Our righteous Mother Genevieve of Paris
Saint Genevieve (from the Celtic name Genovefa, which according to the Petits Bollandistes means either heavenly mouth or daughter of Heaven) was born in Nanterre of pious parents named Severus and Gerontia in the reign of Honorius (Roman Emperor of the West from 395 to 423) and Theodosius II (Emperor from 408 to 450) in the year 422 or 423. Though her parents were rich, according to custom she shepherded her parents’ flocks in her youth, and brought up by them in the fear of God, she showed signs of uncommon devotion and faith from her childhood.
When Saint Germanus of Auxerre and Saint Lupus of Troyes, on their way to Britain to fight the heresy of Pelagius, passed through Nanterre, Severus and Gerontia went with the faithful to meet them, accompanied by their young daughter. Saint Germanus’s gaze lit upon Genevieve; he called her to himself, and upon learning her name, foretold that she would be great before God. He asked her if she wished to dedicate herself to the service of Christ as a virgin. When she replied that this was the desire of her heart, he took her into church and stood through the service of Vespers in the sight of all with his hand resting on her head. The next day he had her confirm her resolution, gave her a metal medallion or coin with a Cross engraved on it, and bade her wear it around her neck in remembrance of her vow, and never wear any ornament of silver or gold.
At the age of fifteen, after her parents had gone to their rest, Genevieve went to Paris where, with two other virgins, she was consecrated to God by the Bishop. There she gave herself completely to prayer, which was accompanied by rivers of tears, and her fasting was said to be so strict that she only ate barley and a few cooked beans on Thursday and Sunday, though when she was fifty, at the command of the Bishop, she added a little fish and milk. God gave her the gift to know the secrets of hearts and to speak to the hidden conscience of her hearers, and her holiness soon became known to all Paris. Through her prayers she saved Paris from Attila the Hun and his horde.
The king of Paris Childeric, though a pagan, revered Saint Genevieve to the degree that he could refuse her nothing. Once, wishing to execute some prisoners of war outside the city, and fearing that she might intercede with him for them, he locked the city gates so that she would not be able to follow him. The Saint fell before the gates and prayed; they opened before her prayer, she followed the king with tears of compassion, and prevailed on him to spare his captives.
Having a great reverence for Saint Dionysius, the first Bishop of Paris, she desired to build a church in his honor. The priests whom she charged with the construction of the church protested that they lacked the necessary materials. She directed them to cross the city bridge. When they did, they heard two peasants saying they had found two immense lime-kilns in a nearby forest ready with lime, and with God’s help the church was built.
Once when Saint Genevieve was on her way in dark and stormy weather with other virgins to the church of Saint Dionysius, a blast of wind blew out the lantern they were using to make their way. The Saint made the sign of the Cross over it, and it burst back into flame; more than once candles she held in her hand were lit of themselves, as shown in her icon.
Having lived 89 years as a great ascetic and wonderworker, Saint Genevieve fell asleep in peace on January 3, 512. Her relics, a source of miracles through the centuries, were dispersed by the communards, members of the socialist government of Paris that was in power in 1871, from March 18 until May 28, when they themselves were dispersed, while Saint Genevieve continues to be present in the hearts of those who invoke her with faith.
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