FERREOLO, saint. — Bishop of Uzès in Gallia Narbonensis after 552, d. 4 Jan. 581. He laboured greatly for the reform of the clergy; he also extended his zeal to the Jews living in his diocese, seeking to convert them, which brought him an exile of three years, imposed upon him on the charge of conspiracy with them against the State.
Around 558 he founded a monastery, for which he wrote a Rule, Regula monasterii Ferriolacensis. In the 38 chapters composing it, F. reveals particular familiarity with the Rule of St Caesarius of Arles and of St Aurelian; indeed, many of his prescriptions derive almost entirely from these.
This rule deserves mention for the precision and exactness of its norms, and still more for the spirit of wisdom and discretion that animates II. F. demonstrates in it personal experience of monastic life.