerings of the faithful, which were presented as tokens of reverence towards the head
of St. Fiacre.
ao
" See his Life in the Fifth Volume of this work, at the ioth of May, Art. i.
septuagessimo evolavit, et in ecclesiola sua sepultus est," &c. Pars Estiva. In Festo S. Fiacrii, lect. v.
13 Yet such is the narrative given by Dr.
Meredith Hanmer
;
—"Inanancientmanu-
"Livesof
script Legend of the Life of St. Congellus or
Congallus, I finde that Saint Fiacre returned
into Ireland, and became Abbot of Airard tomus vi. , xxx. Augusti. De S. Fiacrio in Leinster, upon the River of Berba, now Eremiia Conf. , &c. Commentarius Prsevius, called the Barrow, in the Barony of Odrone,
and that he went to the Abbey of Beanchor
in Vlster to visite Congellus^t whose hands
Cottgellus received the Sacrament, and gave
up the ghost. There, also, it is further having made a pilgrimage to St. Fiacre's •Hedges, that this Fiacre builded a Monas- Shrine, was satisfied with praying at the
tene in Leinster, in the honour of Saint door of his oratory. See Les Petits Bollan. "
Congellus. "—"Chronicle of Ireland," pp. distes, "Vies des Saints, tome x. , xxx«
«5&. *57- jour d'Aout, pp. 335, 337.
14 The "Breviarium Meldeasn. " states : '» See MabihWs "Acta Sanctorum
44 Ad superos ut creditur, tertio Kalendas Ordinis S. Benedicti. " Sseculum secun- Septembiis anno circiter sexcentessimo dum, Acta S. Fiacrii, p. 600.
1
1S SeeRev. S.
the Saints," August 30, vol. viii. , p. 385.
l6
See the Bollandists' "Acta Sanctorum,"
Baring-Gould's
sect, iii. , num. 31, p. 604.
»» See Les Petits Bollandistes, " Viej des
Saints," tome x. , jour d'Aout xxxe
,8
, p. 335. Anne of Austria, Queen of France,
August 30. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 435
Numbers of persons had been long accustomed to visit the oratory of
Breuil, specially connected with his name and celebrity, for the purpose of
offering vows and praying before his altar. And scarcely throughout France
was any other saint more distinguished than Fiacre for the miracles wrought
through his intercession, nor was any other locality more frequented by the
St. Fiacre is said to have been blessed, or beatified, especially in During the middle ages, his acts were dramatized in a Sacred
bathing
Isara,
venturing
deep water, they
;
31 3* 2
faithful.
France.
Mystery 3 for the edification of the people.
Many illustrious miracles are recorded of our Saint, by his biographers. Those remarkable manifestations of his efficacy are to be found especially recorded in those Latin Acts, as published by the Bollandists. 3* We can only present a few, in attestation of that popular veneration he secured during the time of his pilgrimage on earth, and which has continued even to the present day. A certain man, living at Montinaco,35 had two children, a long time labouring under infirmity. In order to obtain their restoration, the father resolved on bringing them to St. Fiacre. Being mounted on a beast of burden, and placing one of those children before and another behind, he had just left Meaux, and was passing over a bridge on the way. A numberofspectatorshappenedtobepresent,atthatmoment. Theanimal stumbled and fell with his burden into the River Materna, now the Marne, which was very deep at this place, while the current was very rapid. The
father and his children cried immediately
out,
Having risen to the surface of the water, beneath which he was plunged, and
unable to swim, and nevertheless holding his children, who were apart, one by the right, and the other by the left arm, they were all enabled to reach the bank in safety. The father attributed this wonderful rescue to the invocation of St. Fiacre; and, at this same instant, his children were restored to health, those who were present crying out, that it was a truly providential escape. The fame of that miracle soon spread through the city of Meaux. Afterwards, the father and his children prosecuted their journey to the monastery of Fiacre, where they made a vow before his shrine, and then joyful for such preservation, they returned safely to their home, with hearts full of gratitude towards the Saint.
But a still greater miracle has been attributed to the intercession of the
Blessed Fiacre. On another at occasion, Noyon,
37
20 See Mabillon's " Annales Ordinis S. "
Benedicti, tomus i. , lib. xii. , num. vi. , p. 344.
36 while four were boys
were drowned and when women who witnessed the occurrence raised an outcry, the people of that town came forth in great numbers. At once, taking to their boats with boat-hooks, certain fishermen vainly endeavoured to rescue the bodies of those boys from the sixth hour until sunset. Two mothers of the boys drowned now arrived, and were distracted with grief at their loss. At length,
in the River
into
are related in two appendices, pp. 616 to 620.
ss
21 See " Breviarium Meldensis," Pars published by the Bollandists ; but in two
Estiva, lect. v. , vi. 22 ''
Such is the spelling in the Acts as other Manuscripts, as also in those Acts
See Historiae Catholicse Ibernise Com-
published by Surius written Montiaco.
and Mabillon, it is The Bollandist editor
to the
pendium," tomus i. , lib. iv. , cap. xi. , p. 50.
23 In Mon. " inedits
of Montigny,
Jubinal's Mysteres Siecle," there is published a Mystere de Monsieur Saint Fiacre," dating
conjectures,
village
du xv "
e
from the fifteenth
ofstill earliercomposition.
3* See " Acta
xxx. Augusti. Acta S. Fiacrii, Auctore anonymo, pp. 604 to 616. Other miracles
designated.
26 This town
century,
and
perhaps
formerly belonged ProvinceofPicardy.
Sanctorum,"
tomus
vi. ,
It is now known as L'Oise, and it falls into the
l4 O Fiacre, succour us. " holy
that the
between Meaux and Lagny, is here probably
2? Also written Ysara, or Ysera. River Seine.
436
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [August 30.
one of the mothers, who had been restored to health at his shrine, invoked the name of Fiacre, and adjured him, that he would show forth God's power,
in this similar conjuncture of her misery. After her prayer, the boys were restored to life. Then was it declared, that they owed this miraculous event
38
to the prayers of our Saint.
While seven travellers were coming from St. Denis, and passing by the
Monastery of Breuil, four of the number proposed a visit. The other three
said
:
u We are not suffering from any malady, and we have no occasion to
go to the Monastery of St. Fiacre, for he only receives infirm travellers, and
especially ficosi. ^ Go, ye, therefore to him, as you have a necessity for so
doing, and we shall proceed to our homes. " However, those four setting
out were derided by their companions, who said
physician of the blind. " Instantly the scoffers were deprived of sight. The blind men, filled with consternation, then called upon their companions, who were hastening towards God's servant ; but, supposing this call to be only a continuation of their former derision, the cry was not adverted to, until the four returned from their visit. Then these found, that their blind com- panions were wandering at random through the fields, not knowing where to turn, yet penitent for their faulty indiscretion. The three blind men were afterwards led to the monastery of our Abbot ; when imploring St. Fiacre's intervention on their behalf, they were again restored to the use of sight. 3°
In the Hymn of St. Fiacre's Sacred Office are enumerated the various diseases which were removed through his intercession. 3 1 A very remarkable case of such efficacy was that of a man living at Amiens, and who suffered from a most painful polypus, which grew to such a size, that it not only deformed his face, but even impeded his respiration to such a degree, that his voice was scarcely intelligible to listeners. Moreover, so disagreeable was the odour arising from the ulcer, that he was shunned by all, except an only sister, who ministered to his wants. However, in that state of misery, he resolved on making a pilgrimage to the shrine of St. Fiacre, and he went thither with bare feet, the more to manifest his reverence and devotion towards the holy Patron. On his arrival at the church, he prayed fervently for recovery before the shrine, and then fatigued with the length and hard- ship of his journey, he fell into a deep slumber before the tomb of the saint. On awakening, to his great relief and joy, the mass of corruption had issued from his nostrils, without causing any pain or injury. Going forth from the church, and washing his face with water, he found that a perfect cure had beenmiraculouslyaccomplished. FilledwithgratitudetotheAlmightyand to his holy servant Fiacre, again the pious pilgrim returned to pray before thesaint'stomb, Afterwards,hereturnedtohishome,andneitherinteriorly or exteriorly was any mark of that disorder visible on his face. The cure of a man named Odo from a similar disease, and through the intercession of St. Fiacre, is likewise recorded. Odo felt so grateful for his recovery, that he spent some years willingly devoting himself to labour for the monks living in the monastery. Afterwards, he married, and resided in a village called
* By Surius and Mabillon, the foregoing miraculous incident is more briefly narrated. 99 The nature of their infirmity is ex- pressed by the term applied to them in
Latin, "Viscosi," and it is repeated in other forms. The word " Ik. . . i" means •filled with sores," or "scabby," or
having the piles. "
*• An account of these different miracles
may be seen in Surius, " De Probatis Sane- torum Vitis. "
31 « Virtutum fulget titulus, Medetur ccecis occulis,
Polypo, fico, calculis, — Febribus, morbis singulis.
Hymnus S. Fiacrii. ex ej us Officio desumpto.
> He adds, " Multa enim milia utrisque
:
" Let the blind go to the
August 30. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 437
Columnes. TheanonymouswriterofSt. Fiacre'sLifedeclares,thathehad seen many others who were healed from the same disorder of polypus, and through the merits of God's servant. That it was impossible to write about each instance^3 he states; but, several cases are left on record, which abundantly manifest miraculous assistance afforded by the saint to his devout clients.
The founder of the Trinitarian Order, St. John of Matha,33 cherished a special devotion for St. Fiacre. Not satisfied with emulating his virtues at a distance, he wished to erect a hermitage so near as he could to Breuil, that thus the site of St. Fiacre's former habitation, and where his relics had been preserved, might prove a constant stimulus to popular piety. 3*
In the fourteenth century, Edward the Black Prince ravaged that country about Meaux, but he spared the sanctuary at Breuil. He caused the shrine of the saint to be opened, however, and extracted a portion of the relics, which he desired to bring with him to England. When passing through Normandy, he deposited those relics on an altar at Montloup, not far distant from Tournay, where a chapel had been erected in honour of St. Fiacre. No strength of man was able afterwards to remove the relics from that altar.
The death of the soon after took prince
35 The French regarded this result as a punishment for his want of due reverence towards
the shrine of our saint. 36
When King Henry V. 37 of England took advantage of the dissensions
which arose in France, owing to the insanity of its King, Charles VI. , and had resolved on the conquest of that country, he landed with an army of
nearly 50,000 men, on the 21st of August, 141 5, on the site, where Havre de Grace was built during the succeeding century. On the 25 th of October following, he was victor in the celebrated battle fought at Agincourt. He then marched to Calais, and re-embarked for England, with the prisoners of distinction he had captured. Soon afterwards, he concluded a truce for two years,withKingCharlesVI. However,havingorganizedasecondexpedi- tion to forward his ambitious views, he landed once more in Normandy, on the 1st of August, 1418. A treaty was concluded at Troyes, on the 21st of May, 1420, whereby he was recognised as heir to the French monarchy, havingmarriedthePrincessCatherine,daughtertoCharlesVI. Neverthe- less, the French nobles and people were soon in revolt; while the Scots, guided by a sound policy, despatched a considerable army to aid their allies, and to cement still more that friendship, which had so frequently protected them from the ambitious designs of the English. Leaving his uncle, the Duke of Exeter, in Paris, Henry again hastened to England, and returned with additional reinforcements. At this time, several places in France had
sexus ad monasterium praedicti sancti con-
veniunt, et singuli gaudentes referunt per ejusdem sancti suffragia a diversis infirmita-
35 He died on Trinity Sunday,A. D. I376,and he was buried in Canterbury Cathedral, where his monument is still to be seen. The
"
Lieux d'alentour," chap. cxx. to ccexxv.
36 He had sunk into a mortal languor, which was soon followed by his death. See
"
History of Latin Chris- tianity," vol. viii. , book xiii. , chap, vi. , pp.
172, 175. (Fourth Edition.
Towards himself he was most mortified. The practice of austerities,
vigils and fasting, joined with prayer, enabled him to attain the highest virtues. Although practised in seclusion, these diffused his reputation for sanctity through the most distant parts of that country, which became his by adoption. His time was divided between contemplation and prayer ; the cultivation of his garden ; and exercises of charity towards his neighbours, who resorted to him for advice or direction. 16 His fame went abroad, and thousands came from the most distant parts, to see the good saint. But, the poor seem to have been the objects of his chiefest solicitude.
In his retirement, St. Fiacre indulged his taste and skill in gardening, and that healthy exercise was a labour he specially loved. The manner in which his fruit-trees, shrubs, vegetables and flowers were cultivated excited the admiration of all beholders. •' If a man sows," he used to
say
" it is God who the increase if giveth ;
his
man plants, it is God who bringeth the flowers and the fruits. " He is said to have been a great botanist, and to have surrounded his hermitage with flowers. These acquisitions prove his taste and love for natural science. The afflicted and suffering in mind or body, believing in his miraculous gifts,soonflockedtohishermitageingreatnumbers. Thosewhowerevery infirm were brought thither by their relations or friends. Numbers of' sick and demented persons attended the place of his retreat; lame, blind, deaf and dumb, all received health and strength through his prayers, and by the imposition of his hands.
strangers praised
lovely garden,
In his garden, he cultivated roots for the refreshment of poor travellers. Wherefore to provide better for their support, he judged it necessary to procure a larger tract of land, than he at first possessed ; that by his own labours and those of his brethren, he might be able to cultivate all kind of vegetables, and thus minister to the wants of necessitous individuals. St. Faro had already given him permission, to appropriate so much of the wood, as he desired. '7 However, our humble eremite, would not presume to encroach on this privilege, without again referring the matter to his benefactor.
is " monasterium "
Ages, as Du Cange remarks, that word Sancta," part ii. , p. 102.
;
was often used for an oratory, as seems to be the signification in the present instance.
14
See Rev. Henry Sebastian Bowden's "Miniature Lives of the Saints for Every Day in the Year," vol. i. , March 17, p. 154.
15 Also dedicated to the Blessed Virgin "
•' In two manuscript Lives of our saint, in possession of the Bollandists, Fiacre is said to have received from the Bishop an instrument "quod Gallice Bkssa vocatur," and this was intended to mark out the ground, which had been granted to him.
but in the Middle l6 See Bishop Challenor's "Britannia
Mary. See Breviarium Meldensis," Pars The word means bcche in French, and the Estiva. In Festo S. Fiacrii, lect. iv. . English meaning is "a spade. "
when
August 30. J LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 431
The latter renewed permission to fell any quantity of timber, that might be
necessary for the proposed enlargement of his farm, telling him at the same time, he was at liberty to possess all the land he might be able to surround with a furrow in one day. After returning thanks for such a favour, our Saint is said to have marked out that furrow with his staff. A deep trench opened beneath the line he traced, and the woods within that enclosure
miraculously disappeared.
by
local peasantry.
T 9 While his work was in
progress,
and
beholding
the
18 the ditch was shown Long afterwards,
the results, a certain woman immediately brought word to the bishop, that our Saint had been seen by her in the act of using incantations, and witchcraft, while per- forming that miracle. Her representations at first made an unfavourable impression on the mind of St. Faro ; and emboldened by her successful accusation, with insolence in her words and gestures, she soon returned
bearing a message from the Bishop, that Fiacre should desist from the work he had commenced. This order he obeyed on the instant. She also announced, that the Bishop would come to see what had taken place. Somewhat saddened by this news and disconcerted, Fiacre sat down on a stone that was near, awaiting the result. This stone was afterwards pre- served with religious veneration, and according to popular tradition, it became hollowed into the form of a chair, so that the saint might the more easily rest in it. In course of time, when a church had been built in his honour at that place, the stone was removed to it, and preserved in attesta-
the illustrious prelate.
Several pious disciples placed themselves under the direction of the holy
Eremite, who had thus founded his religious establishment at Breuil, in the district of Brie, and which has since his time taken the name of Saint-Fiacre. We are led to the inference, that he drew up a strict rule of life for his monks.
Moved by that action of the woman, it is said that St. Fiacre made an
20 Meanwhile, when St. Faro he soon arrived,
tion of the miracle
learned the true state of affairs ; and the holy Bishop, much pleased with the ready obedience shown by our Saint to his mandate, was immediately reconciled to his humble subject. Having beheld those wonderful miracles wrought through the servant of God, that prelate conceived even a greater love and friendship for him than at first ; so that afterwards, Fiacre was still more honoured, through the constant familiarity and respect shown him by
81
wrought.
ordinance, which excluded all females from his Monastery.
22
Through his
prayers, it was held he obtained a request, that some bodily infirmity should
befall those women, who wilfully dared to disregard his regulation. ^ How-
ever, interpreted by popular tradition, his real motive appears to have been
rather guided by the example of the Ccenobiarchs in Ireland, who were
18
impression, produced by the labours of " Th—e following distich refers to this in-
monastic pioneers, on the popular mind. cident
diTMs 20
Thus was interpreted, that profound 335.
See LeComte de Montalembert's " Les
MoinesdelOccident,"tome11. , hvrevn. ,
:
« Faemina qu£e lsesit blasphemo murmure Sanctum
sancti non intret faemina tem-
Thes; ines occur in " De Gestibus Fran- i
corum " Jib iii '
23 " Orat ne loci intret limina Immunis ulla fsemina, Hoc est causa cur faeminae
chap. 111. , p. 437.
J9 "
Fecit nlum
See Mabillon s
Acta Sanctorum Or-
quod "
Benedicti," tomus ii. , p. 573.
The parochial church of Brie yet retains this relic. There, too, the sites of the saint's
and enclosure are
hermitage traditionally
pointed out ; but no remains of the ancient
J? -
.
buildings are now to be seen.
21'• "
Saints,"
tome
x. ,
xxxe
jour d'Aout, pp. 334,
Hymnus
S. Fiacrii,**
ejus Officio desumpta.
See Les Petits Bollandistes Vies des
—
Arcentur ejus limine.
432 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [August 30.
careful to remove any cause for temptation or human frailty from the precincts of their respective monasteries. 2*
It is related, that a certain noble lady, wishing to learn what should be the consequence of disobedience to St. Fiacre's rule, urged a servant-maid to venture within the monastery, yet against her own wishes. However, that servant escaped uninjured, while her mistress lost an eye, as a punishment for her temerity. Another woman, on daring to place one foot within the forbidden threshold, was immediately afflicted with a tumour, that ascended from the offending member through her entire body, which became affected
2 in a similar manner. *
CHAPTER III
VISIT OF ST. KILIAN TO ST. FIACRE—FABULOUS STORY OF THE LATTER BEING OFFERED THE CROWN OF SCOTLAND—HIS LIFE IN SOLITUDE—HIS DEATH AND BURIAL— TRANSFERENCE OF HIS RELICS—VARIOUS MIRACLES AND INCIDENTS—MEMORIALS OF THE VENERATION PAID TO ST. FIACRE—COMMEMORATIONS OF HIS FEAST— CONCLUSION.
Among others of his contemporaries, attracted by the popular report of St. Fiacre's sanctity, was his own countryman and kinsman, St. Kilian1 or Chillen,2whohadmadeapilgrimagetoRome. Hedeviated,however,from the direct route on returning, and bent his course towards Meaux. By St.
Fiacre, he was most affectionately received, and for some days the pilgrim remained with him. not alone giving information regarding their friends and native country, but also engaged much in religious conversation and study on the most elegant passages of Holy Scripture. Another curious incident is related,3 and to the effect, that St. Fiacre, a "Scot of Ireland," when he
met St. Killian in France, thus asked him " My dearest brother, what
:
"
The natural answer to such a query may be imagined, that it was his desire to serve God with less attach- ment to the situations of ease and enjoyment in which worldlings most delight. Commending each other to the care of Almighty God by mutual prayer, those holy relatives parted, having given and received the kiss of
peace/
To the regions of romance we may fairly relegate one of the stories told
regarding our Saint, by some of the Scottish5 and French writers. 6 Thus, it is stated, that while Fiacre enjoyed in tranquillity the delights of his beloved
brought you into these barbarous nations ?
24 "
See Ussher's Britannicarum Eccle-
siarum Antiquitates," cap. xvii. , pp. 488, 489.
as See " Messingham's Florilegium
PP- 39°» 39 1 - Chapter hi.
Dissertatio Historica, Articu! us xiii. , sect, x. ,
p. 270.
* The " Histoire de Saint Kilien Ev6que,
Missionnaire de l'Artois au vne has Siecle,"
been elegantly and learnedly written by A.
— Cuvillier,and published at Lille, 1861, i2mo.
*5
His festival occurs on Hector Boece seems to have been the
InsuLx Sanctorum. "' Vita S. Fiacrii ex Capgravio,
the 13th day of November. His Life and first to chronicle the succeeding narrative in
Act* are to be found at that date. his " Scotorum Hystoriae," lib, ix. He is
2 We are told Mubillon, that this was followed but in briefer by by John Lesley,
the Scottish St. Chillenus whom St. Faro fashion, in his work, " De Rebus Gestis
sent to preach the Gospel in Artois. See
" Annates Ordinis S. tomus Benedicti," i. ,
lib. xii. , num. vi , p. 344.
5 See Ward's or O'Sheerin's " Sancti
Rumoldi Martyris InclytiArchiepiscopiDub- liniensis, Mechlinieosium Apostoli," &c.
Scotorum," lib. iv.
6 Thus in his Saussay,
Martyrologium Gallicanum," and other writers adopt the
without examination as to whether or not they agree with the most
Scottish
accounts,
ancient manuscript Lives of the Saints.
August 30. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 433
solitude, the King of Scotland, his reputed father, died, and his younger son Ferchard succeeded him on the throne. However, having become infected
with the Pelagian heresy,? which had then spread over the kingdom of Scotland, and having been addicted to crimes, which drew the hatred of the peopleonhim,apublicassemblyofthestatewasconvened. Thenhewas deposed and cast into prison. After some deliberation, as to the choice of a successor, and as the reputation of St. Fiacre for justice and for every other
virtue was extensively known, the assembly unanimously resolved to offer
him the crown.
of Neustrie, in order to urge him for the influence he possessed
that Fiacre would consent to accept the position of King, and remove from his hermitage. 9 Having had an intimation of these proceedings, the Saint was much troubled in mind ; but, he besought the Almighty in tears and prayers, that he might not be brought away from his favourite solitude, which had become so delightful to him, or to obtain honours which for love of Him had been already abandoned, and which when attained were full of peril to the possessor. Whereupon, his prayers were heard, and immediately he was covered with a leprosy, which rendered him an object of horror to all beholders. 10 When the ambassadors then approached him, their purpose was altogether changed ; and now they felt interiorly moved to press their suit very coldly, as they believed such a person was utterly removed from the list of those, who were desirable candidates for the Scottish monarchy. They even wished Fiacre should decline acceding to the prayer of their petition. Nor were they long about learning his decision, when thus
addressing them " Know that this pest, with which I am covered, is not
:
the result of natural causes, but a grace of the Almighty conferred on me the more to confirm my humility, and be persuaded that I prefer this small cell to the greatest kingdom in the universe. When here, I work out my salva- tion with assured hope ; while taking the sceptre you now offer, my soul should be exposed to numberless dangers. " Satisfied with such refusal, the ambassadors took their leave. He then remained undisturbed as before in his beloved hermitage. Yet, as the Almighty had only afflicted him with the leprosy for a time, in order to favour his aspiring after true humility ; no sooner had the Scottish messengers departed, than Fiacre's face and body
resumed their natural beauty.
11
Totally irreconcilable with the old legend
Accordingly,
ambassadors were sent to Clotairc
8
II. , King
of his acts, as also with probability, is the statement, that he left France and
returned to Ireland, where, according to an unauthe—nticated account, he
becameabbotofamonastery,andattendedSt. Congel wemayassumethe
7 This derived its nomenclature from Pe- painting of this imaginary incident, viz. , the
lagius, as he had been called in Rome ; but deputation befoie St. Fiacre, who is repre-
he is supposed to have been previously sented as a good-looking young man, wearing named Morgan. According to St. Augustin, a white robe over which there is a black
scapular, and holding a spade in his right hand. The deputation, three warriors, offer him golden vessels. A turbaned negro holds their horses; but, with his left hand, St. Fiacre motions away the proffered gifts. To the left of the picture, are three kneeling women supplicating the saint not to leave La Brie. The figures are life-size. This curious picture is over two hundred years old.
I0 This incident, as in the narrative given
of Boece, has been omitted by Lesley.
in his epistle to Paulinus, 106, the heresiarch was called Pelagius Brito, to distinguish him as had been thought from another Pelagius ofTarentum. See "
Stillingfleet's Origines Britannicse, or the Antiquities of the British
Churches," chap, iv. , pp. 180, 181.
8 He was son of Chilperic or Childeric I. and Fredegonde. He succeeded his father as king of France in 584, when only four months old, and he reigned under the guar-
628,
» In the Salle de Cathechisme of the Cathedral at Meaux, there is a rude oil
of his mother. He died A. D.
dianship
in the 45th year of his age.
" See Les Petits Bollandistes, "Viesdes c
Saints," tome x. , xxx jour d'Aout, p. 335. 2£
—
engage
to
434
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [August 30.
proper rendering to be St. Comgall of Bangor"—during his last illness, and hi whose honour he built a monastery. ^
The Saint continued to be a hale old man, worshipping God in singleness
ofheart,untilhislatestmoments. Thisenjoymentofhealthwasthenatural
result of his regulated temperance of living, and in the physical exertion of labour, which he loved to exercise in the open air. He seems to have lived a very retired life in his oratory of Breuil for many years, and in it they were
finally closed. Rendered illustrious by the performance of so many miracles, 1
St. Fiacre departed to a life of glory, in the seventh century. * It should
prove a matter of great difficulty, to ascertain the exact period of his release,
which is not recorded. Nor do we know on what authority, it is stated, that
he died on the 18th of August, although his festival is celebrated on the
30th of this month. '5 That his soul went to Heaven, on the 30th of August,
has always been current in tradition ; the year is thought to have been, about
a. d. 670, apparently named for no better reason, than because St. Faro, his
contemporary, died about that time. However, even the true date for St.
Faro's death has not been discovered ; while that of St. Fiacre may have
been either before or after the departure of his friend and patron, the Bishop
16
of Meaux.
His body was interred within his Oratory, 7 and in the Chapel he had
built to honour the Blessed Virgin. There it lay until a. d. 1234, when
Peter, Bishop of Meaux, removed it from that place of deposition, and exposed it for veneration by the faithful. A priory was built after the death ofSt. Fiacre,atthatplacewherehedied. Sincethen,theprioryandchurch have been destroyed \ yet the faithful continue to visit the site, and they frequent the parish church of Breuil to venerate the relic of Fiacre, presented
toitspriorybyMonseigneurSeguier,BishopofMeaux. However,through respect for the saint's memory, women do not enter the precincts of his
former residence, nor the chapel in which he had been interred.
1'
After-
wards, the priory of Breuil became a dependency on the monastery of St. Faro, which was in charge of the Benedictines. 1 ? In the year 13 13, Adam Faronian, Abbot,. ordered thenceforth that nine choir-monks and a prior from
his monastery, with one lay-brother and one lay-sister, should live in St. Fiacre's establishment, and that they should serve under regular observance.
For their maintenance, it was regulated, that they might receive offerings of the faithful, which were presented as tokens of reverence towards the head
of St. Fiacre.
ao
" See his Life in the Fifth Volume of this work, at the ioth of May, Art. i.
septuagessimo evolavit, et in ecclesiola sua sepultus est," &c. Pars Estiva. In Festo S. Fiacrii, lect. v.
13 Yet such is the narrative given by Dr.
Meredith Hanmer
;
—"Inanancientmanu-
"Livesof
script Legend of the Life of St. Congellus or
Congallus, I finde that Saint Fiacre returned
into Ireland, and became Abbot of Airard tomus vi. , xxx. Augusti. De S. Fiacrio in Leinster, upon the River of Berba, now Eremiia Conf. , &c. Commentarius Prsevius, called the Barrow, in the Barony of Odrone,
and that he went to the Abbey of Beanchor
in Vlster to visite Congellus^t whose hands
Cottgellus received the Sacrament, and gave
up the ghost. There, also, it is further having made a pilgrimage to St. Fiacre's •Hedges, that this Fiacre builded a Monas- Shrine, was satisfied with praying at the
tene in Leinster, in the honour of Saint door of his oratory. See Les Petits Bollan. "
Congellus. "—"Chronicle of Ireland," pp. distes, "Vies des Saints, tome x. , xxx«
«5&. *57- jour d'Aout, pp. 335, 337.
14 The "Breviarium Meldeasn. " states : '» See MabihWs "Acta Sanctorum
44 Ad superos ut creditur, tertio Kalendas Ordinis S. Benedicti. " Sseculum secun- Septembiis anno circiter sexcentessimo dum, Acta S. Fiacrii, p. 600.
1
1S SeeRev. S.
the Saints," August 30, vol. viii. , p. 385.
l6
See the Bollandists' "Acta Sanctorum,"
Baring-Gould's
sect, iii. , num. 31, p. 604.
»» See Les Petits Bollandistes, " Viej des
Saints," tome x. , jour d'Aout xxxe
,8
, p. 335. Anne of Austria, Queen of France,
August 30. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 435
Numbers of persons had been long accustomed to visit the oratory of
Breuil, specially connected with his name and celebrity, for the purpose of
offering vows and praying before his altar. And scarcely throughout France
was any other saint more distinguished than Fiacre for the miracles wrought
through his intercession, nor was any other locality more frequented by the
St. Fiacre is said to have been blessed, or beatified, especially in During the middle ages, his acts were dramatized in a Sacred
bathing
Isara,
venturing
deep water, they
;
31 3* 2
faithful.
France.
Mystery 3 for the edification of the people.
Many illustrious miracles are recorded of our Saint, by his biographers. Those remarkable manifestations of his efficacy are to be found especially recorded in those Latin Acts, as published by the Bollandists. 3* We can only present a few, in attestation of that popular veneration he secured during the time of his pilgrimage on earth, and which has continued even to the present day. A certain man, living at Montinaco,35 had two children, a long time labouring under infirmity. In order to obtain their restoration, the father resolved on bringing them to St. Fiacre. Being mounted on a beast of burden, and placing one of those children before and another behind, he had just left Meaux, and was passing over a bridge on the way. A numberofspectatorshappenedtobepresent,atthatmoment. Theanimal stumbled and fell with his burden into the River Materna, now the Marne, which was very deep at this place, while the current was very rapid. The
father and his children cried immediately
out,
Having risen to the surface of the water, beneath which he was plunged, and
unable to swim, and nevertheless holding his children, who were apart, one by the right, and the other by the left arm, they were all enabled to reach the bank in safety. The father attributed this wonderful rescue to the invocation of St. Fiacre; and, at this same instant, his children were restored to health, those who were present crying out, that it was a truly providential escape. The fame of that miracle soon spread through the city of Meaux. Afterwards, the father and his children prosecuted their journey to the monastery of Fiacre, where they made a vow before his shrine, and then joyful for such preservation, they returned safely to their home, with hearts full of gratitude towards the Saint.
But a still greater miracle has been attributed to the intercession of the
Blessed Fiacre. On another at occasion, Noyon,
37
20 See Mabillon's " Annales Ordinis S. "
Benedicti, tomus i. , lib. xii. , num. vi. , p. 344.
36 while four were boys
were drowned and when women who witnessed the occurrence raised an outcry, the people of that town came forth in great numbers. At once, taking to their boats with boat-hooks, certain fishermen vainly endeavoured to rescue the bodies of those boys from the sixth hour until sunset. Two mothers of the boys drowned now arrived, and were distracted with grief at their loss. At length,
in the River
into
are related in two appendices, pp. 616 to 620.
ss
21 See " Breviarium Meldensis," Pars published by the Bollandists ; but in two
Estiva, lect. v. , vi. 22 ''
Such is the spelling in the Acts as other Manuscripts, as also in those Acts
See Historiae Catholicse Ibernise Com-
published by Surius written Montiaco.
and Mabillon, it is The Bollandist editor
to the
pendium," tomus i. , lib. iv. , cap. xi. , p. 50.
23 In Mon. " inedits
of Montigny,
Jubinal's Mysteres Siecle," there is published a Mystere de Monsieur Saint Fiacre," dating
conjectures,
village
du xv "
e
from the fifteenth
ofstill earliercomposition.
3* See " Acta
xxx. Augusti. Acta S. Fiacrii, Auctore anonymo, pp. 604 to 616. Other miracles
designated.
26 This town
century,
and
perhaps
formerly belonged ProvinceofPicardy.
Sanctorum,"
tomus
vi. ,
It is now known as L'Oise, and it falls into the
l4 O Fiacre, succour us. " holy
that the
between Meaux and Lagny, is here probably
2? Also written Ysara, or Ysera. River Seine.
436
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [August 30.
one of the mothers, who had been restored to health at his shrine, invoked the name of Fiacre, and adjured him, that he would show forth God's power,
in this similar conjuncture of her misery. After her prayer, the boys were restored to life. Then was it declared, that they owed this miraculous event
38
to the prayers of our Saint.
While seven travellers were coming from St. Denis, and passing by the
Monastery of Breuil, four of the number proposed a visit. The other three
said
:
u We are not suffering from any malady, and we have no occasion to
go to the Monastery of St. Fiacre, for he only receives infirm travellers, and
especially ficosi. ^ Go, ye, therefore to him, as you have a necessity for so
doing, and we shall proceed to our homes. " However, those four setting
out were derided by their companions, who said
physician of the blind. " Instantly the scoffers were deprived of sight. The blind men, filled with consternation, then called upon their companions, who were hastening towards God's servant ; but, supposing this call to be only a continuation of their former derision, the cry was not adverted to, until the four returned from their visit. Then these found, that their blind com- panions were wandering at random through the fields, not knowing where to turn, yet penitent for their faulty indiscretion. The three blind men were afterwards led to the monastery of our Abbot ; when imploring St. Fiacre's intervention on their behalf, they were again restored to the use of sight. 3°
In the Hymn of St. Fiacre's Sacred Office are enumerated the various diseases which were removed through his intercession. 3 1 A very remarkable case of such efficacy was that of a man living at Amiens, and who suffered from a most painful polypus, which grew to such a size, that it not only deformed his face, but even impeded his respiration to such a degree, that his voice was scarcely intelligible to listeners. Moreover, so disagreeable was the odour arising from the ulcer, that he was shunned by all, except an only sister, who ministered to his wants. However, in that state of misery, he resolved on making a pilgrimage to the shrine of St. Fiacre, and he went thither with bare feet, the more to manifest his reverence and devotion towards the holy Patron. On his arrival at the church, he prayed fervently for recovery before the shrine, and then fatigued with the length and hard- ship of his journey, he fell into a deep slumber before the tomb of the saint. On awakening, to his great relief and joy, the mass of corruption had issued from his nostrils, without causing any pain or injury. Going forth from the church, and washing his face with water, he found that a perfect cure had beenmiraculouslyaccomplished. FilledwithgratitudetotheAlmightyand to his holy servant Fiacre, again the pious pilgrim returned to pray before thesaint'stomb, Afterwards,hereturnedtohishome,andneitherinteriorly or exteriorly was any mark of that disorder visible on his face. The cure of a man named Odo from a similar disease, and through the intercession of St. Fiacre, is likewise recorded. Odo felt so grateful for his recovery, that he spent some years willingly devoting himself to labour for the monks living in the monastery. Afterwards, he married, and resided in a village called
* By Surius and Mabillon, the foregoing miraculous incident is more briefly narrated. 99 The nature of their infirmity is ex- pressed by the term applied to them in
Latin, "Viscosi," and it is repeated in other forms. The word " Ik. . . i" means •filled with sores," or "scabby," or
having the piles. "
*• An account of these different miracles
may be seen in Surius, " De Probatis Sane- torum Vitis. "
31 « Virtutum fulget titulus, Medetur ccecis occulis,
Polypo, fico, calculis, — Febribus, morbis singulis.
Hymnus S. Fiacrii. ex ej us Officio desumpto.
> He adds, " Multa enim milia utrisque
:
" Let the blind go to the
August 30. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 437
Columnes. TheanonymouswriterofSt. Fiacre'sLifedeclares,thathehad seen many others who were healed from the same disorder of polypus, and through the merits of God's servant. That it was impossible to write about each instance^3 he states; but, several cases are left on record, which abundantly manifest miraculous assistance afforded by the saint to his devout clients.
The founder of the Trinitarian Order, St. John of Matha,33 cherished a special devotion for St. Fiacre. Not satisfied with emulating his virtues at a distance, he wished to erect a hermitage so near as he could to Breuil, that thus the site of St. Fiacre's former habitation, and where his relics had been preserved, might prove a constant stimulus to popular piety. 3*
In the fourteenth century, Edward the Black Prince ravaged that country about Meaux, but he spared the sanctuary at Breuil. He caused the shrine of the saint to be opened, however, and extracted a portion of the relics, which he desired to bring with him to England. When passing through Normandy, he deposited those relics on an altar at Montloup, not far distant from Tournay, where a chapel had been erected in honour of St. Fiacre. No strength of man was able afterwards to remove the relics from that altar.
The death of the soon after took prince
35 The French regarded this result as a punishment for his want of due reverence towards
the shrine of our saint. 36
When King Henry V. 37 of England took advantage of the dissensions
which arose in France, owing to the insanity of its King, Charles VI. , and had resolved on the conquest of that country, he landed with an army of
nearly 50,000 men, on the 21st of August, 141 5, on the site, where Havre de Grace was built during the succeeding century. On the 25 th of October following, he was victor in the celebrated battle fought at Agincourt. He then marched to Calais, and re-embarked for England, with the prisoners of distinction he had captured. Soon afterwards, he concluded a truce for two years,withKingCharlesVI. However,havingorganizedasecondexpedi- tion to forward his ambitious views, he landed once more in Normandy, on the 1st of August, 1418. A treaty was concluded at Troyes, on the 21st of May, 1420, whereby he was recognised as heir to the French monarchy, havingmarriedthePrincessCatherine,daughtertoCharlesVI. Neverthe- less, the French nobles and people were soon in revolt; while the Scots, guided by a sound policy, despatched a considerable army to aid their allies, and to cement still more that friendship, which had so frequently protected them from the ambitious designs of the English. Leaving his uncle, the Duke of Exeter, in Paris, Henry again hastened to England, and returned with additional reinforcements. At this time, several places in France had
sexus ad monasterium praedicti sancti con-
veniunt, et singuli gaudentes referunt per ejusdem sancti suffragia a diversis infirmita-
35 He died on Trinity Sunday,A. D. I376,and he was buried in Canterbury Cathedral, where his monument is still to be seen. The
"
Lieux d'alentour," chap. cxx. to ccexxv.
36 He had sunk into a mortal languor, which was soon followed by his death. See
"
History of Latin Chris- tianity," vol. viii. , book xiii. , chap, vi. , pp.
172, 175. (Fourth Edition.
