Hildi
2005-04-03 16:58:15 UTC
Bible Verse
-- Psalm 55:16-17 --
But I call to God,
and the LORD saves me.
Evening, morning and noon
I cry out in distress,
and he hears my voice.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Praying evening, morning and noon is certainly an excellent way to maintain
correct priorities throughout every day. The prayers of God's people are
effective against the overwhelming evil in the world.
<><><><>
April 3rd - St. Burgundofara, OSB Abbess V (RM)
(also known as Fare, Fara)
Born near Meaux; died at Faremoutiers in Brie, France, on April 3, c. 655-657.
Sister of Saint Cagnoald, Saint Faro, and Agnetrudis, Fare had been blessed by
Saint Columbanus in her infancy during his stay with the family on his way into
exile from Luxeuil. Some chroniclers say she was 10 or 15 at the time Columbanus
consecrated her to God in a particular manner. She developed a religious
vocation early in spite of the fierce opposition of her father, Count Agneric,
one of the principal courtiers of King Theodebert II. He arranged an honorable
match for his daughter, which so upset her that she became mortally ill. Still
Agneric demanded that she marry.
When Saint Eustace was returning to the court with her brother Cagnoald from his
embassy to Columbanus, he stayed in the home of Agneric. Fare disclosed to him
her vocation. Eustace told her father that Fare was deathly ill because he
opposed her pious inclinations. The saintly man prostrated himself for a time in
prayer, rose, and made the sign of the cross upon Fare's eyes. Immediately her
health was restored.
Eustace asked her mother, Leodegonda, to prepare Fare to receive the veil when
he returned to court. As soon as the saint left, Agneric again began to harass
his daughter. She sought sanctuary in the church when he threatened to kill her
if she did not comply with his wishes. Eustace returned and reconciled father
and daughter. He then arranged for Fare to be professed before Bishop Gondoald
of Meaux in 614.
A year or two later, Fare convinced her father to build her a double monastery,
originally named Brige (Brie, which is Celtic for "bridge") or Evoriacum, now
called Faremoutiers (Fare's monastery). The chronicler Jonas, a monk in that
abbey, wrote about many of the holy people he knew there, including Saint
Cagnoald and Saint Walbert.
Although Fare was still very young, she was appointed its first abbess and
governed the monastery under the Rule of Saint Columbanus for 37 years. The rule
was severe. The use of wine and milk was forbidden (at least during penitential
seasons). The inhabitants confessed three times each day to encourage a habitual
watchfulness for the attainment of purity of heart. Masses were said daily in
the monastery for 30 days for the soul of those religious who died.
Fare was apparently an excellent directress of souls. Many English princess-nuns
and nun-saints were trained under her, including Saints Gibitrudis, Sethrida,
Ethelburga, Ercongotha, Hildelid, Sisetrudis, Hercantrudis, and others. Once
when her younger brother, Saint Faro, was visiting, he was so moved by her
heavenly discourses that he resigned the great offices which he held at court,
persuaded his fiancé to become a nun, and took the clerical tonsure. After he
succeeded Gondoald as bishop, Faro supported his sister against attempts to
mitigate the severity of the Rule.
A reference is made to Fare by Bede led long afterwards to the mistaken idea
that she died in England; however, she died at Faremoutiers after a painful,
lingering illness. Her will bequeathed some of her lands to her siblings, but
the rest to the monastery, includng her lands at Champeaux on which a monastery
was later erected.
Fare's relics were enshrined in 695 and many miracles were attributed to her
intercession. Among them is the restoration of sight to Dame Charlotte le Bret,
daughter to the first president and treasurer-general of finance in the district
of Paris. At the age of seven (1602), her left eye was put out. She became a nun
at Faremoutiers in 1609 and lost the sight in her remaining eye in 1617 due to
an irreversible eye disease. Because she suffered terrible pain in her eyes and
the adjacent nerves, remedies were applied to destroy all feeling in the area.
In 1622, she kissed one of the exposed bones of Saint Fare and touched it to
both eyes. She had feeling again. Upon repeating the action, her sight was
restored-instantly and perfectly. Physicians and witnesses testified in writing
to her state before and after this miracle, which was certified as such by
Bishop John de Vieupont of Meaux on December 9, 1622.
The affidavit of the abbess, Frances de la Chastre, and the community also
mentioned two other miraculous cures of palsy and rheumatism. Other miracles
wrought at the intercession of Saint Fare are recorded by Carcat and du Plessis
(Attwater, Attwater2, Benedictines, Delaney, Encyclopedia, Husenbeth).
Saint Burgundofara is depicted in art as an abbess with an ear of corn.
Sometimes she may be shown in the scene where Saint Columbanus blesses a child
(Roeder). She is honored especially in France and Sicily (Husenbeth).
Spiritual Bouquet: No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws
him. St. John 6:44
-- Psalm 55:16-17 --
But I call to God,
and the LORD saves me.
Evening, morning and noon
I cry out in distress,
and he hears my voice.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Praying evening, morning and noon is certainly an excellent way to maintain
correct priorities throughout every day. The prayers of God's people are
effective against the overwhelming evil in the world.
<><><><>
April 3rd - St. Burgundofara, OSB Abbess V (RM)
(also known as Fare, Fara)
Born near Meaux; died at Faremoutiers in Brie, France, on April 3, c. 655-657.
Sister of Saint Cagnoald, Saint Faro, and Agnetrudis, Fare had been blessed by
Saint Columbanus in her infancy during his stay with the family on his way into
exile from Luxeuil. Some chroniclers say she was 10 or 15 at the time Columbanus
consecrated her to God in a particular manner. She developed a religious
vocation early in spite of the fierce opposition of her father, Count Agneric,
one of the principal courtiers of King Theodebert II. He arranged an honorable
match for his daughter, which so upset her that she became mortally ill. Still
Agneric demanded that she marry.
When Saint Eustace was returning to the court with her brother Cagnoald from his
embassy to Columbanus, he stayed in the home of Agneric. Fare disclosed to him
her vocation. Eustace told her father that Fare was deathly ill because he
opposed her pious inclinations. The saintly man prostrated himself for a time in
prayer, rose, and made the sign of the cross upon Fare's eyes. Immediately her
health was restored.
Eustace asked her mother, Leodegonda, to prepare Fare to receive the veil when
he returned to court. As soon as the saint left, Agneric again began to harass
his daughter. She sought sanctuary in the church when he threatened to kill her
if she did not comply with his wishes. Eustace returned and reconciled father
and daughter. He then arranged for Fare to be professed before Bishop Gondoald
of Meaux in 614.
A year or two later, Fare convinced her father to build her a double monastery,
originally named Brige (Brie, which is Celtic for "bridge") or Evoriacum, now
called Faremoutiers (Fare's monastery). The chronicler Jonas, a monk in that
abbey, wrote about many of the holy people he knew there, including Saint
Cagnoald and Saint Walbert.
Although Fare was still very young, she was appointed its first abbess and
governed the monastery under the Rule of Saint Columbanus for 37 years. The rule
was severe. The use of wine and milk was forbidden (at least during penitential
seasons). The inhabitants confessed three times each day to encourage a habitual
watchfulness for the attainment of purity of heart. Masses were said daily in
the monastery for 30 days for the soul of those religious who died.
Fare was apparently an excellent directress of souls. Many English princess-nuns
and nun-saints were trained under her, including Saints Gibitrudis, Sethrida,
Ethelburga, Ercongotha, Hildelid, Sisetrudis, Hercantrudis, and others. Once
when her younger brother, Saint Faro, was visiting, he was so moved by her
heavenly discourses that he resigned the great offices which he held at court,
persuaded his fiancé to become a nun, and took the clerical tonsure. After he
succeeded Gondoald as bishop, Faro supported his sister against attempts to
mitigate the severity of the Rule.
A reference is made to Fare by Bede led long afterwards to the mistaken idea
that she died in England; however, she died at Faremoutiers after a painful,
lingering illness. Her will bequeathed some of her lands to her siblings, but
the rest to the monastery, includng her lands at Champeaux on which a monastery
was later erected.
Fare's relics were enshrined in 695 and many miracles were attributed to her
intercession. Among them is the restoration of sight to Dame Charlotte le Bret,
daughter to the first president and treasurer-general of finance in the district
of Paris. At the age of seven (1602), her left eye was put out. She became a nun
at Faremoutiers in 1609 and lost the sight in her remaining eye in 1617 due to
an irreversible eye disease. Because she suffered terrible pain in her eyes and
the adjacent nerves, remedies were applied to destroy all feeling in the area.
In 1622, she kissed one of the exposed bones of Saint Fare and touched it to
both eyes. She had feeling again. Upon repeating the action, her sight was
restored-instantly and perfectly. Physicians and witnesses testified in writing
to her state before and after this miracle, which was certified as such by
Bishop John de Vieupont of Meaux on December 9, 1622.
The affidavit of the abbess, Frances de la Chastre, and the community also
mentioned two other miraculous cures of palsy and rheumatism. Other miracles
wrought at the intercession of Saint Fare are recorded by Carcat and du Plessis
(Attwater, Attwater2, Benedictines, Delaney, Encyclopedia, Husenbeth).
Saint Burgundofara is depicted in art as an abbess with an ear of corn.
Sometimes she may be shown in the scene where Saint Columbanus blesses a child
(Roeder). She is honored especially in France and Sicily (Husenbeth).
Spiritual Bouquet: No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws
him. St. John 6:44