Who is this young girl kneeling in faithful supplication before the hand of God? Why is she in such need of His loving presence? She is
Sainte Foy, and I found her at Conques, a magnificent pilgrimage site in the Aveyron. Here is her story:
Foy, whose name means "Faith" in the Occitan language of her times, was the 12 year old daughter of a wealthy Agen nobleman. Born in 290 C.E. Foy was cared for by a wet-nurse who taught her the Christian faith which she embraced with love and enthusiasm. She especially liked to take food to poor Christians who lived outside her family's villa. She was encouraged in her good acts by Caprais, a local Christian bishop, but her father was angered that she stole food and gave it to Christians.
The years between 294 C.E. and 305 C.E.were especially dangerous for Christians as the new Emperor, Diocletian, began a new wave of persecutions. His local governor, Dacien, carried out his edicts and martyred many Christians in his district. He visited Agen in 303 C.E. There Foy was betrayed by her own father and sent to appear before Dacien. He ordered her to give sacrifice to either Diana or Jupiter to prove that she was not a Christian. This 12 year old child stood up to the Governor refusing to do either and proclaiming that she was a Christian and in the name of Jesus Christ was ready to suffer any kind of torture. Dacien ordered her flogged, then had her tied, naked, to a metal grill to be burned alive. It is said that snow fell miraculously putting out the fire and wrapping Foy in a mist to cover her nakedness. Undeterred, Dacien then had her beheaded...a martyr for her faith.
Many miraculous deeds are attributed to this young saint who is described as fun loving and playful. She has healed blindness, helped mothers in childbirth, and has a special penchant for freeing shackled prisoners. Her remains were brought to
Conques in the 9th century where they are venerated in the Abbey Church there.
Here in one of the chapels around the nave of the church, Sainte Foy is seen holding the sword that killed her and the palm branch that symbolizes her martyrdom.
This grillwork, some of the best example of Roman ironwork in France, is said to have been made of the iron fetters from the chains of prisoners who owed their freedom to the intercession by Sainte Foy.
I am mesmerized by this young girl's story. A child of 12 years, not yet a woman, whose faith was so strong she could stand up to the Roman government and die for her love of Christ. A faith so strong....would I have this strength? Would you?
Since I'm not Catholic, many of the saints, customs, and ceremonies that I encountered as I visited the churches of France last month had little meaning for me other than simply being beautiful. Laury introduced me to one of her rituals, however, that made so much sense that I've decided to adopt it. She has her favorite Merci Ladies at each of the churches in her area. The Merci Lady is, of course, the Virgin Mary, but a statue of her that usually stands alone, dressed simply as a blessed and faithful woman. No fancy robes or crowns of glory; no Infant or dying Christ in her arms. She stands waiting to help, open to your prayers. Laury always lights a candle and says a prayer of thanks, a merci prayer to this woman of God. Once I started looking for the Merci Lady, I saw her in every church. And I, too, would light a candle and say a prayer of thanks...for friendship, for opportunity, for all the blessings that God has bestowed upon me. Do you have a ritual to offer thanks to God? Do you have a Merci Lady in your spiritual life?
