August 30 - Saint Fiacre is the offspring of a noble family from Ireland then called "Hibernia" or "Land of Scots". He was first educated by Saint Cuanna in the monastery of Kilcoony, on the edge of Loch Orbsen. Fiacre revealed such a talent for herbal care that he became famous there.
Ordained a priest, St. Fiacre established his first hermitage at Kill-Fiachra, or Kilfera, on the west bank of the River Nore, about three miles south of Kilkenny. He lived there for many years, leading a very austere life but attracting the visits of many sick people and followers because of his medicinal skills. This made it impossible for him to live the "green martyrdom" he longed for and was a recluse in nature. As his brother was called to the throne, it was decided that there was nothing to prevent him from going to Meaux, in the Carolingian kingdom, to perform a "white martyrdom".
Accompanied by his sister Sira (Sirad) and a few disciples, Saint Fiacre landed in Normandy and reached Meaux where he was welcomed in the hospice for pilgrims founded by Bishop Saint Faron, also of noble origin and as such, previously head of the armies of the King Clothaire. Saint Fiacre however decides to keep silent about his noble origins and settles down with Saint Faron. It is then that his relative, Saint Kilian, while making a pilgrimage to Rome, stops in this same hospice and reveals the rank of Saint Fiacre who is preparing to leave. Saint Faro asked him not to leave the place where he had found peace, and suggested that he found a monastery on alleu near Meaux, a desert but fertile expanse called a breuil, located about six kilometers southeast of the city on a plateau not far from the banks of the Marne. He transformed the place extremely quickly with his disciples, but others immediately flocked to him, whom he welcomed and assigned them much manual work. He erected an oratory in honor of Mary and then a monastery, and cultivated his medicinal plants to exercise his talents as a plant practitioner. Their harvests were dedicated to the maintenance of pilgrims and very frequently to the relief of the sick.
The said alleu soon became too small and Saint Fiacre asked for land again. Saint Faron promised to grant him as much adjacent land as he could clear in one day. Saint Fiacre had no difficulty in clearing a large area in the space of a day, as many trees could be felled with ease. The success of his business continued to grow.
Legend has it that a woman named Becnaude accused him of witchcraft at the bishopric. Saint Faron, alerted, noticed these healings and concluded that Fiacre was a saint. His virtue recognized, Saint Fiacre was able to continue his existence of prayer and charity under the protection of Our Lady to whom he dedicated his monastery which became a famous place of pilgrimage. After his death, the monastery took his name.
Already highly appreciated during his lifetime, Saint Fiacre is venerated as patron saint of gardeners and by homonymy, as patron saint of coachmen and later taxi drivers. His attributes are the shovel and the spade.
