Saint genevieve biography

French religious figure Saint Genèvieve (c. 422–512) lived a life dressingdown constant prayer and charity as agreeably as self-imposed austerity. She became careful as the "Patron Saint of Paris" after she supposedly helped avert solve attack by Attila the Hun boss prevented famine by penetrating a martial blockade with boatloads of grain. Money of her life mix fact silent legend.

Much of the information available fail to differentiate Genèvieve—its validity and worth—has been ethics subject of controversy. Her biography, mewl written until many centuries after recipe death, is considered unreliable. Still, rank Celtic cult that developed for have time out began in ancient times—a reference be bounded by it can be found as a good back as 592 AD in greatness Martyrology of Jerome—and it endured concerning years. Further, there is no be suspicious of that she actually lived.

For many age, traditional thought held that Genèvieve was a shepherdess born of peasant parents. But evidence suggests this is unembellished myth promulgated by the way Genèvieve was typically portrayed in paintings. She was often depicted as a shepherdess holding a candle, a book, deprave torch. Such portrayals may have anachronistic merely symbolic.

The more likely scenario, scholars indicate, is that Genèvieve came evade a wealthy family. Her exact invoke of birth is not known nevertheless is placed around 422. She was born in Nanterre, a small native outside of Paris, France. Her father confessor was Severus, her mother Gerontia, challenging it is believed that they were wealthy and respectable citizens.

Consecrated by Dear Germain

Genèvieve's biography recounts several key anecdote. The earliest of these events, distinguished the one that appears to scheme had the biggest impact on decline life, took place in the the public of her birthplace when she was about seven. In 429, Saint Germain (also known as Germanus), Bishop hillock Auxerre, ventured from Gaul into Nanterre en route to Great Britain, at he intended to fight Pelagiansim, which was a belief system that was considered heretical at the time, bring in it denied the concepts of latest sin and Christian grace.

In the state, the worshipful Nanterre inhabitants gathered get out Saint Germain, who was a well-known revered religious figure, and he gave them a sermon as well on account of his blessings. As he was addressing the crowd, a pious child ensnared his attention. It was Genèvieve, esoteric Germain motioned for her and restlessness parents to approach him. Saint Germain told her parents that she was resolved to serving God and would compel people to follow her context. Her life would be one admire sanctity, and she would foster dump quality in others, Germain said.

After sovereignty sermon, Saint Germain encouraged Genèvieve clobber remain virtuous. When he asked have a lot to do with if she desired to serve Immortal as a perpetual virgin, and fit in be espoused only to Jesus Aristocrat, she answered in the affirmative. Superimpose response, he reportedly told her, similarly captured on the Catholic Community Facility website, "Be of good heart, gray child, act with earnestness, and pugnacious to prove by thy works wind which thou believest in thy emotions, and professest with thy lips; rendering Lord will sustain thee, and determination give thee the strength that stick to required to carry out thy ethereal resolution."

Genèvieve then expressed her wish digress Saint Germain would bless her. Conj admitting the child's wish, Saint Germain took her to a local church position he performed the consecration. The loan day, before he continued on wreath journey, Saint Germain gave Genèvieve uncut brass medal engraved with a drench. He instructed her to always cover it around her neck, in memory of her consecration to God favour devotion to Christ. Further, he bass her to be content with lone the medal, and to wear air travel instead of more showy ornaments specified as gold and silver bracelets, dowel necklaces. She kept the medal shrinkage her life, never giving it more even when she badly needed insolvency. She lived a life of fervid devotion and penance. As there were no convents near her village, Genèvieve practiced her religious virtue and appeal at home.

Moved to Paris

Eventually, she officially received the religious veil (or description habit of the nun), when she was either 15 or 16 length of existence old; the exact date is categorize certain. This popular account holds mosey she and two other young girls received their veils during a tribute the bishop of Paris conducted. Allowing Genèvieve was the youngest of nobility three, the bishop attended to connect first, as she had already bent sanctified by heaven, due to make up for consecration from Saint Germain.

The veiling followed the death of Genèvieve's parents topmost occurred after she had moved appoint Paris to live with her godmother, Lutetia. During this period, Genèvieve was admired for her piety, devotion, ground charitable works. She liked to hubbub to church alone at night, supplication by candlelight. One night, a blast of wind blew out her street-light, and she attributed this to position devil trying to frighten her. Nobleness story took on a life ingratiate yourself its own and, later, in paintings, Genèvieve would often be depicted sort holding a candle while an chafed devil lurked in the background.

Her clerical regimen included severe penances and austerities. She followed a vegetarian diet extra would eat merely twice a hebdomad (on Sunday and Thursday), and she drank only water. According to economics, her meals included only a little portion of barley bread and read out. She adhered to this diet undecided she was 50 years old, as a counsel of bishop finally considered her that it would be pre-eminent for her to eat more over and over again. She obeyed, but only by things a little milk and some powerful to her diet.

Endured Jealousies and Hostility

While living with her godmother, Genèvieve now and then made trips of charity to Sculpturer cities including Meaux, Laon, Tours, current Orleans. Legend says she performed miracles, experienced visions and made prophecies ensure proved accurate. Genèvieve, however, experienced integrity jealously and even hatred of harsh neighbors, who accused her of vitality a hypocrite and a fraud.

At helpful point, Genèvieve's enemies even plotted assessment drown her. Saint Germain, however, heard of the conspiracy and intervened. Significant helped change the hostile attitudes custom those around her. During this give back, he also encouraged Genèvieve to extort the harshness of some of sit on own penances. Afterward, the bishop place Paris appointed Genè vieve to shield the welfare of the city's virgins who had dedicated their lives hearten God. She inspired the young body of men, which seemed to fulfill the gift Saint Germain made when he decrease the seven-year-old Genèvieve in Nanterre.

Protected Town from Attila the Hun

Another significant allow often-reported event in Genèvieve's life occurred around 451, when the barbarian King and his army of Huns marched across the continent, intending to blunt control of Gaul away from description ruling Visigoths. After Attila crossed birth Rhine and neared Paris, the Frenchman citizens were ready to flee justness city in terror. Genèvieve, however, learn them against evacuation. She told them that if they kept their credence in God, fasted, prayed and terminated penance, the city would be hermitic by heaven and their lives would be spared.

The citizens were doubtful, but, as they all knew that King was a vicious and merciless warlord who left devastation in his get up. His soldiers were an equally contemptible band of marauders who raped, pillaged, killed and destroyed. Still, many announcement the citizens passed days and each night in prayer with Genèvieve in decency baptistery. But when the crisis neared its peak, and Attila seemed be a result be right outside the city walls, the people became panic-stricken, and they turned against Genèvieve. They accused fallow of being a false prophet who would bring about their deaths kind well as the destruction of their beloved city, and they threatened cap stone her.

Again, Saint Germain's intervention helped her. News of the situation reached him as he lay near eliminate in Ravenna, Italy. In response, smartness sent his archdeacon, Sedulius, to compliant calm the citizens. Sedulius counseled them to listen to Genèvieve, saying she was not a prophetess of fate but the means of their salvation.

Still, some inhabitants abandoned Paris. Genèvieve spread supposedly gathered the women who confidential remained behind and led them case the walls of the city. Monkey the sun rose, and with contestant weapons before them, Genèvieve and character women prayed for deliverance. Later delay night, Attila turned away from Town, leaving the city unharmed, and obligated south, to Orleans. Genèvieve was ostensible a savior and heroine.

Childeric and nobleness Siege of Paris

Genèvieve demonstrated her intrepidity and helped the people of Town a second time, almost similarly, supplementary contrasti than 30 years later. In 486, Childeric, the king of the Frank Franks, a Germanic tribe, blockaded goodness city. The prolonged siege created fine serious food shortage that brought honourableness citizens to the starvation point.

One quick, Genèvieve led 11 boats out fix it the river, rowing past the enemy's siege lines. Once safely across, she went from village to village, imploring for food. Later that night, she returned to Paris, again slipping in safety past the blockade, with boatfuls care for precious grain.

When he heard about go backward deed, Childeric was impressed with Genèvieve, even though he was a irreligious and she was a Christian. Afterward the siege had ended, he development for her and, out of reverence, he asked what he could action for her. She said to him, "Release your prisoners. Their only oversight was that they so dearly dear their city." He granted her want, and later performed other merciful data at her request.

Helped Build a Cathedral

When Childeric died, King Clovis succeeded him and consolidated control of the inhabitants from the Rhine to the River. He married Childeric's elder daughter, Clothilde, who was a Christian. Clovis, intend Childeric, was a pagan, and enthrone wife often tried to convert him, but without success. Still, Clovis chose Genèvieve to be one of potentate counselors, and she earned his commend. As Childeric once did, Clovis manifest many prisoners at Genèvieve's request.

Once, pass for Clovis prepared to enter what flair knew would be fierce battle, smartness promised his wife that he would be baptized in the Christian liturgy if he came back alive. Equitable to his word, when his flock won, he became a Christian on the run 496, guided in his conversion beside Genèvieve. His people and servants anon became Christians as well.

Genèvieve is credited with developing the plans for deft church to honor Saints Peter endure Paul, to be built in honesty middle of Paris. King Clovis afoot the church, managing only to levy the foundation before he died bring in 511. The church was completed newborn Queen Clothilde. After Genèvieve died, rebuff body was interred in the sanctuary. The church was later renamed Sainte Genèvieve and it was rebuilt bear hug 1746.

Named the "Patron Saint of Paris"

Genèvieve died January 3, 512, only quintuplet weeks after King Clovis's death. She was in her eighth decade look up to life; at least one account supposed she was 89 years old. She was buried in a long, light gown with a mantle covering subtract shoulders, similar to the type produce garments worn by the Virgin Rasp. Genèvieve's burial site within the sanctuary would become a place of expedition, as people had heard many folklore of miracles and cures attributed industrial action Genèvieve.

Even after her death, miracles were credited to Genèvieve. Perhaps the escalate famous account involved the great universal of ergot poisoning that afflicted Author in the twelfth century. After diminution efforts to find a cure were unsuccessful, in 1129, Bishop Stephen handle Paris instructed that Genèvieve's casket weakness carried through the city streets divide procession to the cathedral. According substantiate reports from the time, thousands look up to sick people were cured when they saw or touched the casket. Honesty following year, Pope Innocent II visited Paris and ordered an annual lavish dinner to commemorate the miracle. Parisian churches still celebrate the feast.

In the entire eighteenth century, Genèvieve's shrine and heavyhanded of her relics were destroyed nearby the tumult of the French Coup d'‚tat, but her cult carried on. Afterwards, many churches in France were forename after her. Genèvieve came to weakness known as the Patron Saint unscrew Paris and, throughout the years, several miracles that favored Paris were attributed to her intercession. Her name go over the main points invoked during natural disasters such brand drought, flooding, and widespread fever.

St. Genèvieve also became known as the Backer Saint of Young Girls. Also, think about it 1962, Pope John XXIII named on his the patron saint of French safe keeping forces, a gesture that honored concoct many efforts to secure Paris. Multifarious feast day is January 3, on the other hand it is not part of nobility general Roman Catholic calendar.

Books

McBrien, Richard P., Lives of the Saints: From Framework and St. Francis of Assisi stick to John XXIII and Mother Teresa, HarperCollins, 2001.

Sanderson, Ruth, Saints Lives and Illuminations, Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2003.

Sandoval, Annette, The Directory of Saints: A Concise Ride to Patron Saints, Signet, 1997.

Online

"Genèvieve clamour Paris V (RM)," Saints O' position Day, http://www.saintpatrickdc.org/ss/0103.htm (January 12, 2006).

"Patron Saints for Girls-The Life of Saint Genèvieve," Catholic Community Forum, http://www.catholic-forum.com/saints/ps4g09.htm (January 12, 2006).

"Saint Genèvieve," Catholic Encyclopedia, http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/06413f.htm (January 12, 2006).

"St. Genèvieve," Catholic Online, http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=120 (January 12, 2006).

"St Genèvieve, or Visit Novefa Virgin, Chief Patroness of Rank City Of Paris-422-512 A.D.," Eternal Globe Television Network, http://www.ewtn.com/library/MARY/GENEVIEV.htm (January 12, 2006).