(ABOUT A.D. 653.)
[Roman, Donegal, and Scottish Martyrologies, but English on March
4th; Feb. 25th is noted in several Kalendars as the festival of the
translation of his relics, also Sept. 28. A very ancient life of S.
Fursey, of the date of Bede, exists; later and more prolix lives
exist, but are of less authority. Bede himself relates the
principal events of the life of this Saint in his history, and
quotes the above-mentioned life, lib. iii. c. 19.]
Fursey, son of Fintan, an Irish prince, was abbot of a monastery in the
diocese of Tuam. Afterwards, travelling with two of his brothers, Fullan
and Ultan, through England, he entered the province of Essex, and was
honourably received by the king, Sigebert, "and performing his usual
employment of preaching the Gospel," says Bede, "by the example of his
virtue, and the efficacy of his discourse, he converted many unbelievers
to Christ, and confirmed in faith and love those that already believed.
Here he fell into some infirmity of body, and was thought worthy to see
a vision from God; in which he was admonished diligently to proceed in
the ministry of the Word, and indefatigably to continue his usual vigils
and prayers. Being confirmed by this vision, he applied himself with all
speed to build a monastery on the ground which had been given him by
King Sigebert, and to establish regular discipline therein. The
monastery was pleasantly situated in the woods, and with the sea not far
off; it was built within the area of a castle called Cnobheresburg
(Burghcastle, in Suffolk.) There, falling sick, he fell into a trance,
and quitting his body from evening till cock-crow, he was found worthy
to behold the choirs of angels, and to hear the praises which are sung
in heaven."
The abbot Fursey, becoming desirous of ridding himself of all business
of this world, quitted his monastery, having first confided the care of
it to his brother Fullan; and resolved to end his life as a hermit. He
repaired to his brother Ultan, who had already adopted the life of a
solitary, and lived a whole year with him in prayer and hard labour.
Afterwards, the province being desolated by war, he crossed the sea to
France, and was there honourably entertained by Clovis, King of the
Franks, and then by the noble Erconwald. He built a monastery at Lagny,
about six miles north of Paris, on the Marne, and falling sick not long
after, departed this life.
Erconwald took his body, and deposited it in the porch of a church he
was building in his town of Peronne, till the church itself should be
dedicated. This happened twenty-seven days after, and the body being
taken from the porch to be re-buried, near the altar, was found as
entire as if he had but just died.
Fursey in _French_ is Fourcy, and in _Flemish_ Fro.
Patron of Lagny and Peronne.
Relics, at Peronne.
In art, (1), with oxen at his feet, because his body was placed on a
wagon, and the oxen allowed to conduct it without guide, and they went
to Peronne; or (2), making a fountain spring up at Lagny, by thrusting
his staff into the soil; or beholding a vision, (3), of angels, or (4),
of the flames of purgatory and hell, in reference to his remarkable
vision.[60]