Burgundofara

Saint Burgundofara, also called Fara (in French Sainte Fare), born around 595 near Meaux, was a virgin, abbess and founder of the monastery of Faremoutiers in France. She died between 643 and 675, around 657 according to our record.

She came of a noble family; her father, Agneric, was a high official at the court of King Theodebert II. As a child she was blessed by Saint Columbanus and consecrated to the monastic life. Her father opposed this and found her a bridegroom; when she refused, he even threatened her life, but Saint Eustasius of Luxeuil, successor of Columbanus, intervened. Her father then gave her an estate, and with Eustasius's support she founded the monastery of Brige, later called Faremoutiers (Fara's monastery). It was a double monastery of nuns and monks, one of the most distinguished in France, a centre of fervent spiritual life. Fara was abbess for more than thirty years. By her will, the only one of its kind that survives for a Frankish woman of the seventh century, nearly all her properties were given to the monastery. Many daughters of Frankish nobles followed her example, among them the Anglo-⁠Saxon princess Earcongotha. She is said to have worked miracles both in life and after death. She is the patron of Cinisi in Sicily and of ailments of the eyes. She is a saint of the undivided Church, commemorated on 3 April (new style; 16 April in the old style) and also on 7 December.