From: rich <richarra@gmail.com>

April 3rd =E2=80=93 St. Fare, OSB Abbess, Virgin
(Also known as Burgundofara, 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
fianc=C3=A9 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,
including 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=E2=80=94instantly and perfectl=
y.
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 Fare 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).


Saint Quote:
Do not be dismayed by toil or suffering, nor by the meager fruit of
your labours. Remember that God rewards not according to results, but
effort.
--Blessed Zefirino Agostini

Bible Quote:
27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me; 28 and
I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish, and no one
shall snatch them out of my hand. (John 10:27-28) RSVCE


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