lundi 28 mai 2012

Saint GERMAIN de PARIS, évêque


Saint Germain de Paris

Évêque (+576)
Nous connaissons la vie de saint Germain par son ami saint Venance Fortunat, poète latin. Germain voit le jour près d'Autun. On raconte que sa mère ne le désirait pas et voulut se faire avorter. Elle n'y parvint pas et l'enfant vécut. Après des études à Avallon, il est, durant quinze ans, moine dans une petite communauté locale. C'est là que l'évêque d'Autun, Agrippin, vient le chercher pour en faire un prêtre: il y a tant à faire dans ce pays des Francs si peu évangélisés. On le voit un temps abbé de Saint-Symphorien d'Autun, mais les moines ne sont pas enchantés de cet abbé qui donne leur pain aux pauvres. Le roi de Paris, Childebert, fils de Clovis et de sainte Clotilde, le découvre et se prend d'amitié pour lui. Voilà saint Germain évêque de Paris. Il s'y illustre par une série de guérisons miraculeuses ou non, par la libération systématique des prisonniers et des esclaves. Il fonde aussi l'abbaye de Sainte-Croix-Saint-Vincent qui deviendra Saint-Germain des Prés. Son action en faveur des parisiens ne s'arrêta pas avec sa mort.


"...il contribue au développement du culte des saints gaulois, canalisant la dévotion du peuple vers des saints protecteurs, son prédécesseur Marcel en particulier..." Source: Saint Germain - diocèse de Paris.

À Paris, en 576, saint Germain, évêque. D'abord abbé de Saint-Symphorien d'Autun, puis appelé au siège épiscopal de Paris, il conserva son mode de vie monastique en exerçant avec fruit sa tâche de pasteur, charitable envers les pauvres et veillant à la fondation du monastère de la Sainte-Croix, où il fut enterré et qui prit son nom.
Martyrologe romain
SOURCE : https://nominis.cef.fr/contenus/saint/1232/Saint-Germain-de-Paris.html



 SAINT GERMAIN

Évêque de Paris

(496-576)

Saint Germain de Paris naquit au territoire d'Autun. Tout jeune, il faillit être victime d'une mère dénaturée et d'une grand-mère criminelle; mais Dieu veillait sur cet enfant de bénédiction et le réservait à de grandes choses. Germain se réfugia près d'un ermite, son oncle, dont il partagea la vie austère, et dont il s'étudia chaque jour à imiter la piété et les vertus. L'évêque d'Autun, ayant fait sa connaissance, conçut pour lui une très haute estime, et lui donna, malgré les réclamations de son humilité, l'onction sacerdotale, puis le nomma bientôt abbé du monastère de Saint-Symphorien d'Autun.

Par ces temps de guerre et de dévastation, les pauvres affluent. Germain, toujours ému à la vue d'un homme dans la souffrance, ne renvoie personne sans lui faire l'aumône, au point qu'un jour il donne jusqu'au dernier pain de la communauté. Les moines murmurent d'abord, puis se révoltent ouvertement. Germain, pleurant amèrement sur le défaut de foi de ses disciples, se retire dans sa cellule et prie Dieu de les confondre et de les corriger. Il priait encore, lorsqu'une dame charitable amène au monastère deux chevaux chargés de vivres, et annonce que le lendemain elle enverra un chariot de blé. La leçon profita aux religieux, qui rentrèrent dans le devoir.

Un jour le feu prend au grenier, menaçant de brûler toute la récolte du couvent. Germain, calme et confiant, saisit une marmite d'eau à la cuisine, monte au grenier en chantant Alleluia, fait le signe de la Croix et jette quelques gouttes d'eau sur la brasier, qui s'éteint.

Un jour qu'il était en prière, il voit apparaître un vieillard éblouissant de lumière, qui lui présente les clefs de la ville de Paris: "Que signifie cela? demande l'abbé. -- C'est, répond la vision, que vous serez bientôt le pasteur de cette ville." Quatre ans plus tard, Germain, devenu évêque, resta moine toute sa vie, et il ajouta même de nouvelles austérités à celles qu'il avait pratiquées dans le cloître. Après les fatigues d'une journée tout apostolique, son bonheur, même par les temps rigoureux, était de passer les nuits entières au pied de l'autel.

Germain eut la plus grande et la plus heureuse influence auprès des rois et des reines qui se succédèrent sur le trône de France pendant son épiscopat; on ne saurait dire le nombre de pauvres qu'il secourut, de prisonniers qu'il délivra, avec l'or des largesses royales. Il mourut, plein de mérites, à l'âge de quatre-vingts ans.

Abbé L. Jaud, Vie des Saints pour tous les jours de l'année, Tours, Mame, 1950.

SOURCE : http://magnificat.ca/cal/fr/saints/saint_germain_de_paris.html


Nous connaissons la vie de saint Germain par son ami saint Venance Fortunat, poète latin. Germain voit le jour près d'Autun. On raconte que sa mère ne le désirait pas et voulut se faire avorter. Elle n'y parvint pas et l'enfant vécut. Après des études à Avallon, il est, durant quinze ans, moine dans une petite communauté locale. C'est là que l'évêque d'Autun, Agrippin, vient le chercher pour en faire un prêtre : il y a tant à faire dans ce pays des Francs si peu évangélisés. On le voit un temps, abbé de Saint-Symphorien d'Autun, mais les moines ne sont pas enchantés de cet abbé qui donne leur pain aux pauvres. Le roi de Paris, Childebert, fils de Clovis et de sainte Clotilde, le découvre et se prend d'amitié pour lui. Voilà saint Germain évêque de Paris. Il s'y illustre par une série de guérisons miraculeuses ou non, par la libération systématique des prisonniers et des esclaves. Il fonde aussi l'abbaye de Sainte- Croix-Saint-Vincent qui deviendra Saint-Germain des Prés. Son action en faveur des parisiens ne s'arrêta pas avec sa mort.

SOURCE : http://www.peintre-icones.fr/PAGES/CALENDRIER/Mai/28.html


Statue de Saint Germain dans l'église de Saint-Germain-en-Laye

Saint Germain

Saint Germain de Paris est assurément une des grandes figures du sixième siècle, mais sa vie est assez peu connue parce que son biographe, saint Fortunat, sacrifiant au goût de ses contemporains pour le merveilleux, s'est surtout attaché à décrire ses miracles.

Germain naquit au pays d'Autun de parents aisés. Sa mère aurait tenté d'avorter ; sa tante qui le logeait pendant ses études, à Avallon, aurait voulu l'empoisonner, mais le breuvage fut absorbé par le propre fils de la meurtrière qui resta infirme pour le reste de ses jours. Ses études achevées, il demeura quinze ans dans une localité qu'on identifie avec Lucey (Côte-d'Or), chez un parent, Scopillon, où leur principale occupation était le service divin. L'évêque d'Autun, Agrippin, ayant eu vent de sa réputation, l'attira pour l'élever au diaconat, puis à la prêtrise. Le successeur d'Agrippin, saint Nectaire, lui confia la direction du monastère de Saint-Symphorien, élevé dans un faubourg d'Autun en l'honneur d'un martyr local auquel Germain vouera un culte fidèle.

Vers 555, comme il se trouvait à Paris, Childebert le désigna pour remplacer le défunt évêque Eusèbe que les listes épiscopales ne mentionnent pas, le faisant succéder à Libanus. Germain ne changea rien à l'austérité de sa vie ni à son costume. Toujours aussi frugal, il continua d'observer les jeûnes et les veilles monastiques, se passant de feu juqu'à une extrême vieillesse. Au souci de sa propre perfection il joignit celui du peuple que Dieu lui confiait et qu'il exhortait assidûment. Charitable à l'égard des pauvres, ses biens ne suffisaient pas à ses libéralités, mais la faveur du roi lui obtenait les crédits nécessaires.

Parmi les nombreux miracles du saint, la guérison de Childebert, opérée dans les premières années de son épiscopat, lui donna sur le roi une influence considérable. Tous deux contribuèrent à la fondation de la célèbre abbaye où ils devaient être enterrés et qui devait plus tard prendre le nom de Saint-Germain-des-Prés. La dédicace se fit sous le titre de Sainte-Croix et de Saint-Vincent, à cause d'une très riche croix d'or ornée de pierreries et de la tunique du martyr saint Vincent, que le roi avait ramenées de son expédition d'Espagne, en 543. La date de la dédicace est controversée : selon Gislemar, biographe du premier abbé, saint Doctrovée, qu'elle ait eu lieu le 23 décembre 558, à l'occasion même de la mort de Childebert. Cet évènement ayant attiré à Paris nombre d'évêques, saint Germain en profita pour procéder à la dédicace de la basilique récemment achevée. Les raisons alléguées pour combattre le témoignage de Gislemar semblent insuffisantes. En revanche, le fameux diplôme de fondation, attribué à Childebert, et le privilège dit le Saint Germain, sont des faux. On fit appel à des moines de Saint-Symphorien d'Autun d'où venait aussi le premier abbé, saint Doctrovée. Comme à Saint-Symphorien -tourjours selon Gislemar - on y suivait la règle de saint Antoine et de saint Basile. Le monastère ayant été incendié par les Normands, Gislemar n'a pu utiliser les documents anciens.

Après la mort de Childebert, Paris échut à son frère, Clotaire, qui, de Soissons, y transporta sa capitale et témoigna au saint la même déférence que son frère, grâce sans doute à sainte Radegonde, sa femme, avec qui saint Germain garda des relations suivies après son départ à Poitiers et la mort de Clotaire. Le saint la visita dans son monastère et ce fut là qu'il noua des liens durables avec Fortunat, son biographe. Clotaire ne devait pas survivre longtemps à Childebert. A sa mort (561), le Royaume des Francs, un instant réuni dans ses mains, fut à nouveau divisé entre ses quatre fils : Caribert, Gontran, Sigebert et Chilpéric. Caribert eut Paris ; son royaume, mieux protégé des incursions germaniques, goûta une paix relative, mais ses écarts de conduite causèrent au saint évêque les plus grands soucis. Après avoir renvoyé sa femme légitime, il épousa successivement Miroplée puis Marcovésée, deux sœurs, filles d'un simple artisan. La dernière étant religieuse, saint Germain dut élever la voix et comme ses remontrances restèrent sans effet, il retrancha les deux complices de la communion de l'Église.

Dans cette époque, troublée par la rivalité de Brunehaut, épouse de Sigebert, et de Frédégonde, femme de Chilpéric, saint Germain s'efforça d'être avant tout le ministre du Dieu de paix. Malheureusement ses appels demeurèrent vains, tant à Brunehaut qu'à Sigebert qui, s'apprêtant à assiéger son frère dans Tournai, fut assassiné par deux sicaires de Frédégonde.

Saint Germain prit une part active au concile de Tours (567) et convoqua deux conciles à Paris, l'un en 573 et l'autre à une date indéterminée. On lui a attribué, sur des bases fragiles, deux lettres très importantes pour l'histoire de la liturgie gallicane, mais qui lui sont nettement postérieures.

Saint Germain mourut le 28 mai 576, dans un âge très avancé, ayant, dit-on, atteint quatre-vingts ans. Son corps fut enterré dans la chapelle dédiée à saint Symphorien, à droite de l'autel. Cette chapelle, qui servait au XVIIème siècle d'oratoire pour les familiers et les artisans qui demeuraient dans l'enclos de l'abbaye, est située à droite, près du clocher. Le tombeau, fort simple et orné d'une épitaphe qu'on a attribuée à Chilpéric, fut décoré vers 635 par saint Eloi. En 754, sur l'ordre de Pépin le Bref, eut lieu une translation solennelle dans l'église même en présence de beaucoup d'évêques, du futur Charlemagne et de son frère Carloman. Pendant le siège de Paris par les Normands, les reliques furent abritées dans la Cité, à Saint-Germain-le-Vieux, démoli en 1802, où l'on gardait un bras en souvenir.




Saint Germain de Paris ne doit pas être confondu avec saint Germain d'Auxerre, mort en 448 et fêté le 31 juillet). Nous connaissons la vie de saint Germain par son ami Venance Fortunat, un poète latin. Germain est né près d'Autun (en Bourgogne), en France mérovingienne, en l'an 496. Il est le dernier d'une famille nombreuse frappée par les malheurs et la misère. On raconte que sa mère ne le désirait pas et qu'elle voulut se faire avorter. Elle n'y parvint pas et Germain vit le jour. Il fit ses études à Avallon auprès de Scapilion, son oncle prêtre (certains disent plutôt son cousin), qui le forma, pendant une quinzaine d'années, à l'étude, à la prière et à l'ascèse. En 524, de retour à Autun, il entre au monastère de Saint-Symphorien où l'on pratiquait les Règles de saint Antoine et de saint Basile. En 530, à l'âge de 34 ans, il est ordonné prêtre par l'évêque d'Autun, saint Agrippin. Vers 549, il devient abbé de son monastère. Mais les moines sont peu enchantés de cet abbé qui distribue leur pain aux pauvres!

Il est alors célèbre et recherché pour son don des miracles : il guérit les malades et les infirmes, délivre les possédés, prophétise. Il lutte contre l'esclavage et le paganisme. Il démontre une charité sans limite. C'est un pasteur d'une charité souveraine, d'une abstinence vraiment héroïque, d'une libéralité extraordinaire envers les pauvres et les voyageurs, d'une tendre compassion pour les prisonniers et les esclaves, d'un zèle sans relâche pour sa propre perfection et pour celle de tous les membres de sa communauté (1). On ne lui reconnaît qu'un défaut, qu'il gardera jusqu'à sa mort : très austère pour lui-même, il exige que les autres le soient autant !

C'est alors que le roi Childebert, un non-chrétien, le fils de Clovis et de sainte Clothilde, comprend que l'intérêt général est de faire nommer Germain évêque de Paris, sa capitale. Germain décline d'abord cet honneur, mais surnaturellement averti qu'il doit obéir, il quitte à regret son monastère et s'achemine vers Paris où il est sacré évêque vers 555, à l'âge de 60 ans. Il ne change pas ses habitudes de religieux : il vivra dans la prière, la prédication et la charité. Il reprochera sa férocité à Childebert qui va se convertir au christianisme ainsi que les seigneurs de la cour. Germain a fort à faire avec les fils et petits-fils de Clovis qui, bien que baptisés, demeurent de vrais barbares. Il aidera sainte Radegonde à quitter cette cour de sauvages pour fonder à Poitiers l'abbaye de la Sainte-Croix. Lui-même fonde, à Paris, l'abbaye de Saint-Vincent qui deviendra Saint-Germain-des-Prés. À force de charité et d'exhortations soutenues par de nombreux miracles, le coeur des rois se laisse attendrir et la caisse royale est large ouverte. Germain peut y puiser à son gré pour soulager la misère. Tous, chrétiens et païens, l'admirent pour sa charité, le respectant pour ce don des miracles qui lui a été départi : il guérit les malades et les infirmes que l'on place sur son passage, délivre les possédés, libère des prisonniers, ressuscite des morts, accomplit toutes sortes d'actions prodigieuses qui témoignent de la puissance et de l'amour de Dieu et suscitent d'innombrables conversions du coeur.

Germain fut le 20e évêque de Paris. Surhumain dans son amour de la prière et de la mortification, surhumain dans ses aumônes et sa charité, orateur admiré, participant à plusieurs conciles (les 3e et 4e conciles de Paris, en 557 et 573, et le 2e concile de Tours, en 566), bâtisseur d'églises, il corrigeait les pécheurs par la sincérité de sa foi et il forçait tous les coeurs à brûler des ardeurs divines. Jusqu'à sa mort survenue le 28 mai 576, à l'âge de 80 ans, il a dominé les troubles et les violences de son époque par sa force spirituelle, ce qui en fait l'une des plus grandes figures de la France mérovingienne et de l'Église. Décédé en grande réputation de sainteté, il fut enterré dans l'atrium de l'église Sainte-Croix-et-Saint-Vincent qu'il avait fondée. En 585, lors de l'incendie de Paris, il apparut pour libérer de leurs chaînes les prisonniers qui se réfugièrent auprès de son tombeau. Le 25 juillet 756, en présence du roi Pépin et de son fils Charles (le futur Charlemagne), alors âgé de 12 ans, le corps de saint Germain fut transféré de l'atrium dans le choeur, derrière l'autel de la sainte Croix.

Saint Germain à sa manière propre et selon sa vocation, a répondu à l'appel du Seigneur. Il en fut un témoin par sa vie de prière; il consacra chaque jour de longues heures à prier. Il avait une grande préoccupation du renouvellement de la liturgie, laquelle permet d'exprimer sa foi en Dieu. On reconnait aussi son grand amour des pauvres, des petits, spécialement des prisonniers. On lui attribue nombre de conversions et de miracles en leur faveur. Célébrer saint Germain, c'est reconnaître notre mission d'annoncer l'amour de Dieu. C'est lui rendre hommage. C'est le prier de donner à chacun de nous et de nos communautés paroissiales le désir de la prière. C'est le prier d'intensifier notre effort de service auprès des petits, des malades, des personnes âgées de notre milieu. C'est lui demander de bénir et d'intercéder auprès de Dieu pour les détenus et toutes les personnes qui oeuvrent auprès des prisonniers.

Seigneur, tu as choisi saint Germain pour être pasteur et témoin de ton amour. Donne-nous la grâce de le suivre sur les chemins de la prière, du service et de l'amour. Amen.

Yves-Marie Mélançon




Saint Germain

Fête le 28 mai

Lorsque Germain devient évêque de Paris vers 552, la continuité de l’épiscopat est assurée depuis trois siècles, et la cité, qui a été promue par Clovis au rang de capitale du Regnum Francorum, est déjà fortement marquée par l’empreinte chrétienne.

On connaît assez mal ce prêtre, abbé du monastère Saint-Symphorien d’Autun, sa ville natale. Déjà réputé pour son ascèse, sa piété et ses miracles, c’est sans doute le roi Childebert, fils de Clovis, qui l’impose alors au diocèse de Paris, après une longue série d’évêques très effacés. Comme d’autres évêques contemporains, il contribue au développement du culte des saints gaulois, canalisant la dévotion du peuple vers des saints protecteurs, son prédécesseur Marcel en particulier.

Eglise Saint-Germain-des-Prés

1, place Saint-Germain-des-Prés, 6e arr. - M° Saint-Germain-des-Prés

Germain consacre l’édifice en 538 sous le nom de Saint-Vincent.

Il est enterré à Sainte-Croix le 28 mai 576.

Son corps y est solennellement placé, au VIIIe siècle, dans le chœur, en présence de Pépin le Bref et du futur Charlemagne. Une dalle, située dans la chapelle Saint-Symphorien, le rappelle.

Il devient le titulaire de l’église de l’abbaye Saint-Germain-des-Prés, appelée à un grand rayonnement jusqu’à la Révolution.



L’abbaye Saint-Germain-des-Prés (Sancti Germani de pratis), qui comprend l'actuelle église Saint-Germain-des-Prés, est une ancienne abbaye bénédictine de Paris (France), située 3 place Saint-Germain-des-Prés dans l'actuel 6e arrondissement1. Fondée au milieu du vie siècle sous le nom de basilique Sainte-Croix et Saint-Vincent par le roi mérovingien Childebert Ier et saint Germain, évêque de Paris, elle doit son nom actuel à ce dernier.



Saint Germain de Paris

Evêque de Paris (496-576)

Saint Germain de Paris naquit au territoire d’Autun. Tout jeune, il faillit être victime d’une mère dénaturée et d’une grand-mère criminelle ; mais Dieu veillait sur cet enfant de bénédiction et le réservait à de grandes choses. Germain se réfugia près d’un ermite, son oncle, dont il partagea la vie austère, et dont il s’étudia chaque jour à imiter la piété et les vertus. L’évêque d’Autun, ayant fait sa connaissance, conçut pour lui une très haute estime, et lui donna, malgré les réclamations de son humilité, l’onction sacerdotale, puis le nomma bientôt abbé du monastère de Saint-Symphorien d’Autun.

Par ces temps de guerre et de dévastation, les pauvres affluent. Germain, toujours ému à la vue d’un homme dans la souffrance, ne renvoie personne sans lui faire l’aumône, au point qu’un jour il donne jusqu’au dernier pain de la communauté. Les moines murmurent d’abord, puis se révoltent ouvertement. Germain, pleurant amèrement sur le défaut de foi de ses disciples, se retire dans sa cellule et prie Dieu de les confondre et de les corriger. Il priait encore, lorsqu’une dame charitable amène au monastère deux chevaux chargés de vivres, et annonce que le lendemain elle enverra un chariot de blé. La leçon profita aux religieux, qui rentrèrent dans le devoir.

Un jour le feu prend au grenier, menaçant de brûler toute la récolte du couvent. Germain, calme et confiant, saisit une marmite d’eau à la cuisine, monte au grenier en chantant Alleluia, fait le signe de la Croix et jette quelques gouttes d’eau sur la brasier, qui s’éteint.

Un jour qu’il était en prière, il voit apparaître un vieillard éblouissant de lumière, qui lui présente les clefs de la ville de Paris : "Que signifie cela ? demande l’abbé. — C’est, répond la vision, que vous serez bientôt le pasteur de cette ville." Quatre ans plus tard, Germain, devenu évêque, resta moine toute sa vie, et il ajouta même de nouvelles austérités à celles qu’il avait pratiquées dans le cloître. Après les fatigues d’une journée tout apostolique, son bonheur, même par les temps rigoureux, était de passer les nuits entières au pied de l’autel.

Germain eut la plus grande et la plus heureuse influence auprès des rois et des reines qui se succédèrent sur le trône de France pendant son épiscopat ; on ne saurait dire le nombre de pauvres qu’il secourut, de prisonniers qu’il délivra, avec l’or des largesses royales. Il mourut, plein de mérites, à l’âge de quatre-vingts ans.

SOURCE : http://viechretienne.catholique.org/saints/1639-saint-germain-de-paris


Vue générale de l'église Saint-Germain-des-Prés depuis le boulevard Saint-Germain (sud-est) ; au premier plan, le transept sud et le chœur avec ses arcs-boutants.


Saint Germanus of Paris


Also known as
  • Father of the Poor
  • Germain
Profile

Priest, ordained by Saint Agrippinus of Autun. Abbot. Bishop of Paris, France in 555. Taught and ordained Saint Bertrand of Le Mans. Spiritual teacher of Saint Droctoveus. Cured King Childebert I from an unnamed illness, and converted him from a misspent life. The king then built him the abbey of Saint Vincent, now known as Saint-Germain-des-Prés.

Born

SOURCE : https://catholicsaints.info/saint-germanus-of-paris/

Église Saint-Germain-des-Prés. Façade ouest avec le clocher-porche.


Pictorial Lives of the Saints – Saint Germanus, Bishop


Article

Saint Germanus, the glory of the church of France in the sixth century, was born in the territory of Autun, about the year 469. In his youth he was conspicuous for his fervor. Being ordained priest, he was made abbot of Saint Symphorian’s; he was favored at that time with the gifts of miracles and prophecy. It was his custom to watch the great part of the night in the church in prayer, whilst his monks slept. One night, in a dream, he thought a venerable old man presented him with the keys of the city of Paris, and said to him, that God committed to his care the inhabitants of that city, that he should save them from perishing. Four years after this divine admonition, in 554, happening to be at Paris when that see became vacant, on the demise of the bishop Eusebius, he was exalted to the episcopal chair, though he endeavored by many tears to decline the charge. His promotion made no alteration in his mode of life. The same simplicity and frugality appeared in his dress, table, and furniture. His house was perpetually crowded with the poor and the afflicted, and he had always many beggars at his own table. God gave to his sermons a wonderful influence over the minds of all ranks of people; so that the face of the whole city was in a very short time quite changed. King Childebert, who till then had been an ambitious, worldly prince, was entirely converted by the sweetness and the powerful discourses of the Saint, and founded many religious institutions, and sent large sums of money to the good bishop, to be distributed among the indigent. In his old age Saint Germanus lost nothing of that zeal and activity with which he had filled the great duties of his station in the vigor of his life; nor did the weakness to which his corporal austerities had reduced him make him abate any thing in the mortifications of his penitential life, in which he redoubled his fervor as he approached nearer to the end of his course. By his zeal the remains of idolatry were extirpated in France. The Saint continued his labors for the conversion of sinners till he was called to receive the reward of them, on the 28th of May, 576, being eighty years old.

Reflection – “In the churches, bless ye God the Lord. From Thy temple, kings shall offer presents to Thee.”

MLA Citation
  • John Dawson Gilmary Shea. “Saint Germanus, Bishop”. Pictorial Lives of the Saints, 1889. CatholicSaints.Info. 30 March 2014. Web. 28 May 2020. <https://catholicsaints.info/pictorial-lives-of-the-saints-saint-germanus-bishop/>

SOURCE : https://catholicsaints.info/pictorial-lives-of-the-saints-saint-germanus-bishop/


Saint GERMAIN

Bishop of Paris; born near Autun, Saône-et-Loire, c. 496; died at Paris, 28 May, 576. He studied at Avalon and also at Luzy under the guidance of his cousin Scapilion, a priest. At the age of thirty-four he was ordained by St. Agrippinus of Autun and became Abbot of Saint-Symphorien near that town. His characteristic virtue, love for thepoor, manifested itself so strongly in his alms-giving, that his monks, fearing he would give away everything, rebelled. As he happened to be in Paris, in 555, when Bishop Eusebius died, Childebert kept him, and with the unanimous consent of the clergy and people he was consecrated to the vacant see. Under his influence the king, who had been very worldly was reformed and led a Christian life. In his new state the bishop continued to practise the virtues and austerities of his monastic life and laboured hard to diminish the evils caused by the incessant wars and the licence of the nobles. He attended the Third and Fourth Councils of Paris (557, 573) and also the Second Council of Tours (566). He persuaded the king to stamp out the pagan practices still existing inGaul and to forbid the excess that accompanied the celebration of most Christian festivals. Shortly after 540 Childebert making war in Spain, besieged Saragossa. The inhabitants had placed themselves under the protection of St. Vincent, martyr. Childebert learning this, spared the city and in return the bishop presented him with thesaint's stole. When he came back to Paris, the king caused a church to be erected in the suburbs in honour of themartyr to receive the relic. Childebert fell dangerously ill about this time, at his palace of Celles, but wasmiraculously healed by Germain, as is attested in the king's letters-patent bestowing the lands of Celles on thechurch of Paris, in return for the favour he had received. In 588 St. Vincent's church was completed anddedicated by Germain, 23 December, the very day Childebert died. Close by the church a monastery was erected. Its abbots had both spiritual and temporal jurisdiction over the suburbs of St. Germain till about the year 1670. The church was frequently plundered and set on fire by the Normans in the ninth century. It was rebuilt in 1014 and dedicated in 1163 by Pope Alexander III. Childebert was succeeded by Clotaire, whose reign was short. At his death (561) the monarchy was divided among his four sons, Charibert becoming King of Paris. He was a vicious, worthless creature, and Germain was forced to excommunicate him in 568 for his immorality. Charibert died in 570. As his brothers quarrelled over his possessions the bishop encountered great difficulties. He laboured to establish peace, but with little success. Sigebert and Chilperic, instigated by their wives, Brunehaut and theinfamous murderess Fredegunde, went to war, and Chilperic being defeated, Paris fell into Sigebert's hands.Germain wrote to Brunehaut (his letter is preserved) asking her to use her influence to prevent further war.Sigebert was obdurate. Despite Germain's warning he set out to attack Chilperic at Tournai, whither he had fled, but Fredegunde caused him to be assassinated on the way at Vitri in 575. Germain himself died the following year before peace was restored. His remains were interred in St. Symphorien's chapel in the vestibule of St. Vincent's church, but in 754 his relics were solemnly removed into the body of the church, in the presence of Pepin and his son, Charlemagne, then a child of seven. From that time the church became known as that of St. Germain-des-Prés. In addition to the letter mentioned above we have a treatise on the ancient Gallican liturgy, attributed toGermain, which has been published by Martene in his "Thesauruis Novus Anecdotorum". St. Germain's feast is kept on 28 May.

Sources

BUTLER, Lives of the Saints, II, 296-8; BENNETT in Dict. Christ. Biog., s.v. (18); GUÉRIN, Vie des Saints (Paris, 1880), VI, 264-71; Acta SS., May, VI, 774-8; MABILLON, Acta SS. O.S.B. (1668-72), I, 234-45; DUPLESSY, Histoire de St. Germain (Paris, 1831); FRAICINET, Not. biog. sur St. Germain-des-Prés (Agen, 1881); Anal. Bolland. (1883), II, 69; BOUILLART, Hist. de l'abbaye de St. Germain (Paris, 1724).

MacErlean, Andrew. "St. Germain." The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 6. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1909. 3 Jun. 2015 <http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/06473a.htm>.
Transcription. This article was transcribed for New Advent by Elizabeth T. Knuth.


Ecclesiastical approbation. Nihil Obstat. September 1, 1909. Remy Lafort, Censor. Imprimatur. +John M. Farley, Archbishop of New York.

SOURCE : http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/06473a.htm


Première sépulture présumée de Saint Germain, 
située dans l'angle nord-est de la chapelle Saint-Symphorien reconstruite au XIe siècle. 
Abbey of Saint-Germain-des-Prés


May 28

St. Germanus, Bishop of Paris, Confessor

See his life by Fortunatus of Poitiers, St. Gregory of Tours, Hist. l. 4, c. 26. Mabillon, Annal. Bened. l. 5, p. 132, and Acta Ord. Bened. t. 1. p. 234. Also Dom. Bouillart, Hist. de l’Abbaye de St. Germain des Prez, fol. Paris, 1723. Dom. Lobineau, Hist. de Paris, n. 25, 29, &c.

A.D. 576

ST. GERMANUS, the glory of the church of France in the sixth age, was born in the territory of Autun about the year 469. He was brought up in piety and learning under the care of Scapilion his cousin, a holy priest. In his youth no weather could divert him from always going to Matins at midnight, though the church was above a mile from the place of his abode. Being ordained priest by St. Agrippinus, bishop of Autun, he was made abbot of St. Symphorian’s in the suburbs of that city, a house since converted into a priory of regular canons. Fortunatus, bishop of Poitiers, who was well acquainted with our saint, tells us that he was favoured at that time with the gifts of miracles and prophecy. It was his custom to watch great part of the night in the church in prayer, whilst his monks slept. One night in a dream he thought a venerable old man presented him with the keys of the city of Paris, and said to him, that God committed to his care the inhabitants of that city, that he should save them from perishing. Four years after this divine admonition, in 554, happening to be at Paris when that see became vacant, on the demise of the bishop Eusebius, he was exalted to the episcopal chair, though he endeavoured by many tears to decline the charge. His promotion made no alteration in his continual fasts and other austerities; and the same simplicity and frugality appeared in his dress, table, and furniture. In the evening at nine o’clock he went to the church, and staid there in prayer till after Matins, that is, in summer till about break of day. His house was perpetually crowded with the poor and the afflicted, and he had always many beggars at his own table, at which no dainty meats were ever served; he took care that the souls of his guests should be refreshed at the same time with their bodies, by the reading of some pious book. God gave to his sermons a wonderful influence over the minds of all ranks of people; so that the face of the whole city was in a very short time quite changed. Vanities were abolished, dances and profane amusements laid aside, enmities and discord extinguished, and sinners reclaimed. King Childebert, who till then had been an ambitious worldly prince, by the sweetness and the powerful discourses of the saint, was entirely converted to piety, and by his advice reformed his whole court. And so desirous did that prince become of exchanging the perishing goods of this world for eternal treasures, that not content with making many religious foundations, to be nurseries of piety in all succeeding ages, and with sending incredible sums of money to the good bishop, to be distributed among the indigent, after his coffers were drained he melted down his silver plate, and gave away the chains which he wore about his neck, begging the bishop, whom he made the steward of his charities, never to cease giving, assuring him that on his side he should never be tired with supplying all things for the relief and comfort of the distressed.

In the year 542, King Childebert, together with his brother Clotaire, making war in Spain, besieged Saragossa. The inhabitants of that city reposed a particular confidence in the patronage of St. Vincent, whose relics they carried in procession within sight of the French camp. King Childebert was moved with their devotion, and desiring to speak with the bishop of the city, promised to withdraw his army, on condition he might obtain some portion of the relics of St. Vincent. The bishop gave him the stole which that holy deacon wore at the altar. Upon which the king raised the siege, and at his return to Paris, built a church in honour of St. Vincent and of the Holy Cross; which is now called St. Germain’s in the meadows, and stands in the suburbs of Paris. Childebert falling sick at his palace at Celles, near Melun, at the confluence of the Yon and Seine, St. Germanus paid him a visit; and when the physicians had in vain tried everything, all human means failing, the saint spent the whole night in prayer for his recovery, and in the morning laid his hands on him; and at the same moment the king found himself perfectly healed. The king relates himself this miracle in his letters patent, in which, in gratitude to God for this benefit, he gave to the church of Paris and the bishop Germanus, the land of Celles, where he had received this favour. The good king did not long survive. As the king had chosen the church of St. Vincent for the place of his burial, the saint, assisted by six other bishops, performed the ceremony of the dedication on the 23d of December, 558, the very day on which that prince died. The king likewise had built a large monastery joining to this new church, which he endowed most liberally with the fief of Issy and other lands, on part of which a considerable suburb of Paris has been since built. This magnificent edifice was called the Golden Church, the walls being covered on the outside with plates of brass gilt, and within adorned with paintings on a rich gilt ground. 1 This church was plundered by the Normans, in 845, 857, 858, and set on fire by them in 861 and 881; but rebuilt in 1014, and dedicated by Pope Alexander III. in 1163. The lower part of the great tower and its gate with the statues of Clovis, Clodomir, Thierri, Childibert and his wife Ultrogotta, Clotaire, and others, seem to be as old as the time of King Childebert. This prince committed the monastery and church to the care of our saint, who placed there monks under the holy abbot Droctoveus, whom he had invited from Autun, where he had formed him to a religious life. 2 Clotaire, who succeeded his brother Childebert, was the last of the sons of the great Clovis; and united again the four kingdoms of France into one monarchy. On his removing from Soissons to Paris, he at first seemed to treat the holy bishop coldly; but falling ill soon after of a violent fever, was put in mind by some who were about him to send for St. Germanus. He did so, and full of confidence in the power of God and the sanctity of his servant, took hold of his clothes and applied them to the parts of his body where he felt pain, and recovered immediately. From that moment he always treated the saint even with greater honour than Childebert had done. But that prince dying shortly after, in 561, his four sons, Charibert, Gontran, Sigebert, and Chilperic, divided the French monarchy into four kingdoms, in the same manner as the sons of Clovis had done. That of Paris was given to Charibert or Aribert, Gontran was king of Orleans and Burgundy, Sigebert of Austrasia, and Chilperic of Soissons. Charibert sunk into a vicious indolence, yet was obstinate and headstrong in his passions; not being divested of all the prejudices of paganism, he divorced his wife Ingoberga, and took to wife Marcovesa her maid, who had worn a religious habit; and after her death, he married her sister Merofleda, Ingoberga being still living. Our saint many ways endeavoured to make him sensible of the enormity of his crimes; but finding all his remonstrances lost on him, he proceeded so far as to excommunicate him and the accomplice of his sin, to hinder at least the dangerous influence of his scandalous example. The sinners were hardened in their evil courses; but God revenged the contempt of his laws and of the holy pastor as he has often done by visible judgments; for the criminal lady fell ill and died in a few days, and the adulterous king did not long survive her, leaving by his lawful wife only three daughters, two of whom became nuns; the third, called Bertha, was married to Ethelbert, king of Kent.

Upon the death of Charibert in 570, his three brothers divided his dominions; but not being able to agree who should be master of Paris, the capital, came to an accommodation that they should hold it jointly, on condition that none of them should go into the city without the leave of the other two. St. Germanus found his flock involved by this agreement in great difficulties, and the city divided into three different parties, always plotting and counterplotting against one another. He did all that the most consummate charity, prudence, and vigilance could do, to preserve the public peace; yet Sigebert and Chilperic appeared in arms, being fired by ambition, and stirred up by their wicked queens, Fredegonda, wife of the latter, and Brunehaut of the former, burning with the most implacable jealousy against each other. The saint prevailed with them to suspend their hostilities for some time. At length Chilperic invaded the territories of Sigebert, but being worsted in battle, fled to Tournay. This victory left Sigebert free liberty of going to Paris with his wife Brunehaut and children, where he was received as conqueror. St. Germanus wrote to the queen, conjuring her to employ her interest with her husband to restore the peace of France, and to spare the life and fortune of a brother, whose ruin and blood would cry to heaven for vengeance. But Brunehaut’s passion rendered her deaf to all remonstrances, and Sigebert was determined by her furious counsels to besiege Tournay. As he was setting out for this enterprise, he was met by St. Germanus, who told him that if he forgave his brother, he should return victorious; but if he was bent on his death, divine justice would overtake him, and his own death should prevent the execution of his unnatural design. Sigebert allowed this wholesome advice no weight; but the event showed that God had put these words in the mouth of the good bishop; for Queen Fredegonda, enraged at the desperate posture of her husband’s affairs, hired two assassins, who despatched him with poisoned daggers, whilst he made a halt in his march at Vitri, in 575, after he had reigned fourteen years, with some reputation of humanity, as Fortunatus tells us.

Chilperic, by his tyranny and oppressions, deserved to be styled the French Nero, as St. Gregory of Tours calls him. He sacrificed his own children by former wives to the fury of Fredegonda, but having discovered her infidelity to him, he was, by her contrivance, murdered by her gallant in 584. Fredegonda was regent of the kingdoms of Soissons and Paris for her son Clotaire II., and continued her practices and wars against Brunehaut and her son till she died, in 601. Brunehaut governed the kingdom of Australia for her son Childebert II., and after his death for her grandson Theodebert; but afterwards persuaded Theodoric, her second grandson, who reigned at Challons, to destroy him and his whole family in 611. The year following Theodoric died, and Clotaire II., surnamed the Great, son of Fredegonda, inheriting both their estates, accused Brunehaut before the states of putting to death ten kings and St. Desiderius, bishop of Vienna, because he had reproved her for her public scandalous lusts, and many other illustrious persons. She had at first appeared liberal, and built several churches; but afterwards became infamous for her cruelty, avarice, restless ambition, and insatiable lusts, to which she sacrificed all things, and employed both the sword and poison in perpetrating her wicked designs. Being condemned by the States, she was put to the rack during three days, and afterwards dragged to death, being tied to the tail of a wild mare; or, according to others, drawn between four horses, in 613. 3

St. Germanus lived not to see the miserable ends of these two firebrands of their country. In his old age he lost nothing of that zeal and activity with which he had filled the great duties of his station in the vigour of his life; nor did the weakness to which his corporal austerities had reduced him, make him abate any thing in the mortifications of his penitential life, in which he redoubled his fervour as he approached nearer to the end of his course. By his zeal the remains of idolatry were extirpated in France. In the third council of Paris, in 557, he had the principal share in drawing up the canons. By his advice, king Childebert issued an edict commanding all idols to be destroyed throughout his dominions, and forbidding all indecent dances and diversions on Sundays and festivals. The saint continued his labours for the conversion of sinners till he was called to receive the reward of them on the 28th of May, 576, being eighty years old. King Chilperic composed his epitaph, in which he extols his zeal for the salvation of his people, and their affection and veneration for his person. He mentions the miracles which were wrought at his tomb, and says that sight was restored to the blind and speech to the dumb. 4 He was, according to his own desire, buried in St. Symphorian’s chapel, which he built at the bottom of the church of St. Vincent already mentioned. Many miracles manifested his sanctity, of which Fortunatus, then a priest, afterwards bishop of Poitiers, has left us a history, in which he gives two on his own evidence. Also two anonymous monks compiled relations of several miracles of St. Germanus, which Aimoinus, 5 a monk of this monastery in 870, and a careful writer, digested into two books. 6 The relics of St. Germanus remained in the aforesaid chapel till the year 754, when the abbot removed them into the body of the church. The ceremony of this translation was performed with great solemnity; and king Pepin thought himself honoured by assisting at it. Prince Charles, known afterwards by the title of Charlemagne, who was then but seven years old, attended his father on this occasion, and was so strongly affected with the miracles performed at that time, that when he came to the crown, he took a particular pleasure in relating them, with all their circumstances. The greatest part of the relics of St. Germanus remain still in this church of St. Vincent, commonly called St. Germain-des-Prez. This abbey is possessed of the original privilege of its foundation and exemption, written on bark, and subscribed by St. Germanus, St. Nicetius, and several other bishops. 7 The most valuable work of St. Germanus of Paris, is An Exposition of the Liturgy, 8 published from an ancient manuscript by Dom. Martenne. 9 The characteristical virtue of St. Germanus was his unbounded charity to the poor. Liberality in alms moves God to be liberal to us in the dispensations of his spiritual graces; but he who hardens his heart to the injuries and wants of others, shuts against himself the treasury of heaven.

Note 1. See the description of this church in the life of St. Droctoveus, written by Gislemar the monk. [back]

Note 2. Gislemar, in the life of St. Droctoveus positively affirms that St. Germanus appointed St. Droctoveus first abbot: which is proved by Mabillon and Ruinart. The interpolator of Aimoin and certain anonymous writers of the twelfth century, from registers of this abbey, say that Autharius, formerly sub-prior of St. Symphorian’s at Autun, was the first abbot of the monastery of the Holy Cross and St. Vincent: which is warmly defended by F. Germon, a Jesuit, against Ruinart. The rule which St. Germanus first settled in this abbey was borrowed from the Orientals, but that of St. Bennet’s was afterwards adopted. The general of the Maurist Benedictin monks usually makes this house his residence. The abbots of St. Germain-des-Prez exercised all jurisdiction both spiritual and temporal over the suburbs of St. Germain, till Archbishop Perefixe recovered the former in 1668, and the Chatelet of Paris the latter, in 1674. But by a transaction in 1669, the regular prior of the abbey is Grand-Vicar-born of the archbishopric. The abbatial exemption and jurisdiction, which were extended over seculars, have been confined intra claustra or within the precincts. In the year 1675 the king declared that the abbey should continue to enjoy the exercise and the prerogative of what the French call Haute-Justice in all the places occupied by the monks or their servants, and in the territory called the Inclosure of the Abbey, which was of some extent, and contained a number of houses and shops. See Piganiol, Descrip. de Paris, t. 7, and D. Bouillart, Hist. de l’Abbaye de St. Germain-des-Prez. [back]

Note 3. See Mezeray and Challons’s Hist. of France. [back]

Note 4. Apud Aimonium, l. 2, c. 16. [back]

Note 5. This Aimoinus must not be confounded with another of the same name in 1001, author of the History of France in four books; and of a history of the miracles of St. Bennet. This latter was a monk of Fleury. [back]

Note 6. Apud Mabil. sæc. 4, Bened. t. 2, and Bolland, ad 28 Maij. [back]

Note 7. On its authenticity see Valois, Discept, de Basilicis, p. 53. Dom. Quatremaires and Dom. Mabillon. [back]

Note 8. In it we have the genuine ancient Gallican liturgy or mass, which was used in France before the Roman was introduced, in the time of Charlemagne and Pope Adrian I. This Latin Gallican mass, in all the parts, bears a uniform resemblance with the Roman. St. Germanus, in this most curious work, explains the ancient ceremonies of the liturgy, all the sacred vestments, &c. [back]

Note 9. Anecdot. t. 5, p. 91. [back]

Rev. Alban Butler (1711–73).  Volume V: May. The Lives of the Saints.  1866.

SOURCE : http://www.bartleby.com/210/5/281.html




San Germano di Parigi Vescovo


Autun (Francia), fine del V secolo - Parigi, 28 maggio 576

Saint-Germain-des-Prés è oggi tra i quartieri più suggestivi di Parigi. La chiesa che vi sorge è stata ricostruita nel 990, dopo la distruzione dell'abbazia precedente. L'edificio - che sorgeva appunto "nei prati" attorno a Parigi - era stato voluto da re Childerico, che l'aveva donato a Germano (496-576), abate del monastero benedettino di San Sinforiano, cui attribuiva la sua miracolosa guarigione. Saint-Germain divenne il monastero più importante di Parigi e uno dei grandi polmoni spirituali dell'Occidente. Germano fu poi nominato vescovo di Parigi. Oggi riposa nella chiesa che porta il suo nome.

Etimologia: Germano = fratello/sorella, dal latino

Emblema: Bastone pastorale

Martirologio Romano: A Parigi in Francia, san Germano, vescovo, che fu dapprima abate di San Sinforiano di Autun e, eletto poi alla sede di Parigi, mantenne uno stile di vita monastico, dedicandosi a una fruttuosa opera di cura delle anime.

La vita di s. Germano è nota soprattutto attraverso la biografia scritta dal suo amico Fortunato di Poitiers impostata, peraltro, con un troppo evidente gusto per il meraviglioso. I documenti piú seri, relativi soprattutto alla fondazione dell'abbazia di S. Germano e ai primi tempi della sua storia, sono scomparsi al tempo delle invasioni normanne, alla fine del IX sec., e non è quindi possibile effettuare su di essi un controllo severo. Altri documenti sono falsi, redatti molto tempo dopo.

Germano, nato ad Autun verso la fine del V sec., sarebbe stato vittima di due tentativi di assassinio, a cui sfuggí miracolosamente: il primo per una minaccia di aborto mentre la madre lo attendeva ed il secondo poco dopo per avvelenamento. Doveva essere di famiglia relativamente agiata dato che proseguí negli studi ad Avállon. Per quindici anni abitò presso un parente, Scopillone, in una località di incerta identificazione: Laizy (Saoneet-Loire), o Lucey (Cote-d'Or). Già in quest'epoca, senza dubbio, doveva condurre vita eremitica o di reduso, usanza assai frequente nella Francia del V e VI sec. Richiamato da Agrippino, vescovo di Autun, è ordinato diacono e poi, tre anni dopo, prete. Il successore di Agrippino, Nettario, gli affida la direzione del monastero di S. Sinforiano che egli risolleva, non senza difficoltà, dalla decadenza e nel quale egli cercherà i primi elementi per la sua fondazione parigina.

Verso il 556, mentre si trova a Parigi presso il re Chilperico, questi, che apprezza i suoi consigli, lo chiama a succedere al vescovo Libano. D'ora in avanti egli dedicherà parte del suo zelo al compito di moderatore presso il principe ed i suoi successori Clotario e Cariberto; moderatore, tuttavia, piú o meno ascoltato, soprattutto in occasione delle crudeli lotte che segnarono la successione di Clotario e che resero famosi i sinistri nomi delle regine Brunechilde e Fredegonda. Fortunatamente conobbe anche la sposa di Clotario, s. Redegonda, e nel 561, a Poitiers, vide anche benedire la prima badessa di Santa Croce, stabilendo nella stessa epoca legami di amicizia con il poeta Fortunato, suo futuro biografo.

Il nome di Germano è soprattutto legato alla fondazione, da parte di Chilperico, dopo il 543, di un monastero destinato ad ospitare i trofei riportati dalla Spagna: ciò spiega il primitivo patronato della Santa Croce e di S. Vincenzo di Saragozza. Qui Germano chiamò alcuni monaci da S. Sinforiano, sotto la direzione di Drottoveo, e ne consacrò la chiesa un 23 dicembre, probabilmente del 558.

Infine Germano partecipò ad alcuni grandi avvenimenti della Chiesa di Francia: il concilio di Tours del 567, i concili di Parigi, tra cui quello del 573, e la consacrazione del vescovo Felice di Bourges nel 570. Fino a data recente gli si attribuivano anche due lettere, molto interessanti per la conoscenza della liturgia gallicana, che, tuttavia, il Wilmart ha dimostrato essere a lui posteriori.

Germano morì ottuagenario il 28 maggio 576 e fu inumato nella cappella di S. Sinforiano attigua alla chiesa abbaziale, in una tomba decorata, verso il 635, da s. Eligio, consigliere di re Dagoberto. Nel 54, per ordine di Pipino il Breve, fu effettuata una solenne traslazione alla presenza del giovane Carlo Magno e di numeroso clero; tale traslazionè portò al cambiamento della dedicazione della chiesa, mentre avvenivano i miracoli narrati abbondantemente dal monaco Aimone.

Da questo momento il monastero e la sua chiesa (distinta dalla antica chiesa di St.-Germainle-Vieux, demolita nel 1802) onorano il quartiere di St.-Germain-des-Prés, importante centro di vita benedettina dei secc. XVII-XVIII ed uno dei piú pittoreschi della Parigi moderna.

Autore: Gérard Mathon


SOURCE : http://www.santiebeati.it/dettaglio/54950

Voir aussi : http://stmaterne.blogspot.ca/2007/06/saint-germain-de-paris-un-saint.html
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