St. Fiacre

St. Fiacre of Breuil was born in Ireland in the early seventh century. The name Fiacre derived from the Irish word for “raven.” He was raised in a monastery, where he became a monk, priest, and eventually abbot. He was skilled in herbal medicine, and crowds would come to the monastery seeking his cures.

Because his reputation drew so many people, he sailed to France to build a hermitage, seeking solitude. The Bishop of Meaux likes Irish priests (he had met St. Columba) and granted Fiacre land in the province of Brie for his hermitage. Legend says the bishop offered him as much land as he could turn up in one day. Fiacre turned the top of the soil up with his staff, rather than driving a plough, which would have taken much longer. A woman saw this and complained to the bishop, but the bishop allowed it, as Fiarce only had to turn the soil. Because of this woman, it was said, Fiacre never allowed women to enter his hermitage or the adjoining oratory.

Fiacre built his hermitage, gardens, an oratory, and a hospice to care for travelers. His sister Syra, who was a nun, joined him in France. (Women were allowed in the hospice and other parts of his land.) Again, his reputation for herbal remedies and medical care drew crowds. He raised medicinal plants and vegetables and cared for the sick in between his life of prayer.  

St. Fiacre died on Aug. 18, 670. His feast day is Sept. 1. He is the patron of florists, gardeners and growers of medicinal plants. He is also a patron for those with hemorrhoids and those suffering from infertility.