August 30 + Saint Fiacre of Breuil

If you see a statue of a saint in a garden, more than likely it's St. Francis of Assisi with a bird on his shoulder. St. Francis may have protected the birds and animals of the garden, but the actual patron saint of gardening is an Irish monk named Fiacre.

Fiacre has been recognized as patron saint of gardeners (as well as cab drivers and florists, among other things) since medieval times. Born in Ireland in the 7th century, Fiacre was raised in a monastery. During the Dark Ages, monasteries were repositories of learning, and it is here that Fiacre became a skillful user of healing herbs. As he earned fame for his knowledge of plants and healing abilities, disciples flocked to him. Fiacre sought more solitude and left Ireland for France where he established a hermitage in a wooded area near the Marne River. Here Fiacre built an oratory in honor of the Virgin Mary and a hospice for travelers. He himself retreated to a solitary cell, living a life of prayer and manual labor in his garden.

The tradition upon which Fiacre’s sainthood rests is this: Fiacre asked the local bishop, St. Faro, for more ground on which to plant food and herbs. Faro told him he could have as much land as he could entrench in one day. After prayer, Fiacre used the point of his staff to turn the earth, topple trees and dig up briers and weeds to prepare the land for a garden. A suspicious local woman was convinced that such a feat could only be performed by sorcery. Bishop Faro, however, viewed Fiacre's act as a gift from God and proclaimed it a miracle.

As word of Fiacre's miracle spread, people began flocking to him for food, healing and wisdom. He was venerated by followers, and a monastery was formed. The monastery grew fruits and vegetables to feed the hungry and cultivated herbs and flowers to use in healing the sick. Visitors to Fiacre’s garden brought seeds and plants from afar, and his gardens became famous throughout Europe.

After his death in 670 A.D., people who visited his monastery claimed that it had healing power. His shrine in Breuil is still a destination for pilgrims seeking relief from ailments.

Fiacre's patronage of taxi cab drivers began at the Hotel de Saint Fiacre in Paris, which rented carriages. People began referring to these four-wheeled carriages as “fiacre cabs,” and then just “fiacres.” Thus their drivers took on St. Fiacre as their patron and protector.