St. Fiacre, Confessor.

New Zealand Tablet, 27 August 1908, Page 3

St. Fiacre, Confessor.

St. Fiacre was an Irishman, who,, having crossed over into France, lived for many years in a solitude not far from the City of Meaux. His life there was most austere— -a continued exercise of prayer and heavenly contemplation, which he interrupted only to afford relief to the poor, or to attend to those who, led by the fame of his sanctity, came to seek his advice. After his death, in 670, his tomb became famous for numerous miracles, and was resorted to by pilgrims from all parts of France. St. Raymond Nonnatus, Confessor. According to the rule laid down by Christ, that Christian proves himself His most faithful disciple, and gives the surest proof of his love of God, who most perfectly loves his neighbor for God's sake. Judged by this test of true sanctfty, St. Raymond should rank high among the saints. Born in Spain in 1204, he gave not only his property, but also his liberty, and even exposed himself to the" most cruel -torments and death, in order to promote the spiritual welfare and accomplish the redemption of Christians held in captivity by the Moors. After a life wholly spent in the service of his neighbor, he died near Barcelona in 1240.