From: rich <richarra@gmail.com>

October 28th - St. Faro of Meaux

Faro was born around the year 585 into a noble family in Burgundy,
France. His sister was St. Fara, famous for her miracles and the
Convent she founded.

The role of King's counselor was very important in the 6th century.
St. Faro was chosen a counselor of King Clotaire II and chancellor of
King Dagobert. Faro was raised in the court of King Thibert of
Austrasia. In his youth he gave proofs of prudence and valor in battle
that made him esteemed by his sovereign and other kings who governed
France. In 613 Faro was invited to be one of King Clotaire II's
Counsel. He married Blidechild, a princess of great virtue. He was a
strong defender of the monarchy with all of its splendor. He played a
notable role in the war against the Saxons.

He had the gift of counsel, which he used to help the unfortunate and oppressed. Two episodes, which were spread widely among the people of
that time, illustrate this gift. On a certain occasion some Saxon
ambassadors visiting Austrasia responded insolently to Clotaire II.
The King, furious, ordered them to be imprisoned and summarily
executed. Faro interceded to postpone the execution for one day.
During that night he visited the prisoners and exhorted them to
convert to Catholicism so that they might not lose both their bodies
and their souls. They listened to his words and received Baptism. On
the following day, Faro spoke these words before the King and his
Counsel: =E2=80=9CThese ambassadors are no longer strangers to the King, si= nce
they are now clothed in the white tunics of Baptism.=E2=80=9D Surprised and touched by this news, Clotaire, a good Catholic, forgave them and sent
them back to their country.

In another episode, Faro was accompanying Clotaire on a hunt. A poor
woman approached, weeping and asking the King to help her in her
needs. The King spurred his horse to a gallop to be free of the woman
and continue the sport. Faro, whom the people called =E2=80=9Cthe Knight of God,=E2=80=9D followed the King and pled the woman's cause with the=
se words:
=E2=80=9CYou are a King, and daily you ask God to help you in your needs,
which is a good thing. This woman is doing something similar when she
comes to you with her needs. She is asking you for much less than you
ask from God. How can you think that He will listen to you if you do
not listen to her?=E2=80=9D

The King remained stubborn in his refusal, and then his horse threw
him to the ground and he wounded his foot. Clotaire recognized the
accident as a sign of God. He followed the advice of his counselor,
and helped the woman. Because of these and many other similar
episodes, the fame of St. Faro spread and grew among the French
people. He was a figure in almost all the popular songs of the time.

After a time, Faro and his wife agreed to live apart, and he became a
monk. After her death, he was named Bishop of Meaux and was made a
chancellor of King Dagobert I. On October 28, 675 he ended his days in
the peace of the Lord.


Comments of the late Prof. Plinio Corr=C3=AAa de Oliveira: (died 1995)

This is a very beautiful selection. St. Faro lived a long time,
developed many different qualities, held a variety of positions, and
revealed an immense breadth of personality. To understand this excerpt
about him, you should consider the situation of France at that time.
At the time of St. Faro, France was a fractured country with many
small kings who made wars against each other and invading barbarians.

France and Europe of that time were in a difficult situation. The
Roman Empire had fallen, and the barbarian tribes had invaded all of
Europe. They were not Catholics, but part Arians and part pagans. The
kingdom of France, which had been united under Meroveus, was
fragmented again. There were many small kingdoms in France, and
therefore, many small kings. They were constantly fighting against
themselves and against other barbarians coming from Germany and North
Italy, and Arabs from Spain and Southern France.

In this situation all the nobles bore arms. The plebeians only fought
in defense of the lands or towns where they lived. The nobles,
however, could be convoked by the king to fight anywhere. They
constituted the principal force in war. Chivalry was the weapon par
excellence. Therefore, St. Faro, who was a noble, had two choices: to
be a knight or a religious. The first part of his mission was as a
layman, a knight. And since sanctity demands perfection in everything,
he was a perfect warrior, he excelled in the role of warrior. You have
to imagine him in the battle not only defending himself, but also
attacking and killing the enemies, because no warrior can be excellent
without doing this. He did it so well he was esteemed by his own king
and all the other kings in the French territory. France was
fragmented, but the fame of St. Faro and admiration for him spread
throughout the entire French territory, creating an element for the
future unification of the country.

When St. Faro fought for his Faith against pagans like the Saxons or
Moors, his zeal would have been doubled since the fight for a
religious ideal is one that engages the entire man and multiplies his
strength. This is one probable reason why he was so famous and
well-regarded

But he was not only a warrior. He was a man who knew how to handle
situations of life. He married a princess, thereby raising his own
social position and acquiring more influence in other parts of France.
He was also a man who knew how to deal with kings. It was not by
chance that he became a counselor of King Clotaire, and afterward a
chancellor of King Dagobert. Today we don't understand the importan=
ce
of being a member of the King's Counsel. At that time the entire li=
fe
of a nation turned around the person of the monarch. Therefore, to be
invited to be a counselor of the king was an opportunity to influence
the destiny of the country. It was a very important position. The
monarchs were responsible for almost every important decision so they
used to consult often with their counselors, who were chosen with
care. Therefore, to be invited to join the King's Counsel also
represented a great honor....
=C2 See more at
http://www.traditioninaction.org/SOD/j044sdFaro10-28.htm


Saint Quote:
Let us attach ourselves to God alone, and turn our eyes and our hopes to Hi=
m.
--Saint Madeline Sophie Barat

Bible Quote:
But I say unto you, that every idle word that men shall speak, they
shall render an account for it in the day of judgment.=C2 (Matt. 12:36)
DRB


<><><><>
Prayer
=E2=80=9CLord Jesus, give me a lively faith, a firm hope, a fervent charity=
,
and a great love for you. Take from me all lukewarmness in meditating
on your word, and dullness in prayer. Give me fervor and delight in
thinking of you and your grace. Fill my heart with compassion for
others, especially those in need, that I may respond with generosity.=E2=80= =9D

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