Saint Fursey Catholic Saint

 

Saint Fursey

Catholic Saint

st.Fursey-Irish abbot, monastery founder, visionary and miracle-worker

Feast Day : January 16

 

 

Fursey was born to a noble family on the island of Inisguia en Lough Carrie, Ireland, and was the brother of SS. Foillan and Ulan. He founded a monastery at Lagny-en-Brie, France, and became its abbot. Desiring a good source of water, he prayed to God and then struck the ground with his staff. A fountain of water issued forth that served not only the monastery but also the entire town. The water was said to have healing properties, and it attracted many pilgrims, especially on Ascension Day. In 630 he went to England with family and friends. According to the Venerable Bede, Fursey experienced intense ecstasies, many of which occurred during illnesses. After arriving in England, he fell ill and had a vision in which God urged him to proceed with his ministry and continue his prayers. With great speed, he built a monastery near Ugremouth on land donated by King Sigebert. During a subsequent illness, Fursey fell into a trance one evening and left his body until dawn. H saw and heard choirs of angels and was told, “The saints shall advance from one virtue to another.” Three days later, another trance journey took him to visions of the joys of the blessed and the extraordinary efforts of evil spirits who attempted to obstruct his journey to heaven but were restrained by angels. The angels had him look down upon the Earth, where he saw four fires that would consume the world: falsehood, covetousness, discord and iniquity.

 

The flames increased in intensity and joined into one, and devils flew through the fire. The angels told Fursey he would not be burned by anything he did not kindle. There followed accusations hurled by the devils at Fursey, and defenses provided by the angels. Fursey also was shown more of heaven, and the holy men of his nation. Upon the departure of Fursey and the angels, the flames opened and a devil tossed out a man, striking Fursey on the shoulder and jaw and burning him. An angel tossed the man back into the fire. Fursey had known the man and had accepted his garment after he died. A devil said that since he accepted the clothing of a damned man, he had to share in the man’s punishment. The angel told the devil that Fursey had not accepted the garment in avarice, but to save his soul. The fire ceased. The angel said, “that which you kindled burned in you; for had you not received the money of this person that died in his sins, his punishment would not burn in you.” The angel then gave him advice for salvation. For the rest of his life, Fursey bore burn marks on his shoulder and jaw. He also was perpetually hot, and even in winter sweated in the thinnest of garments. Fursey preached the practice of virtues, but talked about his visions with only a select few. After a time, he could no longer bear the crowds who came to the monastery. He resolved to end his life as a hermit, and went off to live with his brother, Ulan, also a hermit. But after a year he reentered the world, traveling to France where he was welcomed by King Clovis and the patrician Erconwald.

 

He built another monastery near Paris. In 648 Fursey fell ill again and died. Erconwald took his body to a church under construction in Perrone. Fursey’s body remained on the porch incorrupt for 27 days until the church was dedicated. His remains were buried near the altar; four years later the still-incorrupt body was translated to a chapel. Many miracles were claimed at his burial site. For many years some of his relics, sent back to Ireland, were paraded to the fountain he had found every Ascension Day for a special ceremony. Thanks to Bede, he is one of the best known early Irish saints.