Saint Fursa

Saint Fursa was the son of an Irish prince, born in 597 AD. He was educated at the monastery of St. Brendan, later became a monk at the monastery of Clonfert in County Galway, and was ordained priest. Here, his spiritual devotion and sanctity grew and became noticeable. He later founded a monastery at Rathmat, one of Ireland's major monastic centers. He did much work to establish Christianity throughout the British Isles and particularly in East Anglia. He constructed a monastery himself, wherein he might, with more freedom, devote himself to his religious studies. 

According to Saint Bede, the historian, Fursey became ill there and fell into a trance, leaving his body from dusk till dawn. He was accounted worthy to behold the sight of the choirs of angels and to hear their glad songs of praise. From East Anglia, the saint went on a pilgrimage to Rome. Clovis, king of the Franks, was happy to receive this holy man, and his palace mayor, Erconwald, assisted him in building a monastery outside Paris. He had visions of Heaven and Hell throughout his life, and he widely recounted them. He died around 650 AD, and Erconwald brought the body to Péronne in Picardy, where the body was eventually buried near the altar at the newly built church.

Saint Fursa, pray for us to nurture a heavenly vision that inspires us to lead a holy life.

Prepared and updated by:

Jonathan Fabian Ginunggil,

Penampang, Sabah Malaysia.