Feast Day of Saint Fiacre: Patron Saint of Gardeners, Cab Drivers, and the Sick

Saint Fiacre is one of the lesser-known saints of the Catholic Church, but he holds an important place in the hearts of many. He is the patron saint of gardeners, cab drivers, and the sick. His story is one of devotion, self-sacrifice, and dedication to the poor and sick.

Fiacre was born in Ireland in the 7th century and is said to have been the son of a prince. He chose to become a monk and traveled to France, where he established a hermitage in a forest near Meaux, not far from Paris. Fiacre was known for his love of nature and his gift for gardening. He grew herbs and vegetables and was known for his healing remedies.

Fiacre's fame spread, and he became known for his miracles. He healed the sick and the lame and was known to have the gift of foresight. He was often sought out by those in need and became known as a healer and a holy man.

Fiacre spent many years in solitude, living in a small cell in the forest. However, his reputation as a healer and holy man grew, and people began to visit him in large numbers. Fiacre realized that he needed more space to accommodate his visitors, and he asked the local bishop for some land. The bishop granted Fiacre a plot of land, and Fiacre started building a hospice for the poor and sick.

Fiacre's hospice was a place of refuge for those in need, and he spent the rest of his life caring for the sick and the poor. He died on August 30th, 670, and was buried in the hospice he had built. His tomb became a place of pilgrimage, and many people came to pray at his grave.

Saint Fiacre was canonized by the Catholic Church in the 12th century, and his feast day is celebrated on August 30th, the day of his death. Fiacre's legacy lives on in the many churches and shrines that have been dedicated to him, and in the hearts of those who seek his intercession.

Interestingly, Fiacre is the patron saint of cab drivers due to the fact that french cabs are called fiacres because the first establishment to let coaches on hire, in the middle of the seventeenth century, was in the Rue Saint-Martin, near the hotel Saint-Fiacre, in Paris.

Saint Fiacre may be lesser-known, but his story is one of selflessness, devotion, and compassion. His life is an example of how one person can make a difference in the world by dedicating themselves to the service of others. He continues to inspire and to intercede for those in need.