Faro of Meaux, St.
FARO OF MEAUX, ST.
Bishop; d. c. 672. He was of Burgundian origin, hence his name Burgundofaro. His sister, St. fara, founded the double abbey of faremoutiers. Faro himself had married, but when about 35 years old he determined to embrace the Benedictine life, probably persuaded by his sister. His wife pursued a similar course. Shortly after receiving Holy Orders, he was chosen bishop of Meaux, where he labored many years for the conversion and salvation of souls. The Vita s. Fari, written 200 years after his death by Bishop Hildegar of Meaux, is of no great historical value. Likewise, a ballad Cantilène de Saint Faron, which has given rise to considerable literature, is without historical foundation. But there are sufficient reliable sources attesting to Faro's existence and work.
Feast: Oct. 28.
Bibliography: Acta Sanctorum Oct. 12:593–623. j. mabillon, Acta sanctorum ordinis S. Benedicti (Venice 1733–40) 2:580–598. Monumenta Germaniae Scriptores rerum Merovingicarum (Berlin 1825–) 171–203. Bibliotheca hagiographica latina antiquae ct mediae aetatis (Brussels 1898–1901) 1:2825–31. j. l. baudot and l. chaussin, Vies des saints et des bienheueux selon l'ordre du calendrier avec l'historique des fêtes (Paris 1935–56) 10:941–945. a. butler, The Lives of the Saints, ed. h. thurston and d. attwater (New York 1956–) 4:216–217.
[o. l. kapsner]