medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
Marjorie Greene wrote:
> Fiacre's (legendary) association with gardeners is explained at:
> http://www.catholic-forum.com/saints/saintf13.htm
> He, along with another recently mentioned saint, is also a patron of those suffering from venereal diseases and piles. No explanation was given for the latter honor.
Just off the top of my head, and without looking into the matter, it may be a play on words between the name, Fiacre, and the word by which piles/hemorrhoids was called
in Old English, which was ficus. Ficus means means fig. Apparently a hemorrhoids was thought to resemble a fig. King Alfred, I believe, was said to suffer from ficus.
Best I can come up with at 0625 in the morning, when I am still waking up.
Terrill
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