Michel-Louis Victor Mercie. Statue de Sainte Geneviève, 1845, jardin du Luxembourg, Paris
Vierge à Paris (+ 500)
Elle est née à Nanterre
vers 420. Alors qu'elle a sept ans, l'évêque saint
Germain d'Auxerre, de passage, la remarque et la consacre à Dieu.
C'est dans le monde qu'elle mènera sa vie consacrée. En 451, les Huns menacent
Paris. Geneviève persuade les parisiens affolés que les Barbares n'attaqueront
pas la ville et qu'il est inutile de fuir. En effet Paris est épargné. Puis ce
sont les Francs qui viennent l'assiéger. Geneviève s'échappe par la Seine et va
quérir du ravitaillement jusqu'à Troyes. Plus tard, elle jouit de la confiance
des rois francs et obtient d'eux la grâce des condamnés. Elle se lia d'amitié
avec sainte
Clotilde. Sa réputation est telle qu'elle se répand jusqu'en Syrie
où saint
Syméon le Stylite, du haut de sa colonne, se recommande à ses prières.
Elle passera sa vie à secourir les pauvres et guérir les malades.
Site du diocèse de Nanterre dont elle est la
patronne et où elle est née.
Femme forte, paisible et
de grande autorité, femme qui sut rétablir l'ordre et la paix de la cité au
cours des pires épreuves, Geneviève reste un repère et un exemple pour tous les
gendarmes dans leur labeur, en même temps qu'elle intercède pour eux.
Par décret en date du 18
mai 1962, le bienheureux pape Jean XXIII a solennellement désigné sainte
Geneviève comme patronne de la Gendarmerie, dont il avait pu apprécier les
engagements et le sens du service comme nonce apostolique à Paris, peu
auparavant.
Au calendrier de
l'Église, la fête de sainte Geneviève figure au 3 janvier qui correspond à la
date de sa mort, c'est-à-dire de sa naissance au ciel. Cependant, cette date
n'étant pas favorable au rassemblement des gendarmes requis par cette
célébration, elle est célébrée par la gendarmerie au 26 novembre, qui
correspond à la fête de Sainte Geneviève des Ardents, instituée par le pape
Innocent II pour le diocèse de Paris en l'honneur des miracles de guérison de
la peste opérés à l'invocation de la sainte en cette ville en l'an 1130. La
gendarmerie étant une unité dont les origines sont liées à l'histoire de la
ville de Paris, cette date paraît particulièrement bien convenir. (Diocèse
aux Armées françaises)
Voir aussi: Sainte Geneviève
(v. 420 - v. 500), patronne de Paris et les Saints
parisiens - diocèse de Paris.
À Paris, vers l’an 500,
la mise au tombeau de sainte Geneviève, vierge de Nanterre, qui, à l’âge de
quinze ans, reçut le voile des vierges à l’invitation de saint Germain
d’Auxerre. Elle réconforta les habitants de la cité lors de l’invasion des
Huns, et vint en aide à ses concitoyens pendant une famine.
SOURCE : http://nominis.cef.fr/
.jpg)
J. F. Gigoux, Sainte Geneviève, 1841, Chapelle Sainte-Geneviève, église Saint-Germain-l’Auxerrois (fondée sur un petit oratoire situé sur le lieu de la deuxième rencontre de Geneviève et de Germain)
Sainte Geneviève
Vierge, patronne de Paris
(422-512)
Sainte Geneviève,
patronne de Paris, naquit au village de Nanterre, vers l'an 422. C'est bien
dans une vie comme la sienne que l'on reconnaît la vérité et que l'on trouve la
réalisation de cette parole de saint Paul: "Dieu choisit dans ce monde les
instruments les plus faibles pour confondre l'orgueil et les prétentions des
hommes."
Elle était âgée de sept
ans quand saint Germain, évêque d'Auxerre, traversa le village de Nanterre, où
elle habitait. Éclairé par une lumière divine, le Saint discerna cette modeste
enfant parmi la foule accourue sur ses pas: "Béni soit, dit-il à ses
parents, le jour où cette enfant vous fut donnée: Sa naissance a été saluée par
les anges, et Dieu la destine à de grandes choses." Puis, s'adressant à la
jeune enfant, il la confirma dans son désir de se donner tout à Dieu:
"Ayez confiance, ma fille, lui dit-il, demeurez inébranlable dans votre
vocation; le Seigneur vous donnera force et courage."
Depuis ce moment,
Geneviève se regarda comme consacrée à Dieu; elle s'éloigna de plus en plus des
jeux et des divertissements de l'enfance et se livra à tous les exercices de la
piété chrétienne avec une ardeur bien au-dessus de son âge. Rarement on vit,
dans une existence si humble, de si admirables vertus. Elle n'était heureuse
que dans son éloignement du monde, en la compagnie de Jésus, de Marie et de son
Ange gardien.
Geneviève reçut le voile
à quatorze ans, des mains de l'archevêque de Paris, et, après la mort de ses
parents, elle quitta Nanterre pour se retirer à Paris même, chez sa marraine,
où elle vécut plus que jamais saintement. Malgré ses austérités, ses extases,
ses miracles, elle devint bientôt l'objet de la haine populaire, et le démon
jaloux suscita contre elle une guerre acharnée. Il fallut un nouveau passage de
saint Germain de Nanterre pour rétablir sa réputation: "Cette vierge,
dit-il, sera votre salut à tous."
Bientôt, en effet, le
terrible Attila, surnommé le Fléau de Dieu, envahissait la France; mais
Geneviève prêcha la pénitence, et, selon sa prédiction, Paris ne fut pas même
assiégé. La sainte mourut à quatre-vingt-neuf ans, le 3 janvier 512.
D'innombrables miracles ont été opérés par son intercession. Son tombeau est
toujours entouré de vénération dans l'église de Saint-Étienne-du-Mont, à Paris.
Elle est une des grandes Patronnes de la France.
Abbé L. Jaud, Vie
des Saints pour tous les jours de l'année, Tours, Mame, 1950
SOURCE : http://magnificat.ca/cal/fr/saints/sainte_genevieve.html
Châsse
de Sainte Geneviève , église Saint-Étienne-du-Mont, Paris
Sainte Geneviève
Au début de l'année 451, Attila entraîne ses hordes en-deçà du Rhin, prend,
pille et brûle Metz la veille de Pâques (7 avril), remonte la vallée de le
Seine et vient assiéger Paris.
Au milieu du désarroi
général, sainte Geneviève garde son sang-froid puisant son courage dans la
confiance qu'elle a en la Providence. Elle convoque les femmes de Paris et,
après leur avoir rappelé les grands exemples de Judith et d'Esther,
libératrices de leur peuple, elles les invite à s'unir à elle pour détourner le
fléau par la prière, le jeûne et les saintes veilles au baptistère de
Saint-Jean-le-Rond. Sûre de l'appui des femmes parisiennes, elle s'adresse aux
hommes : Que parlez-vous de vous réfugier en d'autres cités ? Celles-ci seront-elles
mieux que Paris abritées contre un coup de main des barbares ? Paris, grâce à
la protection du Christ, échappera au carnage.
Les Parisiens, tout
abandonnés à la peur, s'emportent contre sainte Geneviève qu'ils appellent la
prophétesse de malheur, et parlent de la lapider ou de la jeter dans la Seine,
lorsque l'archidiacre d'Auxerre apporte les eulogies (pains bénis et non consacrés)
que son évêque, saint Germain a légué à sainte Geneviève en mourant :
Parisiens, n'allez pas commettre ce forfait ; celle dont vous projetez la mort
est, au témoignage du saint évêque Germain, l'élue de Dieu dès sa venue au
monde. Et voici les eulogies que je lui apporte de la part de l'évêque défunt.
Les Parisiens se rallient alors aux conseils de sainte Geneviève et Attila
quitte la vallée de la Seine pour se rejeter vers la Loire. arrêtés par
l'évêque saint Aignan sous les murs d'Orléans, il est repoussé par Ætius jusque
à Châlons-sur-Marne où, à la bataille des Champs Catalauniques par les armées
conjuguées d'Aétius (Gallo-Romains), de Mérovée (Francs) et de Théodoric
(Wisigoths).
Près de trente ans plus
tard, lorsque Clovis, encore idolâtre assiège Paris, sainte Geneviève est
encore l'âme de la résistance de ses concitoyens affamés qu'elle réussit à
faire ravitailler en forçant, avec onze vaisseaux, les barrages sur la Seine
jusqu'à Troyes.
En 885, lorsque les
Normands assiègent Paris, tandis que la famine et la peste déciment la
population, la résistance des Parisiens se confie à l'intercession de sainte
Geneviève et, après que ses ont été exposées au point le plus menacé des
remparts, l'ennemi se retire.
En 1130, sous le nom de
mal des ardents ou de feu sacré, une terrible fièvre pestilentielle fondit sur
Paris, puis sur la France entière, sans qu'aucune médecin ne pût l'enrayer ; il
s'agissait d'une inflammation intérieure accompagnée de la gangrène aux
extrémités des membres. Pour conjurer le fléau, l'évêque de Paris ordonna des
jeûnes et des prières, puis demanda que l'on transportât les malades sur le
chemin de la procession solennelle qu'il mena de la basilique Sainte-Geneviève
à Notre-Dame, le 26 novembre. Les malades qui touchèrent la châsse furent
immédiatement guéris et de tous ceux qui étaient à Paris, seuls trois
sceptiques moururent, puis le mal commença à décroître pour finir par
disparaître. L'année suivante, le pape Innocent II, en souvenir de ce miracle,
institua la fête de Sainte Geneviève des Ardents.
Le 14 août 1792, les
révolutionnaires n'osant détruire la châsse de sainte Geneviève, la firent
transporter à l'église Saint-Etienne-du-Mont, et attendirent le 9 novembre 1793
pour s'en saisir et l'emporter à l'Hôtel de la Monnaie. Ouverte, profanée et
inventoriée, la châsse fut détruite avant que les précieuses reliques qu'elle
contenaient fussent brûlées en place de Grève et les cendres dispersées dans la
Seine.
Prière
Répandez sur nous,
Seigneur,
l'esprit d'intelligence
et d'amour
dont vous avez rempli
sainte Geneviève, votre servante,
pour qu'attentifs à vous
servir et cherchant à lui ressembler,
nous obtentions par son
intercession dans le ciel,
de vous plaire sur la
terre par notre foi, et toute notre vie.
Par Jésus-Christ, votre
Fils unique, notre Seigneur et notre Dieu
qui vit et règne avec
vous, dans l'unité du Saint-Esprit.
Pour les siècles des
siècles.
- Amen
Litanies du Précieux Sang
Seigneur, ayez pitié de
nous Seigneur, ayez pitié de nous
O Christ, ayez pitié de
nous O Christ, ayez pitié de nous
Seigneur, ayez pitié de
nous Seigneur, ayez pitié de nous
Jésus, écoutez-nous
Jésus, écoutez-nous
Jésus, exaucez-nous
Jésus, exaucez-nous
Père du Ciel qui êtes
Dieu, ayez pitié de nous
Fils, Rédempteur du monde
qui êtes Dieu, ayez pitié de nous
Saint-Esprit qui êtes
Dieu, ayez pitié de nous
Sainte Trinité qui êtes
un seul Dieu, ayez pitié de nous
Sainte Marie, sainte
Vierge des Vierges, Mère du Sauveur, priez pour nous
Sainte Geneviève, dès
l’enfance comblée de Dieu, priez pour nous
Sainte Geneviève,
consacrée au Christ par saint Germain, priez pour nous
Sainte Geneviève, docile
au Saint-Esprit, priez pour nous
Sainte Geneviève, au zèle
intrépide pour la foi, priez pour nous
Sainte Geneviève,
héroïquement dévouée à l’Eglise, priez pour nous
Sainte Geneviève, modèle
de vie vécue pour Dieu, priez pour nous
Sainte Geneviève,
discrète auxiliaire du Clergé, priez pour nous
Sainte Geneviève, qui
avez souffert pour votre vocation, priez pour nous
Sainte Geneviève, qui
avez connu l’hostilité et l’abandon, priez pour nous
Sainte Geneviève, qui
passiez des heures à prier, priez pour nous
Sainte Geneviève, dont
les jeûnes et la prière sauvaient la Cité, priez pour nous
Sainte Geneviève, qui
aviez pour les rois une exigeante amitié, priez pour nous
Sainte Geneviève, dont la
sagesse éclairait les païens, priez pour nous
Sainte Geneviève, dont la
prudence guidait les chefs, priez pour nous
Sainte Geneviève, dont la
pureté triomphait des calomnies, priez pour nous
Sainte Geneviève, dont la
force relevait les courages défaillants, priez pour nous
Sainte Geneviève, qui
compatissiez aux souffrances des petits, priez pour nous
Sainte Geneviève, qui
nourrissiez miraculeusement les miséreux, priez pour nous
Sainte Geneviève, qui
réconciliez avec Dieu les pécheurs, priez pour nous
Sainte Geneviève, qui
rameniez à l’Eglise les égarés, priez pour nous
Sainte Geneviève, qui
lisiez dans les cœurs, priez pour nous
Sainte Geneviève, qui
guérissiez les malades, priez pour nous
Sainte Geneviève, qui
arrêtiez les inondations, priez pour nous
Sainte Geneviève, qui
rétablissiez la paix entre les ennemis, priez pour nous
Sainte Geneviève, qui
adoucissiez le sort des prisonniers, priez pour nous
Sainte Geneviève, qui
chassiez les démons, priez pour nous
Sainte Geneviève, qui
protégez notre patrie, priez pour nous
Sainte Geneviève, qui
veillez sur Paris, priez pour nous
Agneau de Dieu, qui
effacez les péchés du monde,
pardonnez-nous, Seigneur
Agneau de Dieu, qui
effacez les péchés du monde,
exaucez-nous, Seigneur
Agneau de Dieu, qui
effacez les péchés du monde,
Jésus-Christ,
écoutez-nous
Jésus-Christ,
exaucez-nous
Priez pour nous, Sainte
Geneviève ;
- Afin que nous soyons
rendus dignes des promesses du Christ.
Répandez sur nous,
Seigneur, l’esprit d’intelligence et d’amour dont vous avez rempli votre
servante Geneviève, pour qu’attentifs à vous servir et cherchant à lui
ressembler, nous sachions vous plaire par notre foi et toute notre vie. Par
Jésus-Christ, votre Fils unique, notre Seigneur et notre Dieu, qui vit et règne
avec vous, dans l’unité du Saint-Esprit. Pour les siècles des siècles. - Amen.
SOURCE : http://missel.free.fr/Sanctoral/01/03.php
Pierre Puvis de Chavannes (1824–1898), Sainte Geneviève ravitaillant Paris assiégé et menacé de famine, huile sur toile marouflée, Panthéon de Paris
Pierre Puvis de Chavannes (1824–1898),
Sainte Geneviève ravitaillant Paris assiégé et menacé de famine, huile sur
toile marouflée, Panthéon de Paris
Sainte Geneviève, le
siège des francs et le ravitaillement de Paris
Aliénor
Goudet - Publié le 02/01/21
En tant que vierge
consacrée et magistrate municipale, Geneviève (423-512) a le souci non
seulement des plus pauvres mais de tout le peuple de Paris. C’est au cours
d'une situation particulièrement difficile que cette sainte montre toutes sa
dévotion et son sens du service au peuple qui lui a été confié.
Paris, 475. L’automne
touche à sa fin. Les nuits se font plus froides et plus longues. Le soleil a
disparu depuis longtemps. Cette nuit encore, de nombreux habitants sont allés
se coucher le ventre vide. Les talents de négociatrice de la magistrate, Geneviève,
ont permis à la ville d’éviter le bain de sang, mais un autre problème se pose.
Le siège et le blocus imposés par les francs ont permis à un nouvel ennemi de
pénétrer les murs de la ville : la famine.
Les pauvres meurent dans
les rues et les greniers des riches se vident à une vitesse alarmante. C’est
donc dans cette atmosphère d’angoisse et de faim que la ville s’est endormie.
Mais dans une chapelle, une petite lumière persiste. Enveloppée dans un grand
manteau à capuche, une femme est à genoux devant l’autel.
– Seigneur, dit-elle,
veille sur Paris en mon absence. Éclaire mon chemin et donne du courage aux
braves qui m’accompagnent dans cette mission.
Lire aussi :
Sainte
Geneviève, une femme providentielle
Geneviève remonte sa
capuche et quitte alors la petite chapelle pour rejoindre la Seine, sa petite
lanterne à la main. Le père Bessus est là, ainsi que la quarantaine d’hommes
qui ont accepté de braver le blocus avec elle.
– Tout est prêt,
magistrate, dit le prêtre Bessus. Nous n’attendons que tes ordres.
Geneviève sourit. Elle
remercie chacun d’eux et les bénit une dernière fois avant d’embarquer dans le
bateau à la tête de la flotte de onze vaisseaux. Il s’agit d’abord de quitter
Paris aussi discrètement que possible.
Les hommes ont revêtu des
vêtements de francs afin de passer inaperçus, mais si par malheur on les
arrêtait, la supercherie ne durerait pas. Geneviève prie de nouveau tandis que
la petite flotte remonte le fleuve. C’est alors qu’une brume se lève et
s’épaissit rapidement, jusqu’à recouvrir la Seine et ses berges. Elle ne
disparaît qu’au petit matin, lorsque Paris est bien loin derrière la flottille.
Et de nouveau, Geneviève rend grâce.
Mais quelques jours plus
tard, un autre obstacle survient. De violents vents agitent le fleuve et
manquent à plusieurs reprises de faire chavirer les bateaux. Cela dure
plusieurs heures. Les bras des rameurs sont fatigués, et leurs mains, couvertes
de cloques. S’ils viennent à perdre leur cadence, la tempête aura raison d’eux.
Geneviève se lève alors au devant du bateau.
– Ne craignez rien,
crie-t-elle aux hommes pour couvrir le bruit du vent. Et chantez avec moi.
Sur l’air des psaumes
implorant la force et la miséricorde de Dieu, les rameurs reprennent leur
cadence et chantent avec la magistrate. Enfin, la tempête se calme et encore
une fois, Geneviève rend grâce. Une fois en Champagne, elle fait charger les
bateaux de grain avant de reprendre le chemin de Paris. Cette fois, le voyage
se fait sans encombre sous la bienveillance de son époux des cieux.
Lire aussi :
Paris
: rive droite ou rive gauche, baladez-vous dans les pas de sainte Geneviève
De retour, Geneviève fait
vendre le grain à ceux qui ont les moyens de l’acheter, et fait préparer des
pains dans les fours publics pour les plus pauvres. Mais le devoir est loin d’être
fini. Un soir, elle se rend à la petite basilique de saint Denis pour s’y
recueillir. Une fois de plus, le Seigneur lui a souri.
– Roi des cieux,
implore-t-elle, accorde encore à ta servante la force et la sagesse. Donne-moi
les mots justes afin de faire des francs tes alliés et tes enfants.
Au fond d’elle, Geneviève
sait intuitivement que les francs ont le potentiel de devenir peuple de Dieu.
Car s’ils sont païens, ils n’ont pas choisi la voie de l’hérésie arienne. Mais
il lui faudra toute sa diplomatie et l’aide de Dieu pour épargner Paris et
poser la première pierre du royaume qui deviendra fille aînée de l’Église.
Geneviève rejoint le ciel
le 3 janvier 512, après avoir réussi non seulement à sauver Paris maintes fois,
mais à conclure une alliance avec Clovis I et introduire la foi chrétienne
parmi les francs. Elle est sainte
patronne de Paris, du diocèse de Nanterre et de la Gendarmerie
nationale.
Pierre Hébert (1804-1869). Statue
de Sainte Geneviève, Façade de l'église Saint-Étienne-du-Mont.
Sainte Geneviève
Contemporaine de Clovis
et de saint Remi, Geneviève naît en 422 à Nanterre. À l’âge de sept
ans, elle rencontre Germain, évêque d’Auxerre, et Loup, évêque de Troyes, qui
faisaient halte dans cette bourgade avant de s’embarquer pour l’Angleterre pour
y combattre, sur l’ordre du pape, l’hérésie de Pélage. La fillette est en
prière dans l’église de Nanterre et Germain prophétise devant les parents de
Geneviève le destin exceptionnel de l’enfant. Lorsque sa mère est frappée de
cécité pour avoir donné un soufflet à Geneviève, celle-ci la guérit avec de
l’eau qu’elle a bénite.
Geneviève promet à
Germain de se consacrer au Christ, et, à quinze ans, elle reçoit le voile des
vierges. À l’époque, en effet, il n’existait pas de monastères de femmes et
celles qui souhaitaient se consacrer au Seigneur continuaient à vivre dans le
monde, simplement distinguées par le voile de leur consécration. À la mort de
ses parents, Geneviève vient habiter à Paris chez sa marraine. Elle vit dans le
silence, la prière et la mortification, ne se nourrissant que deux fois par
semaine. Elle est aussi favorisée de grâces extraordinaires, en lisant dans les
consciences et en guérissant les corps au nom du Christ par des onctions
d’huile.
Saint Germain la défend
contre les calomnies. Geneviève fait construire la première basilique de Saint-Denis.
Elle visite de nuit le chantier avec ses compagnes, quand le vent éteint le
cierge qui éclairait le chemin du petit groupe. Geneviève prend le cierge, qui
se rallume aussitôt, et sa flamme résiste à toutes les bourrasques.
En 451, Attila franchit le
Rhin et envahit la Gaule. Les Parisiens prennent peur et veulent fuir.
Geneviève les convainc de demeurer dans la ville. Elle rassemble les femmes de
Paris dans l’église-baptistère près de Notre-Dame et leur demande de supplier
le Ciel d’épargner leur ville. C’est ce qui se produit. Abandonnant la route de
Paris, les Huns se dirigent vers Orléans qu’ils assiègent. Contraints par les
armées du général romain Aetius, ils se replient vers le nord et sont
définitivement vaincus aux Champs Catalauniques. Plus tard, lorsque les Francs
assiègent Paris, Geneviève sauve cette fois la ville de la famine. Elle
organise une expédition ingénieuse au moyen de bateaux qui, par la Seine, vont
chercher le ravitaillement jusqu’en Champagne. Sa réputation s’étend jusqu’en Orient.
Clovis et Clotilde lui voueront une grande vénération. Elle sera enterrée
auprès du roi dans l’église des Saints-Apôtres que sainte Clotilde avait fait
construire et qui prendra dès le VIIe siècle le nom de Sainte-Geneviève.
Geneviève meurt en 512 à
près de 90 ans. Son corps est transporté en 845 à Marizy par crainte des
Normands et rapporté à Paris en 890. À partir du XIIe siècle, la châsse
contenant ses reliques est portée en procession à travers Paris. Des miracles
ont lieu sur son passage en particulier lors du mal des ardents. Ses reliques
sont brûlées par les révolutionnaires en 1793, mais son tombeau vide,
transporté dans l’église Saint-Étienne-du-Mont continue d’être vénéré.
Sainte Geneviève est la
patronne de Paris, et des gendarmes.
SOURCE : http://www.introibo.fr/Sainte-Genevieve-vierge-propre-de
Sainte-Geneviève
rencontrant Saint Germain d'Auxerre et saint Loup de Troyes, Vitrail, XVIe
siècle, Saint-Julien-du-Sault (Yonne)
LA VIE DE SAINTE
GENEVIÈVE
1. Une vie bien connue
L’existence de sainte
Geneviève, qui se déroule entre la fin chaotique de l’empire romain en Europe
et l’établissement de monarchie franque, nous est bien connue par le manuscrit
de sa « vita » : il s’agit d’une biographie rédigée, semble-t-il, à la demande
de son amie, sainte Clotilde, épouse de Clovis. L’auteur serait un prêtre
catholique burgonde. Il est très opposé à l’arianisme, hérésie condamnée au
concile de Nicée en 325 (les Ariens niaient la divinité de Jésus qui n’était,
selon eux, que la première des créatures).
Il est manifestement très
cultivé et connaît les auteurs latins. Il n’a sans doute jamais rencontré
Geneviève mais il s’est renseigné auprès de témoins directs.
Ce document aurait été
écrit 18 ans après la mort de la sainte, qui se serait éteinte avant Clovis
(511) à 80 ans ; le texte daterait, par conséquent, des années 520 à 530. Outre
une hagiographie volumineuse, de nombreux historiens ont consacré leurs travaux
à la vie de Geneviève, dont récemment Joël Schmidt (Sainte Geneviève, la fin de
la Gaule romaine, Perrin, 2008).
2. Très tôt consacrée à
Dieu
Les éléments fournis
permettent de situer la naissance de Geneviève à Nanterre vers 420 et sa mort à
Paris vers 500. Ses parents, Sévérus (Franc romanisé) et Gérontie appartiennent
à l’autocratie gallo-romaine ; ils donnent à leur fille unique un nom
germanique qui signifie « née au sein d’une femme » ; Geneviève est citoyenne
romaine et, par le code juridique alors en vigueur, exercera la charge de
magistrat municipal de son père (qui commença sa carrière dans l’armée). Il est
clair qu’elle dispose d’importants revenus et gère ses vastes domaines dans les
environs de Paris et de Meaux.
Elle est encore petite
fille (entre 7 et 9 ans) lorsqu’elle rencontre à Nanterre deux évêques :
Germain d’Auxerre et Loup de Troyes. Ceux-ci voyageaient vers la
Grande-Bretagne : à la demande du pape célestin 1er, ils allaient combattre
l’hérésie pélagienne (qui minimisait le rôle de la grâce). Sur le bord de la
Seine, Nanterre est une halte commode. Saint Germain repère la petite Geneviève
et lui propose de se consacrer au Seigneur : après avoir obtenu son
assentiment, il en parle à ses parents. En souvenir de cette promesse, il remet
à l’enfant, comme pendentif, une pièce de monnaie marquée d’une croix.
3.Le puits de Geneviève
Cet engagement ne fut pas
sans problème : un jour Gérontia qui se préparait à aller à l’église demande à
sa fille de rester à la maison. Geneviève se met à crier et à pleurer : « je
veux garder la promesse du vénérable Germain. Je veux aller à l’église. Je veux
mériter d’être une bonne épouse du Christ. » Agacée, la mère la gifla et
aussitôt perdit la vue. Vingt-et-un mois plus tard, Gérontia se souvenant des
paroles de Geneviève, lui demanda de lui porter de l’eau du puits, elle s’en
humecta les yeux et recouvra la vue. Elle était miraculeusement sortie de son
aveuglement.
Geneviève doit avoir une
vingtaine d’années lorsque l’évêque Villicus l’admet parmi les vierges
consacrées à Dieu.
Les rituels de l’époque
nous apprennent qu’une telle demande avait lieu au cours de la messe et que le
voile était remis à la consacrée. Elle mènera dès lors une existence de prière
et de pénitence, tout en conservant des fonctions politiques et économiques
importantes.
4.Des responsabilités
économiques et politiques majeures
Vers 25 ans, ses parents
étant morts, elle part habiter Paris chez sa « mère spirituelle » (peut-être sa
marraine) et succède à son père à la tête du domaine familial et dans la participation
à la direction de la ville. Elle s’impose comme une femme d’affaires,
propriétaire de riches terres dont elle a fait bénéficier les Parisiens les
plus pauvres, et comme une femme politique avisée prenant peu à peu en main les
destinées de la célèbre cité.
Elle rencontre de nouveau
saint Germain de passage dans la ville. Il entend des bruits défavorables sa
protégée et prend sa défense auprès de Parisiens.
5.Sainte Geneviève face à
Attila
Au printemps 451, les
Huns d’Attila franchissent le Rhin. Auparavant, ils ont détruit Cologne en
faisant un véritable carnage. Ils incendient Metz le 13 avril, Verdun, Laon,
St-Quentin, Reims et franchissent la Marne. Le bruit court que les Huns
allaient envahir Paris. Les Parisiens voulaient fuir et s’opposent à Geneviève
qui le leur déconseille. Ce serait livrer Paris à Attila alors que Geneviève
pense qu’il contournera la ville et risquer de se faire tuer en rase campagne.
Malgré l’hostilité des Parisiens, elle réunit quelques femmes pour prier le
Seigneur de protéger la ville. « Que les hommes fuient, s’ils veulent, s’ils ne
sont plus capables de se battre. Nous les femmes, nous prierons Dieu tant et
tant qu’Il entendra nos supplications », dit-elle.
En effet, apprenant que
Paris était défendu, les Huns optent pour attaquer Orléans directement, passer
la Loire et prendre les terres Wisigothes d’Aquitaine. C’est à Orléans, le 24
juin 451 qu’ils seront vaincus par Aetius, arrivé d’Italie. La clairvoyance de
Geneviève lui attire la bienveillance du peuple de Paris. Elle a joui, depuis,
d’un grand prestige et d’une grande autorité.
6.Sainte Geneviève et
Childéric
À la suite de l’épisode
des Huns, Geneviève entre en relation avec le roi Childéric, puis avec son fils
Clovis qui admire beaucoup la future sainte. Elle s’engage pour l’unité de tous
les Gallo-Romains et s’opposa aux guerres civiles.
Childéric, roi des Francs
et résidant à Paris fait arrêter des prisonniers et ordonne qu’on les tue en
dehors des murs. Pour s’assurer de la neutralité de la population, il fait fermer
les portes de la ville. Geneviève avertie, tente de sortir et arrivant devant
les fortifications, voit la porte s’ouvrir toute seule. Elle part rejoindre
Childéric à qui elle arrache la libération des prisonniers.
7.L’approvisionnement en
blé de Paris
Les Francs, par leur
présence permanente dans l’Est et en Ile de France entre 470 et 480, finissent
par couper les relations commerciales traditionnelles de Paris.
Les approvisionnements
alimentaires venant à manquer, une période de famine s’installe. Geneviève se
rend alors à Arcis-sur-Aube pour négocier un ravitaillement. Elle réquisitionne
des bateaux et remonte la Seine. Arrivée là-bas, elle est reçue par le tribun
Passivus dont elle guérit la femme malade. Elle négocie sur place le blé
nécessaire.
Selon la légende,
repartant d’Arcis, les barques trop chargées, l’équipage se met à prendre
l’eau, menaçant de couler. Tendant les mains vers le ciel, Geneviève implore le
secours du Christ et la flottille reprend sur le champ une navigation normale.
8.Sainte Geneviève
bâtisseuse et mécène
Sur la route de Senlis,
au nord de Paris, se trouve la tombe du martyr Denis dans un cimetière public.
Elle demande que l’on bâtisse en ce lieu une basilique en son honneur.
Saint-Denis fut l’un des
sept évangélisateurs de la Gaule au IIIe siècle et le premier évêque de Paris.
Martyr, il aurait été décapité avec ses compagnons Éleuthère et Rustique, sur
le mont des Martyrs (Mons Martyrium: Montmartre), et aurait porté sa tête à
l’endroit où fut édifiée, par Dagobert, la première basilique de Saint-Denis.
Son identification ultérieure avec Denys l’Aréopagite joua un rôle dans les
controverses théologiques du Moyen Âge.
Aux réticences de tous
devant les difficultés d’approvisionnement en matériaux de construction,
Geneviève réplique qu’on l’informe de la disponibilité des pierres à chaux
indispensables. D’anciens fours à chaux et des carrières voisines sont alors
retrouvés permettant le commencement de la construction. Par la suite, alors
que les charpentiers manquent de boisson, Geneviève multiplie les coupes d’eau,
permettant aux ouvriers de se désaltérer.
Plus tard, Geneviève
inspirera l’édification de la basilique consacrée à saint Pierre et saint Paul,
sur la future montagne Sainte-Geneviève, dont elle assurera le mécénat.
9.La consécration de
Céline à Meaux
Geneviève rendait visite
à Céline qui résidait à Meaux pour recevoir sa consécration de Vierge. Le
fiancé de Céline, apprenant cela, se répandit en protestations puis en menaces.
Elles se sauvèrent vers le baptistère de la Cathédrale, ouvert par hasard. Dès
lors, Céline persévèrera dans la chasteté et l’abstinence. des prisonniers.
10.Le baptême de Clovis
Geneviève avait formé le
projet de conduire Clovis au baptême ; elle parlait le moyen haut allemand qui
était la langue maternelle de Clovis, ce qui facilitera les choses. Vers 493,
au moment où le roi épouse la Catholique Clotilde, Geneviève se liera d’amitié
avec elle et l’on pense qu’elles prépareront ensemble la célébration du baptême
par l’évêque de Reims, saint Rémi. Plus tard Clovis demandera à être enterré
près d’elle, comme l’atteste Grégoire de Tours en 544 dans son « histoire des
Francs ».
11.Amitié spirituelle
avec saint Siméon le stylite
Au Ve siècle, vit en
Turquie saint Siméon le stylite dont la fête est fixée au 5 janvier, tandis que
celle de Geneviève est au 3. Tandis qu’il demeurait sur sa colonne, il reçut
des marchands gaulois qui lui parlèrent de Geneviève qu’il connaissait déjà :
il leur demanda de la saluer afin qu’elle priât pour lui. Cela signifie qu’il
lui reconnaissait un ascendant spirituel. Siméon avait alors environ 70 ans et
Geneviève 40 seulement. Voilà un lien qui fut souvent évoqué pour unir les
chrétientés d’Orient et d’Occident en les invitant à faire mémoire de ces deux
saints.
12.La mort de sainte
Geneviève et sa postérité
« Geneviève s’en alla
vers le Seigneur dans une bonne vieillesse, après avoir vécu plus de dix fois
huit ans, et elle fut ensevelie dans la paix le 3 janvier », écrit sobrement
son biographe. Son corps fut déposé dans un sarcophage de pierre, conservé
encore à Saint-Etienne-du-Mont, dans un tombeau que Clovis avait préparé pour
sa propre famille. Dès la seconde moitié du VIe siècle, l’on célébrait, dans le
royaume franc, la messe de sainte Geneviève à cette date.
13.Le miracle des ardents
Dès le VIe siècle,
Grégoire de Tours signale que des miracles se produisent sur le tombeau de
sainte Geneviève et que des malades y ont été guéris. L’habitude s’est répandue
d’invoquer Geneviève contre toutes les maladies épidémiques et les fièvres.
Dans un poème paru en 1532, le célèbre Didier Erasme remercie la sainte de
l’avoir guéri d’un accès de fièvre.
Cette réputation vient du
miracle des « ardents ». Ce mal a été identifié avec l’ergotisme dû à une
consommation de seigle corrompu. Souvent, au Moyen Age, la population
parisienne en fut victime. Ainsi en 1130, la maladie aurait causé 14 000 morts.
L’évêque de Senlis obtint le transfert à Notre-Dame du corps de Geneviève :
trois malades ayant effleuré la chasse furent instantanément guéris. L’année
suivante, le pape Innocent II, venu en France, décida qu’une fête serait
célébrée en commémoration de l’événement. Dans la crypte archéologique de
Notre-Dame se trouve les restes de l’église « Sainte-Geneviève-des-Ardents ».
14.Patronne des
Hauts-de-Seine
Sainte Geneviève est
patronne des bergères, des chapeliers, des fabricants de cierges, des
tapissiers… Elle était invoquée pour expulser les démons installés dans le
corps des femmes !
Le pape Jean XXIII la
déclara, en 1963, patronne des gendarmes. À cette occasion, il écrivait :
« La vierge sainte Geneviève, lumière de leur patrie, se montra autrefois,
ainsi que le souvenir s’en est conservé, le soutien du peuple dans les graves
périls et n’a cessé, dans la gloire éternelle, de répandre des bienfaits sur
ceux qui la prient. » C’est au titre de « gardiens de l’ordre public » que les
gendarmes peuvent la revendiquer comme patronne.
Geneviève est également
la patronne de la ville de Nanterre et de l’ensemble du diocèse du même nom,
donc du département des Hauts-de-Seine. Généreuse et courageuse, sa vie et son
œuvre constituent un bel exemple pour la fondation qui porte son nom !
Sources :
Joël Schmidt, Sainte
Geneviève, la fin de la Gaule romaine, Perrin, 2008
Yvon Aybram, Petite
vie de sainte Geneviève, Déclées De Brouwer, Coll. Art.Poche, 2017
Yvon Aybram, Chemins
de foi, en pèlerinage dans le diocèse de Nanterre, ADN, 2000
Guy Rondepierre,
Geneviève de Nanterre, figure prophétique d’une vie chrétienne moderne,
dans Eglise des Hauts-de-Seine n°348, février 2009
Vie de sainte Geneviève
dans http//:sainte-genevieve.net
SOURCE : https://fondationsaintegenevieve.org/la-vie-de-sainte-genevieve/
Détail d'une verrière de la basilique Sainte-Clotilde, à Paris, représentant Sainte Geneviève, et datée de 1854. Carton de Galimard, réalisation par Antoine Lusson (fils) et Edouard Bourdon, son beau-frère et associé.
Sainte Geneviève, une
sainte pour aujourd’hui
Alors que s’achève la
neuvaine à Sainte Geneviève, organisée à Paris du 3 au 11 janvier, le père
Frédéric Lanthonie, curé de Sainte-Geneviève des Grandes-Carrières, explique
pourquoi la sainte patronne de la capitale est aujourd’hui un exemple pour tous
les chrétiens. C’est dans sa paroisse, la seule du diocèse de Paris à porter le
nom de Sainte Geneviève, qu’est célébrée la dernière messe de la neuvaine,
samedi 11 janvier.
Priscille Pavec – Cité du
Vatican
Sainte
Geneviève est connue pour avoir détourné, par sa prière, Attila et ses
hordes qui assiégeaient Paris. Elle a également œuvré à la conversion de Clovis
et à l’établissement de la chrétienté en France; son amitié avec Syméon le
Stylite, un syrien, témoigne de l’union entre chrétiens d’Orient et d’Occident.
Les œuvres et les combats de cette femme du 5ème siècle résonnent
finalement toujours à l’oreille des chrétiens d’aujourd’hui.
Une femme d’influence
LIRE
AUSSI 03/01/2020
Le
diocèse de Paris célèbre sainte Geneviève, patronne de la ville
«Que les hommes fuient,
s’ils veulent, s’ils ne sont plus capables de se battre. Nous, les femmes, nous
prierons Dieu tant et tant qu’Il entendra nos supplications». Le père
Frédéric Lanthonie nous rappelle cette phrase bien connue, prononcée par
Sainte Geneviève alors que les Huns sont aux portes de Paris. La jeune fille
encourage les Parisiens à demeurer dans leur ville, qui est sauvée par leurs
prières. Suite à cet événement, elle fut proclamée defensor civitas,
chargée de la défense de la cité, et prit part à la vie politique de Paris. Le
père Lanthonie pense donc que la figure de la sainte «vient interpeller
nos relations hommes-femmes». Il estime que «les femmes dans l’Église sont
un peu dans la discrétion du matin de Pâques» mais ont
pourtant «beaucoup de choses à nous dire dans une Église gouvernée
majoritairement par des hommes. Il y a là quelque chose à revivifier dans notre
relation baptismale prêtres- laïcs et aussi hommes- femmes».
La miséricorde en actes
Sainte Geneviève incarne
l’esprit de résistance à la barbarie mais son aura était surtout due, au
5ème siècle, à son engagement auprès des plus pauvres. Le père Lanthonie
évoque cet autre épisode de la vie de Sainte Geneviève: alors que les Parisiens
souffraient de la famine, elle entreprit une longue excursion pour rapporter du
blé au peuple et distribuer du pain aux miséreux. Le curé de Sainte-Geneviève
des Grandes-Carrières rappelle que certains quartiers de Paris sont, aujourd’hui
encore, marqués par une grande précarité. Dans le 18ème arrondissement où
lui-même habite, il côtoie «la prostitution, une concentration de
personnes issues de la migration qui vivent dans un grand dénuement. Sainte
Geneviève rappelle alors aux Parisiens qu’ils ont des choses à vivre ensemble,
ils ne doivent pas s’opposer [les uns aux autres] mais aller au-delà de la
méfiance et de la violence». Son message dépasse cependant les frontières
de Paris et s’adresse aujourd’hui à tous les catholiques : «On peut
retenir de sa vie qu’elle a pris au sérieux son baptême par la prière, par une
vie concrète de charité (…) elle n’a pas eu peur et je pense qu’elle peut nous
permettre de retrouver une espérance dans un quotidien qui n’est pas toujours
facile». Elle n’a surtout jamais hésité à «réconforter ceux qui tombaient
et je crois qu’elle rejoint vraiment la parole de St Matthieu au chapitre
25 verset 40: Amen je vous le dis, nous dit Jésus, chaque fois que
vous l’avez fait à l’un de ces plus petits qui sont mes frères, c’est à moi que
vous l’avez fait».
Faire vivre Sainte
Geneviève au cœur des paroisses
Cette année jubilaire
permettra aussi aux paroisses de redécouvrir la figure de Sainte Geneviève.
Dans la paroisse du père Lanthonie, un jeune artiste a réalisé une fresque
retraçant les étapes importantes de la vie de la sainte, qui sera affichée
devant l’église dimanche 12 janvier. Plusieurs événements jalonneront l’année à
venir (visite de l’église, prières autour de Sainte Geneviève), donnant aux
paroisses l’occasion de s’ouvrir et de se faire connaître. L’objectif est
d’interpeller les gens, de les faire se rencontrer, prier ensemble… et
finalement de suivre l’exemple donnée par Sainte Geneviève, il y
a 1600 ans.
Scènes de la vie de Sainte Geneviève, vitrail, église Saint-Leu-Saint-Gilles.Paris
Scènes de la vie de Sainte Geneviève, vitrail, église Saint-Leu-Saint-Gilles.Paris
Scènes de la vie de Sainte Geneviève, vitrail, église Saint-Leu-Saint-Gilles.Paris
Scènes de la vie de Sainte Geneviève, vitrail, église Saint-Leu-Saint-Gilles.Paris
VIE DE SAINTE GENEVIÈVE
DE PARIS
La bienheureuse vierge
Geneviève naquit à Nanterre, près de Paris, vers 420. Dès sa petite enfance, la
grâce de Dieu fût sur elle et elle était connue de tous pour sa piété.
Saint Germain d’Auxerre,
se rendant en Grande-Bretagne avec saint Loup de Troyes pour y combattre
l’hérésie pélagienne, fit étape à Nanterre, en 429. Il discerna la grandeur
spirituelle de la petite fille, révéla à ses parents que les anges s’étaient
réjouis à sa naissance et prophétisa qu’elle serait grande devant Dieu et
devant les hommes. Ayant fait appeler Geneviève, il lui demanda si elle voulait
consacrer sa virginité au Christ : elle lui répondit que c’était son désir
le plus profond. Le lendemain, saint Germain lui demanda si elle se souvenait
de sa promesse ; Geneviève répondit : « Père saint, je désire
garder toujours la parfaite pureté de l’esprit et du corps ». Alors
l’évêque aperçut à ses pieds – de façon providentielle – une pièce de bronze
marquée du signe de la Croix : il la ramassa et la donna à Geneviève en
lui recommandant de la porter toujours à son cou et de rejeter désormais toutes
les parures du monde.
Devenue jeune fille,
Geneviève fut bénie comme vierge consacrée par l’évêque de Paris. Après la mort
de ses parents, elle vint habiter à Paris chez sa marraine, dans l’Ile de la
Cité, à l’ombre de la cathédrale Saint-Etienne. Tombée alors gravement malade
et proche de la mort pendant 3 jours, un ange lui fit connaître en esprit
le Royaume céleste.
Dieu lui accorda de lire
dans les âmes et d’accomplir des miracles. Elle délivra de nombreux possédés,
par le signe de la Croix, et guérit beaucoup de malades avec de l’eau ou de
l’huile qu’elle bénissait. Elle ressuscita un enfant qui s’était noyé. Sainte
Geneviève fit jaillir une source pour la guérison des malades dans une grotte
proche du hameau de Séquigny, qui par la suite prit le nom de
Sainte-Geneviève-des-Bois.
Malgré tous ces miracles,
elle n’échappa point à la haine ni aux calomnies. Saint Germain d’Auxerre, lors
de son second passage à Paris en 447, dut prendre sa défense contre la foule
médisante, en montrant à tous le sol de sa cellule trempé de ses larmes.
Lorsque le roi des Huns,
Attila, s’approcha de Paris, après avoir pillé une partie de la Gaule, elle
exhorta les Parisiens à ne pas fuir et à prier, en prophétisant que leur ville
serait épargnée. Et cela s’accomplit, en 451, l’année bénie du Concile de
Chalcédoine. Pendant une grande famine, lors du siège de Paris par les Francs,
elle remonta courageusement la Seine avec une flottille de bateaux et ramena
des vivres qui sauvèrent la ville de la faim.
Sainte Geneviève vénérait
beaucoup les saints : elle fit construire une basilique sur le tombeau de
saint Denys, à Catheuil – qui devint par la suite la ville de Saint-Denis- et
elle fit un pèlerinage au tombeau de saint Martin à Tours, où elle délivra un
grand nombre de possédés.
Après la naissance au
ciel de saint Germain d’Auxerre, elle rendit régulièrement visite à saint Rémi,
évêque de Reims. Une vertu si éclatante ne put être renfermée dans les
Gaules : saint Siméon le Stylite, ayant entendu parler de ses miracles, se
fit recommander à ses prières.
Elle vécut dans le
service du Seigneur jusqu’à plus de 80 ans, et naquit au Ciel un 3 janvier, peu
après l’an 500. Elle fut inhumée à Paris sur la colline qui devait par la suite
porter son nom, dans la basilique des Saints-Apôtres Pierre et Paul, érigée par
Clovis et sainte Clotilde en union de pensée avec elle.
Après sa mort, elle
continua à veiller sur Paris : elle arrêta la grande inondation de 822,
délivra Paris du siège des Normands en 886 et sauva la ville du mal des Ardents
en 1130. Malgré tous ces bienfaits et les nombreux miracles qui eurent
lieu sur son tombeau, les Révolutionnaires le profanèrent en 1793 et le peuple
de Paris, ingrat, brûla ses reliques et en jeta les cendres dans la Seine. La
nouvelle basilique Sainte-Geneviève fut profanée et transformée en temple
républicain sous le nom de Panthéon. Néanmoins, sainte Geneviève continue à
protéger Paris et la France.
Elle se manifesta aussi,
dans les temps actuels, par sa sollicitude envers les fidèles orthodoxes
chassés de Russie par les Bolchéviques et elle accorda son aide céleste aux
chrétiens d’Occident qui s’efforcèrent de retrouver les racines de la foi
orthodoxe dans la terre des Gaules.
(Texte élaboré vers 1945 dans l’Orthodoxie occidentale d’après le Bréviaire de Paris ; entièrement révisé en 1985, puis corrigé et augmenté en 2011, 2017, 2018 et 2019)
Noël Tanazacq / paroisse
Sainte-Geneviève
Nicolas de Plattemontagne. Sainte Geneviève donnant sa protection aux malades, 1680, Musée des Beaux-Arts de Rennes.
Also
known as
Genovefa
28 October (translation
of relics)
Profile
When she was seven years
old, Genevieve met Saint Germanus
of Auxerre on his way to England. Germain befriended
her because of her insistence on wanting to live her life for God, and prophesied her
future sanctity. She took the veil at age
15. Prophesied invasions
and disasters for Paris.
Could read consciences and calm the possessed.
When Paris was
besieged by the Franks,
she encouraged its defense, organized prayers for God‘s protection of
the city, and led an expedition for food to relieve the siege. Caused a church
to be built on the tomb of Saint Denis.
In 1129,
the procession of her relics through Paris is
believed to have ended an epidemic.
Born
422 at
Nanterre near Paris, France
interred in the church
of Saints Peter and Paul in Paris
–
–
French
security forces (chosen in 1962)
–
bread (from
feeding the people)
girl restoring eyesight to
her mother
shepherdess holding
a candle which
the devil is
trying to extinguish and angels are
helping to protect
shepherdess with
a coin suspended
around her neck
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Citation
“Saint Genevieve“. CatholicSaints.Info.
2 December 2023. Web. 14 January 2025.
<https://catholicsaints.info/saint-genevieve/>
SOURCE : https://catholicsaints.info/saint-genevieve/
St. Genevieve
Feastday: January 3
Patron: of Paris
Birth: 422
Death: 512
St. Genevieve was a fair
and courageous peasant girl who was born around 422 in Nanterre, France, to a
man named Severus and a woman named Gerontia.
When Genevieve was only
seven-years-old, St. Germanus, Bishop of Auxerre visited Nanterre on his way to
Britain. While he was there, many people flocked to receive his blessing. The
young Genevieve stood amid a crowd which had gathered around the man of God who
singled her out and foretold her future sanctity. At her request, the holy
Bishop led her to a church, accompanied by all the faithful, and consecrated
her to God as a virgin.
The next day, Germanus
asked Genevieve if she had remembered the promise she made to God. She did and
proclaimed she would always fulfill it faithfully. He presented her with a
cross engraved brass medal to always wear around her neck, as a reminder of the
consecration she made of herself to God. He ordered her to never wear any other
bracelets, necklaces or jewelry, to avoid falling into vanity.
Encouraged by Germanus,
Genevieve dedicated her life to prayer, practices of devotion and a acts of
penance. When she was only 15-years-old, she met with the Bishop of Paris and
asked to become a nun. From this moment, she also began praying continuously
and fasting, eating only twice a week, as a sign of her complete dedication to
the Lord.
Following the death of
her parents, Genevieve went on to live with her grandmother in Paris and
traveled, sharing the faith, performing acts of charity, praying for the sick
and prophesying. Her dedicated Christian way of life was filled with the signs
of the Holy Spirit working through her.
The signs of the working
of the Holy Spirit accompanying this holy young woman included miracles and
spiritually inspired predictions. She frequently had visions of heavenly angels
and saints. However, when she shared those visions and experiences of the Lord,
people began to turn against her. They called her a hypocrite and accused her
of being a false visionary. In fact, they were determined to drown her in a
lake of fire. However, the Bishop Germanus intervened and silenced those who
were accusing her of false statements, and persecuting her.
Genevieve was appointed
by the Bishop to look after the welfare of the consecrated virgins. She did so
faithfully and helped to lead them into a greater degree of holiness as they
grew closer to the Lord Jesus.
Genevieve had a great
influence over Childeric, the King of Gaul who overtook Paris. During a time
when Paris suffered with great famine, Genevieve traveled by boat to Troyes and
brought back several boats full of corn. Although he was a pagan, Childeric
respected her and spared the lives of several prisoners on her behalf.
She also had an effect on
King Clovis. He listened to her advice and under her request, he granted
freedom to several of his prisoners.
When Attila and his army
of Huns came upon Paris, the Parisian Christians were prepared to run, but
Genevieve spoke to them and convinced them to stay within their homes, fast and
pray to the Lord. She assured them they would have the protection of Heaven.
Her prediction came true as Attila suddenly changed his path and turned away
from Paris.
Genevieve died at
89-years-old on January 3, 512.
Shortly after she was
buried, the people built a small church over her tomb, asking for the
intercession of Saints Peter and Paul. Although her tomb remains there and can
still be seen today, it is empty.
Her relics were encased
by St. Eligius in a handmade gold and silver shrine around 630. Over the years,
the Normans destroyed the church several times. Once it was rebuilt around 856,
St. Genevieve's relics were returned and miracles began happening, making this
church famous all throughout France.
SOURCE : https://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=120
Statue
de Sainte Geneviève par Landowski, au pont de la Tournelle de Paris.
Statue of Saint Genevieve, the Patron Saint of Paris, created in 1928 by Paul Landowski, located on the bridge of the Tournelle, Paris (IVth)
Statue
de Sainte Geneviève par Landowski, au pont de la Tournelle de Paris.
Statue of Saint Genevieve, the Patron Saint of Paris, created in 1928 by Paul Landowski, located on the bridge of the Tournelle, Paris (IVth)
Statue
de Sainte Geneviève par Landowski, au pont de la Tournelle de Paris.
Statue of Saint Genevieve, the Patron Saint of Paris, created in 1928 by Paul Landowski, located on the bridge of the Tournelle, Paris (IVth)
St. Genevieve
Patroness of Paris,
b. at Nanterre, c. 419 or 422; d. at Paris,
512. Her feast is
kept on 3 January. She was the daughter of Severus and Gerontia;
popular tradition represents her parents as poor peasants,
though it seems more likely that they were wealthy and respectable
townspeople. In 429 St. Germain of Auxerre and St.
Lupus ofTroyes were
sent across from Gaul to Britain to combat Pelagianism.
On their way they stopped at Nanterre, a small village about eight miles
from Paris.
The inhabitants flocked out to welcome them, and St. Germainpreached to
the assembled multitude. It chanced that the pious demeanour
and thoughtfulness of a young girl among his hearers attracted his attention.
After the sermon he caused the child to be brought to him,
spoke to her with interest, and encouraged her to persevere in the path
of virtue.
Learning that she was anxious to devoteherself to the service of God,
he interviewed her parents,
and foretold them that their child would lead a life ofsanctity and
by her example and instruction bring many virgins to consecrate themselves
to God.
Before parting next morning he saw her again, and on her renewing her consecration he blessed her
and gave her a medalengraved
with a cross, telling her to keep it in remembrance of
her dedication to Christ.
He exhorted her likewise to be content with the medal,
and wear it instead of her pearls and golden ornaments. There seem to have been
no convents near
her village; and Genevieve, like so many others who wished to
practise religious virtue, remained at home, leading an
innocent, prayerful life.
It is uncertain when she formally received the religiousveil. Some writers
assert that it was on the occasion of St.
Gregory's return from his mission to Britain; others say she
received it about her sixteenth year, along with two companions, from the hands
of the Bishop of Paris.
On the death of her parents she
went to Paris,
and lived with her godmother. She devoted herself to works
of charity and practised
severe corporal austerities, abstaining completely from
flesh meat and breaking her fastonly twice in the week. These mortifications she
continued for over thirty years, till her ecclesiastical superiors
thought it their duty to
make her diminish her austerities.
Many of her neighbours, filled with jealousy and envy,
accused Genevieve of being an impostor and a hypocrite.
Like Blessed
Joan of Arc, in later times, she had frequent
communion with the other world, but
her visions andprophecies were treated as frauds and deceits.
Her enemies conspired to drown her; but, through the intervention
of Germain of Auxerre, their animosity was finally overcome.
The bishop of
the city appointed her to look after the welfare of
the virgins dedicated to God,
and by her instruction and example she led them to a high degree of sanctity.
In 451 Attila and
his Huns were sweeping over Gaul; and the inhabitants of Paris prepared
to flee. Genevieve encouraged them to hope and trust in God;
she urged them to do works of penance, and added that if they did so the
town would be spared. Her exhortations prevailed; the citizens recovered their
calm, and Attila's hordes
turned off towards Orléans, leaving Paris untouched.
Some years later Merowig (Mérovée) tookParis;
during the siege Genevieve distinguished herself by her charity and
self- sacrifice. Through her influenceMerowig and
his successors, Childeric and Clovis,
displayed unwonted clemency towards the citizens. It was she, too, who first
formed the plan of erecting a church in Paris in honour of Saints Peter and Paul.
It was begun byClovis at
Mont-lès-Paris, shortly before his death in 511. Genevieve died the following
year, and when the churchwas completed her body was interred within
it. This fact, and the numerous miracles wrought
at her tomb, caused the
name of Sainte-Geneviève to be given to it. Kings, princes, and
people enriched it with their gifts. In 847 it was plundered by
the Normans and was partially rebuilt, but was completed only in
1177. This church having fallen into decay once more, Louis XV began the
construction of a new church in 1764. The Revolution broke
out before it was dedicated, and it was taken over in 1791, under the name
of the Panthéon, by the Constituent Assembly, to be
a burial place for distinguished Frenchmen.
It was restored to Catholic purposes
in 1821 and 1852, having been secularized as a national mausoleum in
1831 and, finally, in 1885. St. Genevieve's relics were
preserved in her church, with great devotion, for centuries,
and Paris received
striking proof of
the efficacy of her intercession. She saved the city from
complete inundation in 834. In 1129 a violent plague, known as
the mal des ardents, carried off over 14,000 victims, but it ceased
suddenly during a procession in her honour. Innocent
II, who had come to Paris to
implore the king's help against the Antipope
Anacletus in 1130, examined personally into the miracle and
was so convinced of its authenticity that he ordered
a feast to be kept annually inhonour of
the event on 26 November. A small church,
called Sainte-Geneviève des Ardents, commemorated themiracle till
1747, when it was pulled down to make room for
the Foundling Hospital. The saint's relics were
carried in procession yearly
to the cathedral,
and Mme de Sévigné gives a description of the pageant in one of her
letters.
The revolutionaries
of 1793 destroyed most of the relics preserved
in St. Genevieve's church, and the rest were cast to the winds by the
mob in 1871. Fortunately, however, a large relic had
been kept at Verneuil, Oise, in the eighteenth century, and is still
extant. The church built by Clovis was
entrusted to the Benedictines.
In the ninth century they were replaced by secular canons. In 1148,
under Eugene
III and Louis VII, canons from St.
Victor'sAbbey at Senlis were introduced. About 1619 Louis XIII
named Cardinal François de La Rochefoucauld Abbot ofSt.
Genevieve's. The canons had been lax and the cardinal selected Charles Faure
to reform them. This holy manwas born in 1594, and entered
the canons regular at Senlis. He was remarkable for his piety,
and, whenordained,
succeeded after a hard struggle in reforming the abbey.
Many of the houses of the canons regularadopted his reform. He
and a dozen companions took charge of Sainte-Geneviève-du-Mont, at Paris,
in 1634. This became the mother-house of a new congregation, the Canons
Regular of St. Genevieve, which spread widely over France.
Another institute called after the saint was
the Daughters of St. Genevieve, founded at Paris,
in 1636, by Francesca de Blosset, with the object of nursing the sick and
teaching young girls. A somewhat similar institute, popularly known as
the Miramiones, had been founded under the invocation of
the Holy
Trinity, in 1611, by Marie Bonneau de
Rubella Beauharnais de Miramion. These two institutes were united in
1665, and the associates called the Canonesses of St. Genevieve.
The members took no vows,
but merely promised obedienceto the rules as long as they remained in the
institute. Suppressed during the Revolution,
it was revived in 1806 by Jeanne-Claude Jacoulet under the name
of the Sisters of the Holy Family. They now have charge of over 150schools and orphanages.
Sources
Vie de Sainte Geneviève,
ed. Charpentier (Paris, 1697); Acta SS., Jan., I, 137-8, 725;
Tillemont, Mémoires (Paris, 1712), XVI, 621 and 802; Gallia
Christiana, VII, 700; Butler, Lives of the Saints, I, 17-20; Bennett
in Dict. Christ. Biog., s.v.; Delalain, Légendes historiques de
Sainte Geneviève (Paris, 1872); Trianon in Revue du Monde Catholique (Paris,
1872), XXXIV, 470-82; Park in Dublin University Magazine (Dublin, 1876),
LXXXVII, 102; Guérin, Vie des Saints (Paris, 1880), I, 92-104;
Vidieu, Sainte Geneviève et son influence sur les destinées de la France (Paris,
1896); Fleury, Hist. ecclés., LXIX, 22, LXXIV, 39.
MacErlean, Andrew. "St. Genevieve." The Catholic
Encyclopedia. Vol. 6. New York: Robert Appleton
Company, 1909. 22 Mar.
2015 <http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/06413f.htm>.
Transcription. This article was transcribed for New Advent by Fr.
Paul-Dominique Masiclat, O.P.
Ecclesiastical approbation. Nihil
Obstat. September 1, 1909. Remy Lafort, Censor. Imprimatur. +John
M. Farley, Archbishop of New York.
Copyright © 2021 by Kevin
Knight. Dedicated to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
SOURCE : http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/06413f.htm
Charles Le Brun (1619–1690). Sainte Geneviève tenant un cierge, 1637-1639, Musée des Beaux-Arts de Rouen
Charles
Le Brun: Saint Geneviève, um 1635, Musée des Beaux-Arts in Rouen
Geneviève of Paris V (RM)
(also known as Genovefa)
Born in Nanterre near Paris, France, c. 422; died in Paris, c. 500 Geneviève
was born in a village on the outskirts of Paris during the time of Attila the
Hun. She was a shepherdess, the only child of Severus and Gerontia, hardworking
peasants. Geneviève was so bright and attractive that when Saint Germanus, bishop
of Auxerre, was visiting the village with Saint Lupus on their way to Britain
in 429 to squelch Pelagianism, he took special notice of the seven-year-old.
After his sermon, the inhabitants flocked about them to receive their
blessings. Germanus beckoned for her parents and foretold her future sanctity.
When he asked Geneviève if she wished to be a spouse of Christ and serve God
only, she asked that he bless her and consecrate her from that moment.
Taking a gold coin from his purse, he gave it to her, telling her to keep it always as a reminder of that day and of God to whom her life belonged. Although in later years Geneviève was often hungry and had no other money, she never parted with the coin. Another version recorded by Constantius tells how the holy bishop went to the church, followed by the people, and during the long singing of Psalms and prayers, "he laid his hand upon the maiden's head." In either case, she continued tending the sheep and helping her blind mother in spinning and weaving.
When Geneviève was 15, her parents died and she went to live in Paris, where she repeated her vows and the bishop of Paris gave her and two other girls the veil. She settled with her godmother Lutetia in Paris. In the course of time, she became famous for her sanctity. She frequently ate only twice a week--sparingly (a small portion of barley bread and some beans). (This fasting she continued until age 50 when her bishop commanded her to alter her diet.)
She experienced visions and prophecies, which initially evoked hostility from Parisians--to the point that an attempt was made to take her life. But the support of Germanus, who visited her again, and the accuracy of her predictions eventually changed their attitudes. (Germanus also corrected some of her harsher penances during this visit.)
The young girl loved to pray in church alone at night. One day a gust of wind blew out her candle, leaving her in the dark. Geneviève merely concluded that the devil was trying to frighten her. For this reason she is often depicted holding a candle, sometimes with an irritated devil standing near.
Her bravery rallied the city in 451, when Attila II the Hun's army marched on the city in an attempt to wrest Gaul from the Visigoths. The citizens were ready to evacuate the city. As the Huns battered at the gates of Paris, Geneviève persuaded the men to stay and gathered the women of the city for prayer. Her courage depended on complete trust in God, and as Attila and his army approached she encouraged the Parisians to fast and pray in the hope that God would avert disaster. Many citizens spent whole days in prayer with her in the baptistery. It is from this that the devotion to Saint Geneviève, formerly practiced at Saint- Jean-le-Rond, the ancient public baptistery of the church of Paris, appears to have originated. She reassured the people that they had the protection of heaven. She cared for the sick, fed the poor, and everywhere inspired confidence. "God will protect you," she said, "we must trust in Him."
At one point, however, when the crisis was at its height and the people were panic-stricken, they turned against her, wanting to stone her and saying that she was a false prophet who would bring about their destruction, and they threatened to stone her. But the good Bishop Germanus had not forgotten her, and though he lay dying in Ravenna, Italy, he sent his archdeacon Sedulius to pacify the people. Sedulius persuaded the panic-stricken people that Geneviève was not a prophetess of doom, and to listen to her counsel not to abandon their homes. Many of the inhabitants lost heart and fled in panic, but Geneviève again gathered the women around her, and led them out on to the ramparts of the city, where in the morning light and in the face of the spears of the enemy they prayed to God for deliverance. Providentially, the same night, the invader turned south to Orleans, and again the city was saved, since when Geneviève, who was venerated even by the enemy, has been acclaimed as a savior and heroine of her people.
In 486 the saint's bravery proved invaluable for the people of Paris for the second time. The Frankish King Clovis killed Syragrius, the Roman representative in Soissons, ending the Roman governance of Gaul. King Childeric of the Franks besieged the Paris, bringing its inhabitants to the point of starvation.
One night, when the city was blockaded and there was a serious shortage of food, Geneviève took a boat and rowed out alone (more likely at the head of a company) upon the river into the darkness to Arcis-sur-Aube and Troyes. She slipped silently and secretly past the lines of the enemy, landing at dawn far outside the city, where she went from village to village imploring help and gathering food, and returned to Paris--again successfully evading the enemy--with eleven boatloads of precious corn. (Other sources say that nightly she captained eleven barges to collect grain in the Champagne region.)
When the siege was over, Childeric, the ever-pagan conqueror, in admiration of her courage, sent for her and asked what he might do for her. "Release your prisoners," she replied. "Their only fault was that they so dearly loved their city." And this he granted.
When, on the death of Childeric, Clovis succeeded him and consolidated control of the land from the Rhine to the Loire. He married Childeric's elder daughter, Clothilde, who was a Christian and tried to convert her husband without success. Clovis allowed his first son to be baptized, but the child died. The second son was baptized and came close to death, but recovered at the prayers of Clothilde and Remi.
Meanwhile, Geneviève
became his trusted counsellor. Clovis entered a harsh battle and promised to be
baptized, if he should win. He won and under the influence of Geneviève, he
converted in 496. His people and servants followed suit. Clovis, like
Childeric, released many prisoners at her request. Later, however, fresh
troubles came to the city, and once more it was threatened by an invading army.
Geneviève also initiated the interest of many people in building a church in honor of Saint Denis, which was afterward rebuilt with a monastery by King Dagobert in 629. Geneviève made many pilgrimages in the company of other maidens to the shrine of Saint Martin of Tours. Her reputation for sanctity is so great that it even reached Saint Simeon the Stylite in Syria (he asked to be remembered in her prayers).
By the time she died King Clovis of the Franks had grown to venerate the saint. It was at Geneviève's suggestion that Clovis began to build the church of SS. Peter and Paul in the middle of Paris, where they interred her body. Later the church was renamed Sainte Geneviève and it was rebuilt in 1746.
From the time of her burial, miracles performed at her tomb made her and the Church famous all over France. The most famous instance of all is the so-called miracle des Ardens or burning fever (ergot-poisoning) in 1129. Bishop Stephen of Paris had her shrine carried through the streets in solemn procession. Many thousands of the sick who saw or touched the shrine were immediately cured, and only several deaths from the plague were said to have occurred thereafter. In the following year, Pope Innocent II ordered that date to be kept annually in commemoration of the miracle.
In times of national crisis the French have often turned to Geneviève for help. In 1741, Louis XV came to her church to thank her for a cure wrought at her intercession. When the Bastille was taken, people again came to thank her. In 1790, the Commune went to her church for Mass. In 1793 the body of Saint Geneviève was taken from her shrine and publicly burned at the Place de Greve. At the time of the French Revolution, the church was secularized and is now called the Pantheon, a burial place for French worthies. But some of the relics were spared and later placed in the Church of Saint Etienne (Stephen) du Mont, where thousands visit them each year.
Most of the information
about Geneviève derives from a Life that claims to be by a contemporary; its
authenticity and value are the subject of much discussion. The idea that she
was a shepherdess is recent and without authority; the evidence suggests that
she came from a family of good position. She was a real person, however; her
name is entered in Saint Jerome's Martyrology, which makes her cultus very
ancient. (Attwater, Bentley, Delaney, Farmer, Gill, Encyclopedia, Martindale,
Walsh, White).
In art she is shown as a
shepherdess, usually holding a candle-- which the devil is trying to
extinguish, while an angel guards it-- or a book or torch. She may have a coin
suspended around her neck (the one Germanus gave her). Sometimes she may be
shown as a nun with sheep near her, with the devil at her feet with bellows, a
key in one hand and candle in the other, or restoring sight to her mother
(Benedictines, Roeder, White).
Many miracles in favor of
Paris have been attributed to her intercession. She is the patron saint of
Paris, of disasters, of drought and excessive rain, of fever, and of the French
security forces. Her efforts to maintain the safety of Paris led to her being
made the patron of French security forces (White).
SOURCE : http://www.saintpatrickdc.org/ss/0103.shtml
.jpg)
Fearless Saint Genevieve, Patron Saint of Paris, by Charlotte M Yonge
Four hundred years of the
Roman dominion had entirely tamed the once wild and independent Gauls.
Everywhere, except in the moorlands of Brittany, they had become as much like
Romans themselves as they could accomplish; they had Latin names, spoke the Latin
tongue, all their personages of higher rank were enrolled as Roman citizens,
their chief cities were colonies where the laws were administered by
magistrates in the Roman fashion, and the houses, dress, and amusements were
the same as those of Italy. The greater part of the towns had been converted to
Christianity, though some paganism still lurked in the more remote villages and
mountainous districts.
It was upon these
civilized Gauls that the terrible attacks came from the wild nations who poured
out of the center and east of Europe. The Franks came over the Rhine and its
dependent rivers, and made furious attacks upon the peaceful plains, where the
Gauls had long lived in security, and reports were everywhere heard of villages
harried by wild horsemen, with short double-headed battle-axes, and a horrible
short pike covered with iron and with several large hooks, like a gigantic
artificial minnow, and like it fastened to a long rope, so that the prey which
it had grappled might be pulled up to the owner. Walled cities usually stopped
them, but every farm or villa outside was stripped of its valuables, set on
fire, the cattle driven off, and the more healthy inhabitants seized for
slaves.
It was during this state
of things that a girl was born to a wealthy peasant at the village now called
Nanterre, about two miles from Lutetia, which was already a prosperous city,
though not as yet so entirely the capital as it was destined to become under
the name of Paris. She was christened by an old Gallic name, probably
Gwenfrewi, or White Stream, in Latin Genovefa, but she is best known by the
late French form of Genevieve. When she was about seven years old, two
celebrated bishops passed through the village, Germanus, of Auxerre, and Lupus,
of Troyes, who had been invited to Britain to dispute the false doctrines of
Pelagius. All the inhabitants flocked into the church to see them, pray with
them, and receive their blessing; and here the sweet childish devotion of
Geneviéve so struck Germanus, that he called her to him, talked to her, made
her sit beside him at the feast, gave her his special blessing, and presented
her with a copper medal with a cross engraven upon it. From that time the
little maiden always deemed herself especially consecrated to the service of
Heaven, but she still remained at home, daily keeping her father’s sheep, and
spinning their wool as she sat under the trees watching them, but always with
her heart full of prayer.
After this Saint Germanus
proceeded to Britain, and there encouraged his converts to meet the heathen
Picts at Maes Garmon, in Flintshire, where the exulting shout of the
white-robed catechumens turned to flight the wild superstitious savages of the
north,—and the Hallelujah victory was gained without a drop of bloodshed. He
never lost sight of Genevicve, the little maid whom he had so early
distinguished for her piety.
After she lost her
parents she went to live with her godmother, and continued the same simple
habits, leading a life of sincere devotion and strict self-denial, constant
prayer and much charity to her poorer neighbors.
In the year 451 the whole
of Gaul was in the most dreadful state of terror at the advance of Attila, the
savage chief of the Huns, who came from the banks of the Danube with a host of
savages of hideous features, scarred and disfigured to render them more
frightful. The old enemies, the Goths and the Franks, seemed like friends
compared with these formidable beings, whose cruelties were said to be
intolerable, and of whom every exaggerated story was told that could add to the
horrors of the miserable people who lay in their path. Tidings came that this
“Scourge of God,” as Attila called himself, had passed the Rhine, destroyed
Tongres and Metz, and was in full march for Paris. The whole country was in the
utmost terror. Every one seized their most valuable possessions, and would have
fled; but Genevicve placed herself on the only bridge across the Seine, and
argued with them, assuring them, in a strain that was afterwards thought of as
prophetic, that, if they would pray, repent, and defend instead of abandoning
their homes, God would protect them. They were at first almost ready to stone
her for thus withstanding their panic, but just then a priest arrived from
Auxerre, with a present for Genevicve from Saint Germanus, and they were thus
reminded of the high estimation in which he held her; they became ashamed of
their violence, and she led them back to pray and to arm themselves. In a few
days they heard that Attila had paused to besiege Orleans, and that Aëtius, the
Roman general, hurrying from Italy, had united his troops with those of the
Goths and Franks, and given Attila so terrible a defeat at Châlons that the
Huns were fairly driven out of Gaul. And here it must be mentioned that when in
the next year, 452, Attila with his murderous host, came down into Italy, and
after horrible devastation of all the northern provinces, came to the gates of
Rome, no one dared to meet him but one venerable bishop, Leo, the Pope, who,
when his flock were in transports of despair, went forth only accompanied by
one magistrate to meet the invader, and endeavored to turn his wrath aside. The
savage Huns were struck with awe by the fearless majesty of the unarmed old
man. They conducted him safely to Attila, who listened to him with respect, and
promised not to lead his people into Rome, provided a tribute should be paid to
him. He then retreated, and, to the joy of all Europe, died on his way back to
his native dominions.
But with the Huns the
danger and suffering of Europe did not end. The happy state described in the
Prophets as “dwelling safely, with none to make them afraid,” was utterly
unknown in Europe throughout the long break-up of the Roman Empire; and in a
few more years the Franks were overrunning the banks of the Seine, and actually
venturing to lay siege to the Roman walls of Paris itself. The fortifications
were strong enough, but hunger began to do the work of the besiegers, and the
garrison, unwarlike and untrained, began to despair. But Genevicve’s courage and
trust never failed; and finding no warriors willing to run the risk of going
beyond the walls to obtain food for the women and children who were perishing
around them, this brave shepherdess embarked alone in a little boat, and
guiding it down the stream, landed beyond the Frankish camp, and repairing to
the different Gallic cities, she implored them to send succor to their famished
brethren. She obtained complete success. Probably the Franks had no means of
obstructing the passage of the river, so that a convoy of boats could easily
penetrate into the town: at any rate they looked upon Genevicve as something
sacred and inspired whom they durst not touch; probably as one of the
battle-maids in whom their own myths taught them to believe. One account indeed
says that, instead of going alone to obtain help, Genevicve placed herself at
the head of a forage party, and that the mere sight of her inspired bearing
caused them to be allowed to enter and return in safety; but the boat version
seems the more probable, since a single boat on the broad river would more
easily elude the enemy than a troop of Gauls pass through their army.
But a city where all the
valor resided in one woman could not long hold out, and in another inroad, when
Genevieve was absent, Paris was actually seized by the Franks. Their leader,
Hilperik, was absolutely afraid of what the mysteriously brave maiden might do
to him, and commanded the gates of the city to be carefully guarded lest she
should enter; but Genevicve learnt that some of the chief citizens were
imprisoned, and that Hilperik intended their death, and nothing could withhold
her from making an effort in their behalf. The Franks had made up their minds
to settle and not to destroy. They were not burning and slaying indiscriminately,
but while despising the Romans, as they called the Gauls, for their cowardice,
they were in awe of their superior civilization and knowledge of arts. The
country people had free access to the city, and Genevicve in her homely gown
and veil passed by Hilperik’s guards without being suspected of being more than
any ordinary Gaulish village-maid; and thus she fearlessly made her way, even
to the old Roman halls, where the long-haired Hilperik was holding his wild
carousal. Would that we knew more of that interview—one of the most striking
that ever took place!
We can only picture to
ourselves the Roman tesselated pavement bestrewn with wine, bones, and
fragments of the barbarous revelry. There were, untamed Franks, their sun-burnt
hair tied up in a knot at the top of their heads, and falling down like a
horse’s tail, their faces close-shaven, except two huge mustaches, and dressed
in tight leather garments, with swords at their wide belts. Some slept, some
feasted, some greased their long locks, some shouted out their favorite
war-songs around the table, which was covered with the spoils of churches, and
at their head sat the wild, long-haired chieftain, who was a few years later
driven away by his own followers for his excesses,—the whole scene was all that
was abhorrent to a pure, devout, and faithful nature, most full of terror to a
woman. Yet there, in her strength, stood the peasant maiden, her heart full of
trust and pity, her looks full of the power that is given by fearlessness of
them that can kill the body. What she said we do not know—we only know that the
barbarous Hilperik was overawed; he trembled before the expostulations of the
brave woman, and granted all she asked—the safety of his prisoners, and mercy
to the terrified inhabitants. No wonder that the people of Paris have ever
since looked back to Genevieve as their protectress, and that in after-ages she
has grown to be the patron saint of the city.
She lived to see the son
of Hilperik, Chlodwig, or, as he was more commonly called, Clovis, marry a
Christian wife, Clotilda, and after a time become a Christian. She saw the
foundation of the Cathedral of Notre Dame, and of the two famous churches of
Saint Denys and of Saint Martin of Tours, and gave her full share to the first
efforts for bringing the rude and bloodthirsty conquerors to some knowledge of
Christian faith, mercy, and purity. After a life of constant prayer and charity
she died, three months after King Clovis, in the year 512, the 89th of her age.
– text taken from Stories of Courage and Heroism
SOURCE : https://catholicsaints.info/fearless-saint-genevieve-patron-saint-of-paris-by-charlotte-m-yonge/
Sainte Geneviève gardant ses moutons. École flamande, fin du XVIe siècle (1575-1600). Musée Carnavalet
Pictorial
Lives of the Saints – Saint Genevieve, Virgin
Genevieve was born at
Nanterre, near Paris. Saint Germanus, when passing through, specially noticed a
little shepherdess, and predicted her future sanctity. At seven years of age
she made a vow of perpetual chastity. After the death of her parents, Paris
became her abode; but she often travelled on works of mercy, which, by the
gifts of prophecy and miracles, she unfailingly performed. At one time she was
cruelly persecuted; her enemies, jealous of her power, called her a hypocrite,
and tried to drown her; but Saint Germanus, having sent her some blessed bread
as a token of esteem, the outcry ceased, and ever afterwards she was honored as
a Saint. During the siege of Paris by Childeric, King of the Franks, Genevieve
went out with a few followers and procured corn for the starving citizens.
Nevertheless Childeric, though a pagan, respected her, and at her request spared
the lives of many prisoners. By her exhortations again, when Attila and his
Huns were approaching the city, the inhabitants, instead of taking flight, gave
themselves to prayer and penance, and averted, as she had foretold, the
impending scourge. Clovis, when converted from paganism by his holy wife, Saint
Clotilda, made Genevieve his constant adviser, and, in spite of his violent
character, became a generous and Christian king. She died within a few weeks of
that monarch, in 512, aged eighty-nine.
A pestilence broke out at
Paris in 1129, which in a short time swept off 14,000 persons, and, in spite of
all human efforts, daily added to its victims. At length, on November 26th, the
shrine of Saint Genevieve was carried in solemn procession through the city.
That same day but three persons died, the rest recovered, and no others were
taken ill. This was but the first of a series of miraculous favors which the
city of Paris has obtained through the relics of its patron Saint.
Reflection – Genevieve
was only a poor peasant girl, but Christ dwelt in her heart. She was anointed
with His Spirit, and with power; she went about doing good, and God was with
her.
SOURCE : https://catholicsaints.info/pictorial-lives-of-the-saints-saint-genevieve-virgin/
Sainte
Geneviève, patronne de Paris, devant l'Hôtel de Ville; à droite, les Huns
repoussés, vers 1620, 130,5 x 172, Musée Carnavalet , Salle Henri III
January 3
St. Genevieve, or
Genovefa, Virgin, Chief Patroness of Paris
HER father’s name was
Severus, and her mother’s Gerontia: she was born about the year 422, at
Nanterre, a small village four miles from Paris, near the famous modern
stations, or Calvary, adorned with excellent sculptures, representing our
Lord’s Passion, on Mount Valerien. When St. Germanus, bishop of Auxerre, went
with St. Lupus into Britain to oppose the Pelagian heresy, he lay at Nanterre
in his way. The inhabitants flocked about them to receive their blessing, and
St. Germanus made them an exhortation, during which he took particular notice
of Genevieve, though only seven years of age. After his discourse he inquired
for her parents, and addressing himself to them, foretold their daughter’s future
sanctity, and said that she would perfectly accomplish the resolution she had
taken of serving God, and that others would imitate her example. He then asked
Genevieve whether it was not her desire to serve God in a state of perpetual
virginity, and to bear no other title than that of a spouse of Jesus Christ.
The virgin answered, that this was what she had long desired, and begged that
by his blessing she might be from that moment consecrated to God. The holy
prelate went to the church of the place, followed by the people, and, during
long singing of psalms and prayers, says Constantius, 1 that
is, during the recital of None and Vespers, 2 as
the author of the life of St. Genevieve expresses it, 3 he
held his hand upon the virgin’s head. After he had supped, he dismissed her,
giving a strict charge to her parents to bring her again to him very early the
next morning. The father complied with the commission, and St. Germanus asked
Genevieve whether she remembered the promise she had made to God. She said she
did, and declared she would, by the divine assistance, faithfully perform it.
The bishop gave her a brass medal, on which a cross was engraved, to wear
always about her neck, to put her in mind of the consecration she had made of
herself to God; and at the same time he charged her never to wear bracelets, or
necklaces of pearl, gold or silver, or any other ornaments of vanity. All this
she most religiously observed, and considering herself as the spouse of Christ,
gave herself up to the most fervent practices of devotion and penance. From the
words of St. Germanus, in his exhortation to St. Genevieve never to wear
jewels, Baillet and some others infer that she must have been a person of
quality and fortune: but the ancient Breviary and constant tradition of the
place assure us, that her father was a poor shepherd. Adrian, Valois, and
Baluze, observe that her most ancient life ought not to be esteemed of
irrefragable authority, and that the words of St. Germanus are not perhaps
related with a scrupulous fidelity. 4 The
author of her life tells us, that the holy virgin begging one day with great
importunity that she might go to the church, her mother struck her on the face,
but in punishment lost her sight, which she only recovered, two months after by
washing her eyes twice or thrice with water, which her daughter fetched from
the well, and upon which she had made the sign of the cross. Hence the people
look upon the well at Nanterre as having been blessed by the saint. About
fifteen years of age, she was presented to the bishop of Paris to receive the
religious veil at his hands, together with two other persons of the same sex.
Though she was the youngest of the three, the bishop placed her the first,
saying, that heaven had already sanctified her; by which he seems to have
alluded to the promise she had already made, in the presence of SS. Germanus
and Lupus, of consecrating herself to God. From that time she frequently ate
only twice in the week, on Sundays and Thursdays. Her food was barley bread
with a few beans. At the age of fifty, by the command of certain bishops, she
mitigated this austerity, so far as to allow herself a moderate use of fish and
milk. Her prayer was almost continual, and generally attended with a large flow
of tears. After the death of her parents she left Nanterre, and settled with
her godmother at Paris, but sometimes undertook journeys upon motives of
charity, and illustrated the cities of Meaux, Laon, Tours, Orleans, and all
other places wherever she went, with miracles and remarkable predictions. God
permitted her to meet with some severe trials; for at a certain time all
persons indiscriminately seemed to be in a combination against her, and
persecuted her under the opprobrious names of visionary, hypocrite, and the
like imputations, all tending to asperse her innocency. The arrival of St.
Germanus at Paris, probably on his second journey to Britain, for some time
silenced her calumniators; but it was not long ere the storm broke out anew.
Her enemies were fully determined to drown her, when the archdeacon of Auxerre
arrived with Eulogies, or blessed bread, sent her by St. Germanus, as
a testimony of his particular esteem for her virtues, and a token of communion.
This seems to have happened whilst St. Germanus was absent in Italy in 449, a
little before his death. This circumstance, so providentially opportune,
converted the prejudices of her calumniators into a singular veneration for her
during the remainder of her life. The Franks or French had then possessed
themselves of the better part of Gaul, and Childeric, their king, took Paris. 5 During
the long blockade of that city, the citizens being extremely distressed by
famine, St. Genevieve, as the author of her life relates, went out at the head
of a company who were sent to procure provisions, and brought back from
Arcis-sur-Aube and Troyes several boats laden with corn. Nevertheless,
Childeric, when he had made himself master of Paris, though always a Pagan,
respected St. Genevieve, and, upon her intercession, spared the lives of many
prisoners, and did several other acts of clemency and bounty. Our saint, out of
her singular devotion to St. Dionysius and his companions, the apostles of the
country, frequently visited their tombs at the borough of Catulliacum, which
many think the borough since called St. Denys’s. She also excited the zeal of
many pious persons to build there a church in honour of St. Dionysius, which
King Dagobert I. afterward rebuilt with a stately monastery in 629. 6 St.
Genevieve likewise performed several pilgrimages, in company with other holy
virgins, to the shrine of St. Martin at Tours. These journeys of devotion she
sanctified by the exercises of holy recollection and austere penance. King
Clovis, who embraced the faith in 496, listened often with deference to the
advice of St. Genevieve, and granted liberty to several captives at her
request. Upon the report of the march of Attila with his army of Huns, the
Parisians were preparing to abandon their city, but St. Genevieve persuaded
them, in imitation of Judith and Hester, to endeavour to avert the scourge, by
fasting, watching, and prayer. Many devout persons of her sex passed many days
with her in prayer in the baptistery; from whence the particular devotion to
St. Genevieve which is practised at St. John-le-rond, the ancient public
baptistery of the church of Paris, seems to have taken rise. She assured the
people of the protection of heaven, and their deliverance; and though she was
long treated by many as an impostor, the event verified the prediction, that
barbarian suddenly changing the course of his march, probably by directing it
towards Orleans. Our author attributes to St. Genevieve the first design of the
magnificent church which Clovis began to build in honour of SS. Peter and Paul,
by the pious counsel of his wife Saint Clotilda, by whom it was finished
several years after; for he only laid the foundation a little before his death,
which happened in 511. 7 St.
Genevieve died about the same year, probably five weeks after that prince, on
the 3d of January, 512, being eighty-nine years old. Some think she died before
King Clovis. Prudentius, bishop of Paris, had been buried about the year 409,
on the spot where this church was built. Clovis was interred in it; his remains
were afterward removed into the middle of the choir, where they were covered
with a modern monument of white marble, with an inscription. St. Clotilda was
buried near the steps of the high altar in 545; but her name having been enrolled
amongst the saints, her relics were enshrined, and are placed behind the high
altar. Those of St. Alda, the companion of St. Genevieve, and of St. Ceraunus,
bishop of Paris, are placed in silver shrines on the altar of St. Clotilda. The
tombs of St. Genevieve and King Clovis were near together. Immediately after
the saint was buried, the people raised an oratory of wood over her tomb, as
her historian assures us, and this was soon changed into the stately church
built under the invocation of SS. Peter and Paul. From this circumstance we
gather that her tomb was situated in a part of this church, which was only
built after her death. Her tomb, though empty, is still shown in the
subterraneous church, or vault, betwixt those of Prudentius, and St. Ceraunus,
bishop of Paris. But her relics were enclosed by St. Eligius, in a costly
shrine, adorned with gold and silver, which he made with his own hands about
the year 630, as St. Owen relates in his life. In 845 these relics, for fear of
the Normans, were removed to Atis, and thence to Dravel, where the abbot of the
canons kept a tooth for his own church. In 850 they were carried to Marisy,
near Ferté-Milon, and five years after brought back to Paris. The author of the
original life of St. Genevieve, concludes it by a description of the basilick
which Clovis and St. Clotilda erected, adorned with a triple portico, in which
were painted the histories of the patriarchs, prophets, martyrs, and
confessors. This church was several times plundered, and at length burnt, by
the Normans. When it was rebuilt, soon after the year 856, the relics of St.
Genevieve were brought back. The miracles which were performed there from the
time of her burial, rendered this church famous over all France, so that at
length it began to be known only by her name. The city of Paris has frequently
received sensible proofs of the divine protection, through her intercession.
The most famous instance is that called the miracle of Des Ardens, or
of the burning fever. In 1129, in the reign of Lewis VI. a pestilential fever,
with a violent inward heat, and pains in the bowels, swept off, in a short
time, fourteen thousand persons, nor could the art of physicians afford any
relief. Stephen, bishop of Paris, with the clergy and people, implored the divine
mercy, by fasting and supplications. Yet the distemper began not to abate till
the shrine of St. Genevieve was carried in a solemn procession to the
cathedral. During that ceremony many sick persons were cured by touching the
shrine, and of all that then lay ill of that distemper in the whole town, only
three died, the rest recovered, and no others fell ill. Pope Innocent II.
coming to Paris the year following, after having passed a careful scrutiny on
the miracle, ordered an annual festival in commemoration of it, on the 26th of
November, which is still kept at Paris. A chapel near the cathedral, called
anciently St. Genevieve’s the Little, erected near the house in which she died,
afterward from this miracle, though it was wrought not at this chapel, but
chiefly at the cathedral, as Le Beuf demonstrates, was called St. Genevieve Des
Ardens, which was demolished in 1747, to make place for the Foundling Hospital. 8 Both
before and since that time, it is the custom in extraordinary public
calamities, to carry the shrine of St. Genevieve, accompanied with those of St.
Marcel, St. Aurea, St. Lucan, martyr, St. Landry, St. Merry, St. Paxentius, St.
Magloire, and others, in a solemn procession to the cathedral; on which
occasion the regular canons of St. Genevieve walk barefoot, and at the right
hand of the chapter of the cathedral, and the abbot walks on the right hand of
the archbishop. The present rich shrine of St. Genevieve was made by the abbot,
and the relics enclosed in it in 1242. It is said that one hundred and
ninety-three marks of silver and eight of gold, were used in making it; and it
is almost covered with precious stones, most of which are the presents of
several kings and queens. The crown or cluster of diamonds, which glitters on
the top, was given by Queen Mary of Medicis. The shrine is placed behind the choir,
upon a fine piece of architecture, supported by four high pillars, two of
marble and two of jaspis. 9 See
the ancient Life of St. Genevieve, written by an anonymous author, eighteen
years after her death, of which the best edition is given by F. Charpentier, a
Genevievan regular canon, in octavo, in 1697. It is interpolated in several
editions. Bollandus has added another more modern life; see also Tillemont, T.
16. p. 621, and notes ib. p. 802. Likewise, Gallia Christiana Nova, T. 7.
p. 700.
Note 1. Constant. in
vit. S. Germani Altiss. 1. 1. c. 20. [back]
Note 2. Nonam atque
duodecimam. It deserves the attention of clergymen, that though anciently
the canonical hours were punctually observed in the divine office, SS. Germanus
and Lupus deferred None beyond the hour, that they might recite it in the
church, rather than on the road. The word duodecima used for Vespers,
is a clear demonstration that the canonical hour of Vespers was not five but
six o’clock, which, about the equinoxes, was the twelfth hour of the natural
day: which is also proved from the ancient Ferial hymn at Vespers, Jam ter
quaternis, &c. See Card. Bona, de div. Psalmodia, &c. [back]
Note 3. Apud
Bolland. [back]
Note 4. See Piganiol
Descrip. de Paris, T. 8. v. Nanterre. [back]
Note 5. Paris was
called by the Romans the castle of the Parisians, being by its situation one of
the strongest fortresses in Gaul: for at that time it was confined to the
island of the river Seine, now called the Isle du Palais, and
the City; though the limits of the city are now extended somewhat
beyond that island, it is the smallest part of the town. This isle was only
accessible over two wooden bridges, each of which was defended by a castle,
which were afterwards called the Great and Little Chatelet. (See
Lobineau, Hist. de la Ville de Paris, T. 1. l. 1.) The greatest part of
the neighbouring country was covered with thick woods. The Roman governors
built a palace without the island (now in Rue de l’Harpe) which Julian the
Apostate, whilst he commanded in Gaul, exceedingly embellished, furnished with
water by a curious aqueduct, and, for the security of his own person, contrived
a subterraneous passage from the palace to the castle or Great Chatelet; of all
which works certain vestiges are to be seen at this day. [back]
Note 6. Some think
that Catulliacum was rather Montmartre than St. Denys’s, and that the church
built there in the time of St. Genevieve stood near the bottom of the mountain,
because it is said in her life to have been at the place where St. Dionysius
suffered martyrdom; and it is added, that she often visited the place attended
by many virgins, watched there every Saturday-night in prayer, and that one
night, when she was going thither with her companions in the rain, and through
very dirty roads, the lamp that was carried before her was extinguished, but
lighted again upon her taking it into her own hands; all which circumstances
seem not to agree to a place two leagues distant, like St. Denys’s. [back]
Note 7. The author
of the life of St. Bathildes testifies, that Clovis built this church for the
use of monks; which Mabillon confirms by other proofs. (Op. Posth. T. 2. p.
356.) He doubts not but it continued in their hands, till being burnt by the
Normans in 856, (as appears from Stephen of Tournay, ep. 146.) it was soon
after rebuilt, and given to secular canons. These, in punishment of a sedition,
were expelled by the authority of Eugenius III., and Suger, abbot of St. Denys,
and prime minister to Lewis VII. or the Young, in 1148, who introduced into
this church twelve regular canons of the order of St. Austin, chosen out of St.
Victor’s abbey, which had been erected about forty years before, and was then
most famous for many great men, the austerity of its rule, and the piety and
learning which flourished in it. Cardinal Francis Rochefoucault, the history of
whose most edifying life and great actions will be a model of all pastoral
virtues to all ages to come, having established an excellent reformation in the
abbey of St. Vincent, of regular canons, at Senlis, when he was bishop of that
see, being nominated abbot of St. Genevieve’s by Lewis XIII., called from St.
Vincent’s, F. Charles Faure, and twelve others, in 1624, and by their means
introduced the same reformation in this monastery, which was confirmed in 1634,
when F. Faure was chosen abbot coadjutor to the cardinal. He died in odour of
sanctity in 1667, the good cardinal having passed to a better life in
1645. [back]
Note 8. De Miraculo
Ardentium. See Anonym. ap. Bolland. et Brev. Paris. ad 26 Nov. [back]
Note 9. See Piganiol
Descr. de Paris. T. 5. p. 238, et Le Fevre Calendrier Hist. de l’Eglise de
Paris, Nov. 26, et Jan. 3, Gallia Christian. Nova. T. 7. p. 700. Le Beuf, l. 2.
p. 95. et l. 1. p. 387. [back]
Rev. Alban
Butler (1711–73). Volume I: January. The Lives of the
Saints. 1866.
SOURCE : http://www.bartleby.com/210/1/034.html
.jpg)
Livre
censier de l’abbaye de Sainte-Geneviève de Paris, folio 13 recto :
miniature représentant sainte Geneviève tenant un cierge que le démon, à
droite, tente d’éteindre et qu’un ange thuriféraire, à gauche, rallume. Archives nationales
ST. GENEVIEVE, OR
QENOVEFA, V.,
CHIEF PATRONESS OF THE
CITY OF PARIS
HER father's name was Severus, and her mother's Gerontia. She was born about the year 422, at Nanterre, a small village four miles from Paris, near the famous modern stations, or Calvary, adorned with excellent sculptures, representing our Lord's Passion, on Mount Valerien. When St. Germanus, Bishop of Auxerre, went with St. Lupus into Britain to oppose the Pelagian heresy, he lay at Nanterre in his way. The inhabitants flocked about them to receive their blessing, and St. Germanus made them an exhortation, during which he took particular notice of Genevieve, though only seven years of age. After his discourse he inquired for her parents, and addressing himself to them, foretold their daughter's future sanctity, and said that she would perfectly accomplish the resolution she had taken of serving God, and that others would imitate her example. He then asked Genevieve whether it was not her desire to serve God in a state of perpetual virginity, and to bear no other title than that of a spouse of Jesus Christ. The virgin answered, that this was what she had long desired, and begged that by his blessing she might be from that moment consecrated to God. The holy prelate went to the church of the place, followed by the people, and, during long singing of psalms and prayers, says Constantius (1) that is, during the recital of None and Vespers, as the author of the life of St. Genevieve expresses it, (2) he held his hand upon the virgin's head. After he had supped, he dismissed her, giving a strict charge to her parents to bring her again to him very early the next morning.
The father complied with
the commission, and St. Germanus asked Genevieve whether she remembered the
promise she had made to God. She said she did, and declared she would, by the
divine assistance, faithfully perform it. The bishop gave her a brass medal, on
which a cross was engraved, to wear always about her neck, to put her in mind
of the consecration she had made of herself to God ; and at the same time, he
charged her never to wear bracelets, or necklaces of pearls, gold or silver, or
any other ornaments of vanity. All this she most religiously observed, and
considering herself as the spouse of Christ, gave herself up to the most
fervent practices of devotion and penance. From the words of St. Germanus, in
his exhortation to St. Genevieve never to wear jewels, Baillet and some others
infer, that she must have been a person of quality and fortune : but the
ancient Breviary and constant tradition of the place assure us, that her father
was a poor shepherd, Adrian, Valois, and Baluze, observe, that her most ancient
life ought not to be esteemed of irrefragable authority, and that the words of
St. Germanus are not perhaps related with a scrupulous fidelity.(3) The author of
her life tells us, that the holy virgin begging one day with great importunity
that she might go to the church, her mother struck her on the face, but in
punishment lost her sight, which she only recovered, two months after, by
washing her eyes twice or thrice with water, which her daughter fetched from
the well, and upon which she had made the sign of the cross. Hence the people
look upon the well at Nanterre as having been blessed by the saint.
About fifteen years of age, she was presented to the Bishop of Paris to receive the religious veil at his hand, together with two other persons of the same sex. Though she was the youngest of the three, the bishop placed her the first, saying, that heaven had already sanctified her ; by which he seems to have alluded to the promise she had already made, in the presence of SS. Germanus and Lupus, of consecrating herself to God.
From that time she
frequently ate only twice in the week, on Sundays and Thursdays. Her food was
barley bread with a few beans. At the age of fifty, by the command of certain
bishops, she mitigated this austerity, so far as to allow herself a moderate
use of fish and milk. Her prayer was almost continual, and generally attended
with a large flow of tears. After the death of her parents she left Nanterre,
and settled with her grandmother at Paris, but sometimes undertook journeys
upon motives of charity, and illustrated the cities of Meaux, Laon, Tours,
Orleans, and all other places wherever she went, with miracles and remarkable
predictions. God permitted her to meet with some severe trials ; for at a
certain time all persons indiscriminately seemed to be in a combination against
her, and persecuted her under the opprobrious names of visionary, hypocrite,
and the like imputations, all tending to asperse her innocency. The arrival of
St. Germanus at Paris, probably on his second journey to Britain, for some time
silenced her calumniators ; but it was not long ere the storm broke out anew.
Her enemies were fully determined to drown her, when the Archdeacon of Auxerre
arrived with Eulogies, or blessed bread, sent her by St. Germanus, as a
testimony of his particular esteem for her virtues, and a token of communion.
This seems to have happened whilst St. Germanus was absent in Italy in 449, a
little before his death. This circumstance, so providentially opportune,
converted the prejudices of her calumniators into a singular veneration for her
during the remainder of her life. The Franks or French had then possessed
themselves of the better part of Gaul, and Childeric, their king, took Paris.
During the long blockade of that city, the citizens being extremely distressed
by famine, St. Genevieve, as the author of her life relates, went out at the
head of a company who were sent to procure provisions, and brought back from
Arcis-sur-Aube and Troyes several boats laden with corn. Nevertheless,
Childeric, when he had made himself master of Paris, though always a pagan,
respected St. Genevieve, and, upon her intercession, spared the lives of many
prisoners, and did several other acts of clemency and bounty. Our saint, out of
her singular devotion to St. Dionysius and his companions, the apostles of the
country, frequently visited their tombs at the borough of Catulliacum, which
many think the borough since called St. Denys. She also excited the zeal of
many pious per-sons to build there a church in honour of St. Dionysius, which
King Dagobert I. afterwards rebuilt with a stately monastery in 629. St.
Genevieve likewise performed several pilgrimages, in company with other holy
virgins, to the shrine of St. Martin at Tours. These journeys of devotion she
sanctified by the exercises of holy recollection and austere penance.
King Clovis, who embraced
the faith in 496, listened often with deference to the advice of St. Genevieve,
and granted liberty to several captives at her request. Upon the report of the
march of Attila with his army of Huns, the Parisians were preparing to abandon
their city, but St. Genevieve persuaded them, in imitation of Judith and
Hester, to endeavour to avert the scourge, by fasting, watching, and prayer.
Many devout persons of her sex passed many days with her in prayer in the
baptistry ; from whence the particular devotion to St. Genevieve, which is
practised at St. John-le-rond, the ancient public baptistry of the church of
Paris, seems to have taken rise. She assured the people of the protection of
heaven, and their deliverance ; and though she was long treated by many as an
impostor, the event verified the prediction, that barbarian suddenly changing
the course of his march, probably by directing it towards Orleans. Our
authority attributes to St. Genevieve, the first design of the magnificent
church which Clovis began to build in honour of SS. Peter and Paul, by the
pious counsel of his wife Saint Clotilda, by whom it was finished several years
after ; for he only laid the foundation a little before his death, which
happened in 511. St. Genevieve died about the same year, probably five weeks
after that prince, on the 3rd of January, 512, being eighty-nine years old.
Some think she died before King Clovis. Prudentius, Bishop of Paris, had been
buried about the year 409, on the spot where this church was built. Clovis was
interred in it ; his remains were afterwards removed into the middle of the
choir, where they are covered with a modern monument of white marble, with an
inscription. St. Clotilda was buried near the steps of the high altar in 545 ;
but her name having been enrolled amongst the saints, her relics were
enshrined, and are placed behind the high altar. Those of St. Alda, the
companion of St. Genevieve, and of St. Ceraunus, Bishop of Paris, are placed in
silver shrines on the altar of St. Clotilda. The tombs of St. Genevieve and
King Clovis were near together. Immediately after the saint was buried, the
people raised an oratory of wood, over her tomb, as her historian assures us,
and this was soon changed into the stately church built under the invocation of
SS. Peter and Paul. From this circumstance, we gather that her tomb was
situated in a part of this church, which was only built after her death. Her
tomb, though empty, is still shown in the subterraneous church, or vault,
betwixt those of Prudentius, and St. Ceraunus, Bishop of Paris. But her relics
were enclosed by St. Eligius, in a costly shrine, adorned with gold and silver,
which he made with his own hands about the year 630, as St. Owen relates in his
life. In 845 these relics, for fear of the Normans, were removed to Atis, and
thence to Dravel, where the abbot of the canons kept a tooth for his own
church. In 550 they were carried to Marisy, near Ferte-Milon, and five years
after brought back to Paris. The author of the original life of St. Genevieve,
concludes it by a description of the basilic which Clovis and St. Clotilda
erected, adorned with a triple portico, in which were painted the histories of
the patriarchs, prophets, martyrs, and confessors. This church was several
times plundered, and at length burnt, by the Normans. When it was rebuilt, soon
after the year 856, the relics of St. Genevieve were brought back. The miracles
which were performed there from the time of her burial, rendered this church
famous all over France, so that at length it began to be known only by her
name. The city of Paris has frequently received sensible proofs of the divine
protection, through her intercession. The most famous instance is that called
the miracle of Des Ardens, or of the burning fever. In 1129, in the reign of
Lewis VI. a pestilential fever, with a violent inward heat, and pains in the
bowels, swept off, in a short time, fourteen thousand persons, nor could the
art of physicians afford any relief. Stephen, Bishop of Paris, with the clergy
and people, implored the divine mercy, by fasting and supplications. Yet the
distemper began not to abate till the shrine of St. Genevieve was carried in a
solemn procession to the cathedral. During that ceremony many sick persons were
cured by touching the shrine, and of all that then lay ill of that distemper in
the whole town, only three died, the rest recovered, and no others fell ill.
Pope Innocent II. coming to Paris the year following, after having passed a
careful scrutiny on the miracle, ordered an annual festival in commemoration of
it on the 26th of November, which is still kept at Paris. A chapel near the
cathedral, called anciently St. Genevieve's the Little, erected near the house
in which she died, afterwards from this miracle, though it was wrought not at
this chapel, but chiefly at the cathedral, as Le Beuf demonstrates, was called
St. Genevieve Des Athens, which was demolished in 1747, to make place for the
Foundling Hospital.(4) Both before and since that time, it is the custom in
extraordinary public calamities, to carry the shrine of St, Genevieve,
accompanied by those of St. Marcel, St. Aurea, St. Lucan martyr, St. Landry,
St. Merry, St. Paxentius, St. Ma.gloire, and others, in a solemn procession to
the cathedral ; on which occasion the regular canons of St. Genevieve walk
barefoot, and at the right hand of the chapter of the cathedral, and the abbot
walks on the right hand of the archbishop. The present rich shrine of St.
Genevieve was made by the abbot, and the relics enclosed in it in 1242. It is
said that one hundred and ninety-three marks of silver and eight of gold, were
used in making it; and it is almost covered with precious stones, most of which
are the presents of several kings and queens. The crown or cluster of diamonds,
which glitters on the top, was given by Queen Mary of Medicis. The shrine is
placed behind the choir, upon a fine piece of architecture, supported by four
high pillars, two of marble, and two of jaspis. See the " Ancient Life of
St. Genevieve," written by an anonymous author, eighteen years after her
death, of which the best edition is given by F. Charpentier, a Genevevan
regular canon, in octavo, in 1697. It is interpolated in several editions.
Bollandus has added another more modern life see also Tillemont, t. xvi. p.
621, and notes ibid. p. 802. Likewise, Gallia Christiana Nova, t. vii. p. 700.
(1) Constant. in vit. S. German Altiss. lib. i. c. 20.
(2) Apud Bolland.
(3) See Piganiol Descrip. de Paris, t. viii. v. Nanterre.
(4) De Miraculo
Ardentium. See Anonyn ap. Bolland. et Brev. Paris. ad 26 Nov.
SOURCE : http://jesus-passion.com/saint_genevieve.htm
Santa Genoveva, Patrona de Paris ala que salvò del yugo de Atila. Copia del original de Jacobo Robusti, llamado Tintoreto célebre pintor italiano de escuela veneciana. Paintings of Sainte Geneviève ; Pativilca ; Unidentified cultural heritage monuments in Peru
Golden Legend – Saint Genevieve
Article
Here followeth the Life
of Saint Genevieve.
The noble Saint Genevieve
was born at Nanterre, beside Paris, in the time of the emperor Honorius and
Theodosius the less, and was with her father and mother unto the time of the
emperor Valentinian. Anon after her nativity, the Holy Ghost showed unto Saint
Germain of Auxerre how
she should serve God holily and virginly, the which thing he told to many.
After, she was sacred of the bishop of Chartres, Viliques, and came to dwell at
Paris full of virtues and of miracles, in the time of Saint Nicasius the
martyr, whom the Hungarians martyred, and after, in the time of Saint Remigius
under Childeric, king of France, and after, under Clovis his son, first
christian king of France, and was named Louis in his baptism, whom Saint
Remigius christened. And an angel of paradise brought to him an ampul full of chrism
of which he was anointed, and also his successors, kings of France, be anointed
and sacred at their coronation. And after, he was of good life, and founded the
church that is now called Saint Genevieve, on the mount of Paris, in the honour
of Saint Peter and Saint Paul, at the request of Saint Clotilde his wife, of
whom the body resteth in the said church, at the incitation of Saint Genevieve,
and Saint Remigius did hallow and dedifie it. The said king did increase much
the realm of France, and franchised it by his puissance from the Romans. He
conquered Melun, and the land Iying by Seine and Loire, Touraine, Toulouse,
and all Guienne, and at his coming to Angouleme the walls of the city fell
down. He made Almaine and Bourgogne his tributaries, he ordained and instituted
Paris to be the chief siege of the realm, and he reigned thirty years, and
after, he was interred in the said church, the year of our Lord five hundred
and fourteen. In the time of the said king lived the said virgin, unto the time
of king Clothaire his son, of which virgin the soul flew into heaven and the
body abode in earth, in the said church, in which she is yet whole and
honorably interred, and devoutly worshipped by the good and devout christian
people.
In the time that the said
virgin Saint Genevieve was a child, Saint Germain of Auxerre and
Saint Lew of Troyes, elect of the prelates of France, for to go quench an
heresy that was in Great Britain, now called England, came to Nanterre for to
be lodged and harboured, the people came against them for to have their
benison. Among the people, Saint Germain, by the enseignements of the Holy
Ghost, espied out the little maid Saint Genevieve, and made her to come to him,
and kissed her head and demanded her name, and whose daughter she was, and the
people about her said that her name was Genevieve, and her father Severe, and
her mother Geronce, which came unto him, and the holy man said: Is this child
yours? They answered: Yea. Blessed be ye, said the holy man, when God hath
given to you so noble lineage, know ye for certain that the day of her
nativity, the angels sang and hallowed great mystery in heaven with great joy
and gladness; she shall be of so great merit against God. And of her good life
and conversation many shall take ensample, that they shall leave their sin and
shall convert them to God, and shall live religiously, by which they shall have
pardon and joy perdurable. Then he said to Genevieve: My daughter tell to me,
and be not ashamed, if ye will be sacred and live in virginity unto the death,
as espouse of Jesu Christ? The maid answered: Holy father, ye demand that I
desire; there lacketh no more but that by your prayers our Lord will accomplish
my devotion.
The holy man said: Have
firm belief in God, and prove by works the good things that ye believe in your
heart and say with your mouth, and our Lord shall give you force and virtue.
S.Germain held his hand on her head till he came unto the minster, there he
gave to the people the benison. Saint Germain said to the father and mother of
the maid that they should bring her again on the morn to him. When she was
brought again on the morn, Saint Germain saw in her a sign celestial, I wot not
what, and said to her: God thee saluteth, Genevieve. Daughter, rememberest thou
what thou promisedst to me yesterday of the virginity of thy body? Holy father,
said the maid, I remember well that, and by the help of God I desire and think
to accomplish my purpose. Then the ho]y man looked on the ground and saw a
penny signed with the cross, which came by the grace and will of God; he took
it up and gave it her and said: Fair daughter take this and bear it in mind of
Jesu Christ your espouse, and suffer not about you none other arrayment of gold
ne silver, ne of precious stones, for if the beauty of this world surmount a
little your thought, ye shall lose the goods of heaven. He commended her to
God, and prayed her that she would remember him in her orisons and prayers, and
recommended her to father and mother. The two holy bishops went from thence
into England, where were heretics against the faith, which said that children
born of father and mother baptized had no need to be christened, which is not
truth, for our Lord Jesu Christ saith clearly, in the gospel, that none may
enter into the kingdom of heaven if he be not regenerate of water and of the
Holy Ghost, that is to say, regenerate by the sacrament of baptism. By this
scripture, and by semblable, the holy prelates destroyed their false creance
and belief, and by virtue also and by miracles, for in a solemnity of Easter,
by many that were new baptized, in singing Alleluia they chased and drove away
their enemies of Scotland, and strangers of other places, that were come for to
grieve them.
It happed on a day that
Geronce, the mother of the holy maid Genevieve, went on an holy and festal day
toward the minster, and her daughter went after, saying that the faith that she
had promised to Saint Germain she should keep by the help of God and that she
should oft go to the minster to the end that she might desire to be the espouse
of Jesu Christ, and that she might be worthy of his love. The mother was angry
and smote her on the cheek. God avenged the child that the mother became blind,
and that in twenty-one months she saw not. When the mother had been long in
this pain, which much annoyed her, she remembered of the goodness that Saint
Germain had said of her daughter, and called her and said: My daughter, go to
the pit and fetch me water; the maid went hastily; when she was at the pit she
began to weep because her mother had lost her sight for her sake, and took up
water and bare it to her mother. The mother stretched her hands to heaven, and
took the water with great faith and reverence, and made her daughter to sign
her with the sign of the holy cross and wash her eyes, and anon she bepan for
to see a little. When she had twice or thrice washed, her sight came whole to
her again as it had been tofore. After this it happed that the holy maid was
offered to the bishop of Chartres, Viliques, for to be sacred with two other
elder maidens; for men offered them after their age. But the holy bishop knew
by the Holy Ghost that Genevieve was the most worthy and digne, and said to
her, that was behind, that she should come before, for God had then sanctified
her. After the death of her father and her mother the holy damsel came and
dwelt at Paris for to assay and prove her there, and for to avail the more she
was sick of the palsy, so much that it seemed that her members were disjoined
and departed that one from that other, whereof she was so sore tormented that
during three days she was kept as for dead, for there appeared on her no sign
of life save that her jowes were a little red. In this space and time, as she
confessed after, an angel led her in spirit whereas the rest was of good folk,
and where the torment was of evil people. Afterward she showed to many the
secrets of their consciences, as she that was taught and enseigned of the Holy
Ghost. The second time Saint Germain returned from England and came to Paris
the people almost all went against him with great joy, and tofore all other
things Saint Germain demanded how Genevieve did, but the people, which more is
inclined to say evil of good people than well, answered that of her was
nothing, in blaming her, which was to her a praising. Of other men’s praising
is none the better, ne of others blaming is none the worse, therefore the holy
man set nought of their jangling, but as soon as he entered into the city he
went straight to the house of the holy virgin whom he saluted in so great
humility that all they marvelled, and showed to them that dispraised her, the
ground wet of her tears, and recited to them the beginning of her life, and how
he found at Nanterre that she was chosen of God, and recommended her to the
people.
Tidings came to Paris
that Attila, the felon king of Hungary, had enterprised to destroy and waste
the parts of France, and to subdue them to his domination. The burgesses of
Paris, for great dread that they had, sent their goods into other cities more
sure. Saint Genevieve warned and admonished the good women of the town that
they should wake in fastings and in orisons, by which they might assuage the
ire of our Lord and eschew the tyranny of their enemies, like as did sometime
the two holy women Judith and Esther. They obeyed her, and were long and many
days in the church in wakings, fastings and in orisons. She said to the
burgesses that they should not remove their goods, ne send them out of the town
of Paris, for the other cities that they supposed should be more sure, should
be destroyed and wasted, but by the grace of God, Paris should have none harm.
And, some had indignation at her, and said that a false prophet was risen and
appeared in their time, an began among them to ask and treat whether they
should drown her or stone her. Whilst they were thus treating, as God would,
came to Paris, after the decease of Saint Germain, the archdeacon of Auxerre,
and when he understood that they treated together of her death, he came to
them, an said: Fair sirs, for God’s sake do not this mischief, for she of whom
ye treat, Saint Germain witnesseth that she was chosen of God in her mother’s
belly, and lo! here be the letters that he hath sent to her in which he
recommendeth him to her prayers. When the burgesses heard these words recited
by him of Saint Germain, and saw the letters, they marvelled and feared God,
and left their evil counsel and did no more thereto. Thus our Lord kept her
from harm, which keepeth alway them that be his, and defendeth, after that the
apostle saith, and for her love did so much that the tyrants approached not
Paris, thank and glory to God and honour to the virgin. This holy maid did
great penance in tormenting her body all her life, and became lean for to give
good example. For sith she was of the age of fifteen years
unto fifty, she fasted every day save Sunday and Thursday. In her refection she
had nothing but barley bread, and sometime beans, the which, sodden after
fourteen days or three weeks, she ate for all delices. Always she was in
prayers in wakings and in penances, she drank never wine ne other liquor, that
might make her drunk, in all her life. When she had lived and used this life
fifty years, the bishops that were that time, saw and beheld that she was over
feeble by abstinence as for her age, and warned her to increase a little her
fare. The holy woman durst not gainsay them, for our Lord saith of the
prelates: Who heareth you heareth me, and who despiseth you, despiseth me, and
so she began by obedience to eat with her bread, fish and milk, and how well
that, she so did, she beheld the heaven and wept, whereof it is to believe that
she saw appertly our Lord Jesu Christ after the promise of the gospel that
saith that, Blessed be they that be clean of heart for they shall see God; she
had her heart and body pure and clean. There be twelve virtues virginal, saith
Hermes Pastor, without which no virgin may be agreeable to God, that is to wit:
Faith, abstinence, patience, magnanimity, simplesse, innocence, concord,
charity, discipline, chastity, truth, and prudence. These virtues accomplished
the holy virgin by work, she taught and enseigned by word, and showed oft by
ensample.
Oft and tofore all other
holy places, she visited the place whereas rested Saint Denis and his fellows,
and had great devotion to edify upon the said holy bodies a church, but she had
not whereof. On a time came to her the priests,
as oft they had done tofore, to whom she said: Reverend Fathers in God, I pray
and require that each of you do his power and his devoir to assemble matter
whereof might be made and edified a church in the honour of the glorious
martyrs Saint Denis and his fellows, for the place where they rest ought much
to be worshipped and doubted, which first taught to our ancestors the faith.
Dame, answered the priests,
we would fain, and have great will thereto, but we can get no chalk ne lime.
Then said the holy virgin with a glad cheer in prophesying as she that was
replenished by the Holy Ghost: Go ye I pray you to Paris upon the great bridge,
and bring that ye shall find there. They went thither and abode there a while,
marvelled and abashed. And anon came by them two swineherds speaking together,
of which that one said: As I went yesterday after one of my sows, I found a
fournil of lime marvellously great, that other answered: And I found in the
wood under the root of a tree that the wind had thrown down a fournil of lime
of which I trow was never none taken away. When the priests
heard this they had great admiration, and blessed our Lord that had given such
grace to Genevieve his handmaid. They demanded where the fournils were, and
after returned and told to the virgin what they had found. She began to weep
for joy, and as soon as the priests
were gone and departed, she set on her knees and was all the night in orisons
and in tears, in requiring help of God to perform this work, and on the morn
early, all mat and travailed of waking, she went to Genese, a good priest,
and prayed him that he would do his pain and labour that the church might be
edified, and told him tidings of the lime. When Genese heard this he was all
amarvelled, and fell down to her feet and promised to her that night and day he
would do his labour to accomplish her commandment. By the help of God and of
Saint Genevieve, and of the people of Paris, the said church was begun in the
honour of the blessed martyrs Saint Denis, Saint Rustique, and Saint Eleuthere
which now is called Saint Denis de Lestree. There be yet the holy bodies where
our Lord showeth fair miracles, for as the workmen entended to make the edificee
each after his craft, it happed that their drink failed and was done, and
Genese the priest said
to Genevieve, which knew not hereof, that she should talk with the workmen so
long that he might go to Paris and fetch drink. When she heard this she
demanded for the vessel that they had emptied, and it was brought to her; she
made them to depart from her. Then she kneeled down on her knees and prayed God
with warm tears to help her, and when she felt that our Lord had heard her
prayer, she arose up, and made the sign of the cross upon the said vessel, and
a marvellous thing happed, for the vessel was full. The workmen drank their
bellyful, and as oft as they would, unto the time the church was perfectly
made, whereof they thanked our Lord.
The holy virgin had
devotion to wake the night that our Lord rose from death to life, after the
custom and statutes of ancient fathers. It happed on a time that she put her on
the way, tofore day, to go to the said church of Saint Denis, and made to bear
a candle burning tofore her. The night was dark, the wind great, and it rained
fast, which quenched the light of the candle.The maidens that were in her
company were sore troubled; she asked after the candle, and as soon as she had
it in her hand it was lighted by God’s will again, and so she bare it burning
unto the church.
Another time when she had
ended her prayer, a candle that she held, lighted in her hand by the grace of God.
Semblably in her cell, on a time was a candle lighted in her hand without any
fire of this world, of which candle many sick folk by their faith and reverence
have been healed. That taper is kept yet at Notre Dame de Paris. A woman which
by the temptation of the devil, which to his power always deceiveth the good,
stole away her shoes, but as soon as she was at home she lost her sight. When
she saw that our Lord had avenged the wrong that she had done to the virgin,
she did her to be led to her with the theft. When she came tofore the holy
virgin she fell down to her feet, and required her of forgiveness and restoring
of her sight. Genevieve, that was right debonair, took her up from the ground,
and in smiling, gave to her the sight again of her eyes.
The holy virgin on a time
went to Laon, and the people of the town went out against her, among whom were
the father and mother of a maid that had been nine years so paralytic that none
might show the jointure of her members. They besought and required Saint Genevieve
that she would visit the sick maid. She went and saw her, and sith made her prayer as she was
accustomed, and after, handled the members of the maid, and commanded her to do
on her clothes and hosen and shoes. Incontinent she arose in good health in
such wise that she went unto the church with the people. The folk that saw
this, blest our Lord, that had given such grace to his damsel Genevieve, and
when she returned they conveyed her, singing with great joy. The king of
France, Childeric, how be it he was a paynim, held her in great reverence, so
did also the barons of France, for the fair miracles that she did in the name
of our Lord Jesu Christ.
Whereof It happed on a
time that the said king held certain prisoners judged to death, but because
Genevieve should not demand them, he issued out of Paris, and made to shut the
gates after him. The holy virgin knew it anon, and went hastily after him for
to help to deliver them. As soon as she came to the gates, they opened without
key, all the people seeing which, thought it a great wonder. She pursued the
king and obtained grace for the prisoners.
In the parts of the
Orient beyond Antioch, was a good man named Simeon, which had despised this
world, and was of marvellous holy life, which demanded of Saint Genevieve of
the merchants that went in to those parts, and by them he saluted her much
honourably, and recommended him unto her prayers. It was a great marvel that
the holy man which had never seen ne heard speak of her did do greet her by her
name. Verily the friends of God that know his will and do thereafter, have
tidings that one from that other by administration of the Holy Ghost, they
shall never be separate ne departed, as Saint Ambrose being at Milan knew of
the death of Saint Martin at Tours.
At Meaux was a noble
damsel which was named by her proper name Celine, which, when she had heard of
the grace that God had given to Saint Genevieve, she required her to change her
habit. A young man had fianced and trothed her, which had great indignation
when he heard of those tidings, and came to Meaux in a great ire, where the two
virgins dwelt; and when they knew of his coming they fled unto the church.
There happed a fair miracle, for as they came to the church door, which was
locked and fast shut, the door that was so locked opened by his gree by
himself; thus Saint Genevieve delivered Saint Celine from peril and from the
contagion of the world, the which persevered in abstinence, and in chastity to
her end. In this time the said Celine offered to Saint Genevieve one, her
chamberer, which had lain sick two years and might not go; the holy virgin
handled her members with her worthy hands and anon she was whole and in good
point.
There were brought to her
twelve men that were wood and beset with devils, unto Paris,
which were over hard bestead and tormented of the enemy, the virgin had great
pity, and went to prayer and orisons in requiring our Lord, with salt tears,
that by his grace and goodness he would deliver them of this pestilence; and as
she persevered in her prayers, they were hanged in the air in such manner as
they touched nothing. She arose from her prayer, and said that they should go
to Saint Denis, the wood men answered that they might not but she unbound them;
the virgin which was for them in great sorrow commanded that they should go;
then anon they suffered them to be led secretly, their hands bound behind their
backs. She went after them, and when she was in the church of Saint Denis, she
stretched herself on the ground in orisons and in weepings. Thus as she
persevered in prayers and weepings, the wood men cried with a high voice that
they approached whom the virgin called in to their help. None ought to doubt
that the enemy, that saw that he must needs issue and go out, signified by the
mouth of the demoniacs, that the apostles, martyrs and other saints, that the
holy virgin called, came unto her help by the gift of God, which is ready to do
the will of them that dread him and call him in truth. When the holy virgin
heard this that they said, she arose up and blessed each after other with the
sign of the cross, and anon they were delivered of the enemies. They that were
present felt so great stench that they doubted nothing but the souls were
delivered from the vexation of the devil, and blessed our Lord for this
miracle.
There was at Bourges a
damsel, which heard speak of the great renomee of this holy saint, and came to
Paris for to speak to her. She had been sacred, but after the consecration she
had lost her virginity. The holy Genevieve demanded of her if she was a virgin
nun, or wife, or a widow. She answered that she was a virgin sacred; Genevieve
said nay, telling to her the place and time of her defloration and the man that
had done the fait. When she saw that it was for nought that she said she was a
virgin, her conscience remorsed her, and fell down to her feet in requiring
pardon. In semblable wise the holy Genevieve discovered to many the secrets of
their consciences, which be not here written because it were over noyous and
long to write.
A woman whom the holy
virgin had healed, had a child of the age of four years which felI in a pit, he
was therein the space of three hours. The mother came and drew it out, and bare
it all dead unto the saint, in rending her hair and beating her breast and
paps, and weeping bitterly, and laid the child dead at her feet. The holy
virgin covered it with her mantle, and after, she fell down in her prayers and
wept, and anon after, when she ceased of her weeping, our Lord showed a fair
miracle, for the child that was dead revived, the which was baptized at Easter
after, and was named Celonier because she was raised in the cell of Saint
Genevieve. There came from Meaux a man to this holy virgin which had his hand
dried unto the wrist, and she handled his joints and fingers, and made thereon
the sign of the cross, and anon the hand became all whole.
Genevieve that knew well,
that our Lord Jesu Christ was baptized the day of Epiphany, and after, went
into desert in giving enseignement to them that be regenerate in the sacrament
of baptism, to fast, wake and adore busily, and to accomplish by work the grace
that they have taken in the baptism, by the ensample of sweet Jesu Christ. Then
entered the holy virgin in to her cell the Sunday tofore the said feast, and
abode there as recluse unto the Thursday, absolute in waking, in prayers, in
tastings and orisons. Thither came a woman to see her, more for curiosity than
for good faith, and therefore God punished her, for as soon as she approached
the door of the cell she lost her sight and became blind, but the holy maid by
her debonairty, and by her prayer gat her sight again, and by the sign of the
holy cross, when she issued out of her cell in the end of Lent.
In the time that the city
of Paris was assieged by the term of ten years, like as the ancient histories
rehearse, there followed so great famine and hunger that many died for hunger.
The holy virgin, that pity constrained her, went to the Seine for to go fetch
by ship some victuals. When she came unto a place of Seine, whereas of custom
ships were wont to perish, she made the ship to be drawn to the rivage and
commanded to cut down a tree that was in the water, and she set lier to prayer.
Then, as the ship should have smitten upon the tree it fell down, and two wild
heads, grey and horrible, issued thereout, which stank so sore that the people
there were envenomed by the space of two hours, and never after perished ship
there, thank be to God and to his holy saint.
Unto Arcy, the castle,
went this holy virgin, and there came against her a great lord which required
her that she should visit his wife, which had had long time the palsy. The holy
virgin went and visited her which had been long sick, with prayers and orisons,
and after, blessed her with the sign of the cross, and commanded her that she
should arise. She then, that had been four years sick and might not help
herself, arose, which seeing, all the people thanked our Lord.
From Arcy she went to
Troyes in Champagne. The people came to meet with her, and offered to her great
multitude of sick people without number. She blessed them and signed them with
the sign of the cross, and incontinent they were healed in the sight of all the
people, which marvelled much and rendered thankings to our Lord. There was
brought to her a man, which by the punition of God was made blind, because he
wrought on the Sunday; and a blind maid also. The holy virgin blessed them in
the name of the Father, and Son, and of the Holy Ghost, and anon their sight
was restored to them. There was a sub-deacon present and saw this; he went and
fetched a child which had been sick ten years of the fevers right sore, the
holy virgin did do bring holy water and blessed it and gave him drink, and that
done, by the grace of God, the child was in good health. In this time many took
of the cuttings of her vesture by devotion, whereof many sick were healed, and
many vexed by spirits were delivered and remised in to their good mind.
From Arcy returned the
holy virgin to Paris with eleven ships charged with victual. Wind, tempest, and
orage assailed them so strongly that they weened to have perished without
remedy, the holy virgin lift up her hands to heaven requiring help of our Lord,
and anon the tempest ceased. Then Bessus, a priest that
was present and saw it, which tofore had trembled for fear, began to sing for
joy: Cantemus domino gloriose. All that there were thanked our Lord that had
saved them by the prayer of the damsel Genevieve. When the goods came to Paris
that she had brought, she departed them and gave for the love of God to some
poor, wool, and to others whole loaves of bread, and sometimes she so hasted
for pity that she took the loaves hot out of the oven secretly and gave it to
the poor. The women marvelled why she took their loaves, but they spake ne said
nothin, and they much doubted that they should not find their count ne tale.
But notwithstanding that she had so taken, by the grace of God they found all
their loaves and lacked none, by the merits of the holy saint. Her hope was
nothing in worldly things, but in heavenly, for in the holy scriptures that
saith: Who so giveth to the poor lendeth for a vaile. The reward which they
receive that give to poor people, the Holy Ghost had showed to her long tofore,
and therefore she ceased not to weep, to adore, and to do works of pity, for
she knew well that she was none other in this world but a pilgrim passing.
There was at Meaux a
burgess that by the space of four years he might not hear ne go, he did him be
brought to the holy virgin which dwelt at Paris, and required her that she
would restore to him his health and hearing. She touched his ears and blessed
him, and anon he was whole, and went and heard as he did before, thanking our
Lord.
On a time the holy virgin
went to Orleans. A woman named Fraterne was in great sorrow for her daughter
that lay dying. Anon, as she wist the coming of the holy virgin, she went to
her to Saint Aiguen where she found her in prayer. Fraterne fell down to her
feet saying: Dame Genevieve give me again Claude my daughter. When Genevieve
saw the good faith of her, she said: Discomfort thee nothing, thy daughter is
in health, the which by the marvellous puissance of God, at the word of the
holy virgin, was brought from the wicket of death, and came all whole against
her mother, and met with her at the portal of the house. The people thanked our
Lord for this fair miracle.
In the said city there
was a servant culpable against his master; the holy maid prayed his master that
he would forgive him his trespass. The master, as felonous and proud, deigned
not to do it at her request. Then said the holy virgin: Though ye despise me,
our Lord will not have me in despite. As soon as he was at home he was taken
with a hot fever ague, which vexed him in such wise that he might not sleep of
all the night. On the morn he came to the holy virgrin, running with open
mouth, like a bear of Almaine, the tongue hanging out, and foaming like a boar,
requiring pardon, which would give no pardon. The saint had pity on him and
blessed him, and the fever left him, thus made she the master whole and the
servant excused.
From Orleans the holy
woman went to Tours by the water of Loire, where she suffered many perils. When
she arrived at Tours great foison of demoniacs came against her out of the
church of Saint Martin, and the spirits cried by the mouth of them that were
mad and vexed, which were burnt by the merits of Saint Martin and Saint
Genevieve, and the perils that the virgin had in the water of Loire, they had
done it by envy. The holy virgin went into the church of Saint Martin whereas
she healed rnany demoniacs by prayers and by the sign of the cross, and the
demoniacs said at the hour of the torment that, the fingers of the saint burnt
about them as tapers inflamed with fire of heaven. Hereof heard three men which
kept their wives mad; they went to the church and prayed her that she would visit
their wives. The blessed virgin, which was debonair, went and visited them and
delivered them from the enemy by unction of holy oil and by prayer. Anon after,
it happed as she was in orisons in a corner in the church of Saint Martin that,
one of the singers was so sore vexed with the enemy that he ate his members,
which went out of the chancel and came straight to the holy virgin. The blessed
virgin commanded the spirit to issue out. He answered: If he issued, he would
issue by the eye. She commanded that he should no longer abide ne dwell there,
and then he issued out anon wold he, nold he, by the flux of the womb, and left
foul enseigns and tokens, and the sick man was all whole and in good mind,
whereof he thanked our Lord. They of Tours honoured much this blessed virgin,
how well it was against her will. On a time as she was at her door she saw a
maid pass by bearing a burette of oil; she called her and asked what she bare,
she answered and said, oil which she had bought. The holy maid which saw the enemy
sit on the mouth of the burette, blew on it, and the burette brake; she blessed
the oil and bade the maid bear it forth safely. The people that saw this had
great marvel that the enemy could not hide him, but that she perceived him, and
thanked our Lord. There was brought to her a child by his friends which was
dumb, blind, and lame; the blessed virgin anointed him with the holy oil, and
the same hour he saw clearly, spake and went, and received health entirely.
In the territory of Meaux
the holy maid did do labour a field that she had, and a storm and tempest of
wind and rain arose which troubled much the workmen. She lay down stretching on
the earth, in orison and prayer, and our Lord showed there a fair miracle, for
the rain fell on all the corn in the fields thereabout, and in her field fell
not one drop. Another time as she was on the Seine there was a great tempest,
and she besought God of help, and anon it ceased in such wise that they that
were present saw well that our Lord at her request and for her love made wind
and rain to cease. All sick men that she anointed with holy oil devoutly, were
healed and made whole.
It happed so that on a
time when she would have anointed a demoniac she found no oil in her ampul,
whereof she was so sorry that she wist not what to do, for there was no bishop
present for to bless it. She lay down in orisons and prayers, beseeching God
that he would deliver the man from the enemy. Our Lord showed there two fair
virtues, for as soon as she arose her ampul was full of oil, being in her
hands, of which she anointed the madman, and anon he was delivered of the
wicked spirit, which ampul, with the oil, saw the same man that wrote her life
eighteen years after her decease. Many other miracles without number showed our
Lord for the love of the holy and blessed saint, Saint Genevieve, the which
lived in this world full of virtues and miracles more than four score years,
and departed out of this world and died worthily the third day of January, and
was buried in the mount of Paris called Mount Parlouer, and is now called the
Mount of San Genevieve, in the church of Saint Peter and Paul, the which, as
said is at the beginning, the King Louis, sometimes called Clovis, did do make
by the exhortement of this holy virgin, for the love of whom he gave grace to
many prisoners at her departing. And after, there were many fair miracles which
by negligence, by envy, and not recking, were not written, as he confessed that
put her life in Latin, except two which he set in the end of his book as here
followeth. Unto the sepulchre of the holy virgin was brought a young man that
was so sick of the stone that his friends had no hope of life. In great weeping
and sorrow they brought him thither requiring aid of the holy virgin. Anon
after their prayer, the stone issued, and he was forthwith all whole as he had
never been sick. Another man came thither that gladly wrought on the Sunday,
wherefor our Lord punished him, for his hands were so benumbed and lame that he
might not work on other days. He repented him and confessed his sin, and came
to the tomb of the said virgin, and there honoured and prayed devoutly, and on
the morn he returned all whole, praising and thanking our Lord, that by the
worthy merits and prayers of the holy virgin, grant and give us pardon, grace,
and joy perdurable. After the death of the blessed virgin Saint Genevieve was
assigned a lamp at her sepulchre in which the oil sourded and sprang like water
in a well or fountain. Three fair things showed our Lord by this lamp, for the
fire and light burned continually, the oil lessed not ne minished, and the sick
people were healed there. Thus wrought our Lord by the merits of the blessed
virgin corporally, which much more abundantly worketh by her merits to the
souls spiritually. Many more miracles hath our Lord showed at her sepulchre
which be not here written, for it would be over long to remember them all, and
yet daily be showed, wherefore in every necessity and need let us call on this
glorious saint, the blessed Genevieve, that she be mediatrix unto God for us
wretched sinners, that we may so live and amend us in this present life that we
may come when we shall depart hence by her merits unto the life perdurable in
heaven. Amen.
SOURCE : https://catholicsaints.info/the-golden-legend-the-life-of-saint-genevieve/
_Wellcome_V0033228.jpg)
Patron
Saints for Girls: Saint Genevieve
Towards the decline of
the fourth
century, the Church was desolated by one of the most deadly heresies that
it had ever experienced. Pelagius, the author and propagator of this heresy,
denied original sin and the necessity of the grace of Jesus Christ. In a word,
he strove to undermine the very foundations of our holy religion.
At first he did not dare
to avow himself and his errors openly, for he dreaded that he might thus shock
the feelings of all Christendom, by denying the ancient and universally
received doctrine. In order, therefore, to pervert the souls of the faithful,
he enveloped his perfidious teachings in equivocal language, hoping thus to
succeed in his fatal project. Pelagius was aided by a disciple of his named
Celestius, who contributed largely to the diffusion of the errors disseminated
by this impious sect; one of them dogmatized the East, and the other made
Africa and Italy the scenes of his unholy labors.
During that time, one of
their disciples named Agricola, sowed the seeds of this new heresy in England,
which was then known by the designation of Great Britain. The Catholics of that
island, terrified by the spread and progress of the heresy, had recourse to the
French bishops, whom they besought to send them orthodox priests to check the
torrent of evil that swept over the whole country. The prelates whom they
addressed, assembled in 429,
to deliberate on the means by which they could succor and save the Britons. In
that assembly, held, as it would appear, in the city of ArIes, Saint Germain of
Auxerre, and Saint Lupus of Troyes, were chosen to proceed to Britain for the
purpose of combating the heresy.
The two Saints having set
out for England, passed through Nanterre, a village situated about two leagues
from Paris. Scarcely had they arrived, when they were surrounded by a vast
multitude, imploring their benediction. In that assemblage was a young girl, aged
seven years. Her name was Genevieve, and she was born in that very village of
Nanterre towards, the close of the year 422.
Her father was called
Severus, and her mother Geronce. Although there was nothing extraordinary in
the appearance of the child, Saint Germain, enlightened by the Holy Ghost,
signalled her out of the crowd that pressed around him. He caused her and her
parents to approach him, and to the latter he foretold the future sanctity of
their child. He added that she would carry out the resolution she had formed of
serving God, and that her example would promote the sanctification of others.
On hearing this, Genevieve told him that she had long before made up her mind
to live in perpetual virginity, and to have no other title than that of spouse
of Jesus Christ. “Be of good heart, my child,” said the holy prelate; “act with
earnestness, and struggle to prove by thy works that which thou believest in
thy heart, and professest with thy lips; the Lord will sustain thee, and will
give thee the strength that is required to carry out thy holy resolution.” On
the spot he blessed her, and consecrated her to God; he then conducted her to
the Church of Nanterre, whither he was followed by a vast crowd of spectators.
During the chanting of
the Psalms, that is to say, during the time they were reciting Nones and
Vespers, Saint Germain kept his hands stretched out over Genevieve’s head. He
detained her near his person during the repast, and did not dismiss her till
her parents had promised to bring her back to him on the day before his
departure from Nanterre. Severus and Geronce conducted their child to Saint
Germain at the appointed hour. “Daughter,” said Saint Germain to her,
“rememberest thou the promise thou didst make to God yesterday?”
“Yes,” replied the holy
child, “I do remember, it, and I hope to be faithful to it through God’s good
grace.”
The bishop, charmed by
this beautiful answer, exhorted her to persevere in the same sentiments. He
then gave her a copper medal, on which was engraved the figure of the cross,
telling her to wear it always round her neck, that it might serve to remind her
of the consecration she had made of her person to God. “Thou art now,” said he,
“the spouse of Jesus Christ, and as such thou must put away from thee necklaces
of pearl, bracelets, gold and silver trinkets, and all wordly adornments.”
This exhortation of the
holy bishop would lead us to believe that Saint Genevieve was of a noble and
opulent family; but the ancient breviary of Paris, and the immemorial tradition
of the place of her birth, incline us to think that her father was a shepherd.
It is probable that he belonged to a class of persons who were rich, and tended
their flocks according to the venerable patriarchal custom.
Ever since the day of her
interview with Saint Germain, Genevieve looked on herself as separated from the
society of men, and notwithstanding her extreme youth she had no longer desire
for anything except excercises of Christian piety.
Let us record a singular
instance of this fact. Her father, going one day to the Church of Nanterre,
refused to take his daughter along with him; all the importunities of the poor
child were unavailing, and the mother, in a moment of thoughtlessness and
passion, dealt her a blow. But God immediately punished this hasty act, by
depriving Geronce of sight. She remained blind for twenty months. God, at last,
was pleased to restore her vision after she had washed her eyes twice or thrice
in water which her daughter had brought from a well, and over which she had
made the sign of the cross. Herein originated the devotion to the well of
Nanterre, the water of which, according to the tradition of the country, was
blessed by Saint Genevieve.
As soon as the Saint had
attained her fifteenth year, she was presented, along with two other maidens,
to receive the sacred veil of religion from the hands of her bishop. Although
Genevieve was the youngest of the three, the bishop gave her the first place,
observing at the same time that the Lord had already sanctified her. These
words evidently alluded to what had occurred in the presence of Saint Germain
and Saint Lupus.
Genevieve, having lost
her father and mother, took up her abode at Paris, in the house of a woman who
was her godmother. Thither she brought along with her that spirit of
mortification which ever since the moment of her consecration to God, enabled
her to embrace the greatest penitential austerities. She seldom ate more than
twice a week – Sunday and Thursday; although her food consisted only of a
little barley and beans. She denied herself the use of wine, and never drank
anything but water. She continued to live thus till she was fifty years of age.
Then, in obedience to the counsels of some bishops, she consented to use a
little milk and some fish.
To the exercises of mortification,
she joined an inviolable purity of body and soul, profound humility, vivid
faith, ardent charity, uninterrupted prayer and a spirit of compunction, which
during her hours of prayer, gave to her eyes an abundant source of tears. The
fervor with which she accomplished the precepts and counsels of the gospel, was
amply recompensed by the interior consolations that are never found in the vain
and fleeting joys of this world.
Nevertheless, her virtue
was to be tested by tribulations, and God permitted her enemies to form a
league against her. They ridiculed her mode of life, and hoping to succeed in
ruining her, they flattered themselves that they had discovered the opportunity
in the candid style, with which she spoke of the extraordinary favors communicated
to her by the Holy Ghost. They treated her as a visionary and a hypocrite, and
by means of odious and base insinuations, (means always resorted to by envious
and little minded), they succeeded in exciting the indignation of the people
against her. This storm continued to rage till the arrival of Saint Germain of
Auxerre, who passed through Paris on his second visit to Great Britain. The
holy prelate, who was intimately conversant with the knowledge of God’s
mysterious ways, and who knew that even the purest souls cannot escape calumny,
refused to believe the public tale. In order to confound them, he made a
diligent investigation of Genevieve’s conduct, and after establishing her
innocence on the most unerring information, he took up her defence, and
overwhelmed the whisperers and calumniators with shame.
But this calm was not
destined to last long, and the torch of persecution was soon relit. Let us hear
how this came to pass. In the year 451, Attila, king of the Huns, crossed the
Rhine and entered France. This ferocious conqueror who styled himself
the Scourge of God, placed all his glory in destruction and desolation. He
was wont to say that no harvest should ever grow where his horse’s hoofs had
trampled. The news of this barbarian’s approach filled the people with terror
and consternation; his fierce soldiers spread death and desolation along their
line of march, which was marked by rapine, murder. and fire. The inhabitants of
Paris being seized with terror, and no longer confiding in the strength of
their city’s walls, resolved to abandon it, and secure themselves in some place
more strongly fortified. Genevieve, inspired by that confidence in God which
has rendered the names of Judith and Esther so celebrated, far from losing
courage, exhorted the Parisians to works of repentance, assuring them that they
should experience the effects of the Divine protection, if they would only
merit it by fastings, and supplications for mercy. Some women, moved by her
discourses, shut themselves up with her in the public baptistery, and there
passed many days in the exercises of prayer and penance. As for the others,
they treated the Saint as a false prophetess, and they carried their folly so
far as to threaten her life. She was saved, however, from their fury by the
intervention of the archdeacon of Auxerre, who was sent by Saint Germain to
give her presents of things that he had blessed, as a sign of union and
Christian love.
This marked attention on
the part of Saint Germain, clearly showed how much he esteemed Genevieve; and
seeing it, her persecutors began to reflect and grow ashamed of their impiety.
They were brought back speedily to a sense of their duty, and they soon began
to entertain sentiments more conformable to humanity and religion. They now fasted
rigidly, and besought the God of hosts to avert the calamities that were
lowering over them; and as soonn as they learned that Attila had altered his
projected march on Paris, they found that the prediction of Saint Genevieve
were realized to the very letter.
Thenceforth, their
veneration for her increased daily, for, along with the gift of prophecy, she
possessed the power of performing miracles, many of which God was pleased to
operate through her agency in Paris, Troyes, Meaux, Orleans, and Tours. The
fame of her sanctity was now wafted to distant countries, and Saint Simon
Stylites sent a messenger from the East to supplicate the aid of her prayers.
The sainted creature who
had so much influence with her God, most certainly deserved the confidence and
veneration of the people. They fully proved that they placed great confidence
in her at the time when Childeric, king of the Franks, was besieging Paris; and
indeed they were not deceived. The besieged were threatened with a famine, and
Genevieve placed herself at the head of those who were sent to collect food,
accompanying them to Arcis-sur-Aube and as far as Troyes. They succeeded beyond
their most sanguine hopes, and they returned to Paris in safety, despite the
many dangers which they had to encounter. After the fall of Paris, Childeric,
notwithstanding that he was a pagan, did homage to her virtue, and at her
instances performed many acts of clemency. In this respect he was imitated by
his son Clovis, who invariably released his prisoners when our Saint besought
their liberation.
Genevieve cherished a
profound devotion for Saint Martin of Tours and Saint Denis of Paris. She went
frequently to venerate the relics of the former, and built in honor of Saint
Denis and his companions in martyrdom, a church on the spot where they had shed
their blood for Jesus Christ.
She also projected the
Basilica sacred to Saints Peter and Paul, commenced by King Clovis and
completed by Queen Clotilda, whose holy life has been described in this series.
At length after having spend eighty-nine years in the practice of every good
work, she died on the third of January, A.D. 512, five weeks after Clovis the
first of the French Christian kings.
– from Patron Saints for Girls, by Erwin Steinback,
1905
SOURCE : https://catholicsaints.info/patron-saints-for-girls-saint-genevieve/
Virgin
Saints and Martyrs – Geneviève of Paris
Saint Geneviève was born
and lived in a time of frightful disaster, unparalleled in the history of
Europe. From the commencement of the fifth century a veritable deluge of
diverse nations, driven on one by another, inundated the crumbling empire, and
gave the signal for its complete ruin.
The Franks, under the
long-haired Clodion, traversing the forest of the Ardennes, and rolling to the
banks of the Somme, had seized on Amiens, Cambrai, Tournai, after having burnt
Trèves, and sacked Cologne. The citizens, of Trèves, which had been the
residence of emperors since Maximian, had been slaughtered in the circus to
which they had fled. The amphitheatre, which under Constantine has streamed
with the blood of the Barbarians, was now heaped with the bodies of Romans.
Cologne had been revelling in drunken orgy, when a slave ran to announce that
the Franks were on the walls. The citizens had not the manhood to rise from
table so as to die standing. Their blood mingled with the wine of their
overturned cups. God chastised Roman vices with disgrace as with iron. In this
fifth century three societies stood face to face – the Old Roman polity, the
Barbarian, and the Church. Rome went to pieces under the blows of the
Barbarians, but the Barbarian in turn was subjugated by Christianity.
Saint Geneviève was born
at Nanterre, about seven miles from Paris, in 422 or 423. The old name of the
place, Nemetdoor, is purely Celtic, as is her name, which is the same as
Gwenever or Gwenhwyvar in Welsh. Her father was named Severus, and her mother
Gerontia, the female form of Geraint. There can be no doubt whatever that she
was of Gallic origin, but Latinised, and a Christian.
One word, before
proceeding, about the authority for her life. This is a biography, written
eighteen years after her death, by the priest Genes, her spiritual director. He
learned from the saint the general outline of the incidents in her childhood,
and these he dressed up in what he believed to be literary style.
Late in the Middle Ages
it was said that Saint Geneviève had kept sheep for her father, and she is now
generally represented as a shepherdess; but there is no early authority for
this, although the fact is very probable. In the year 429 Saint Germain, Bishop
of Auxerre, and Saint Lupus, Bishop of Troyes, at the entreaty of the British
Church, commissioned for the work by a Council of Gallican bishops, left their
dioceses to visit our island, there to withstand the Pelagian heresy, which was
making way.
Saint Germain was well
qualified to go to Britain, as he was of Celtic origin, and his sister was the
wife of Aldor, brother of Constantine I, King of Devon and Cornwall.
On his way to the coast
he passed through Nanterre. The people, hearing of his approach, lined the
road, and with them were the children in goodly numbers.
As Germain and Lupus
advanced, the eye of the former rested on a fair little girl of seven, whose
devout look, and sweet, innocent face, arrested him. He stood still, and called
her to him, then stooped and kissed her on the brow, and asked her name. He was
told that she was called Geneviève. The pleased parents now stepped up, and the
venerable bishop asked, “Is this your child?”
They answered in the
affirmative.
“Then,” said Germain,
“happy are ye in having a child so blessed. She will be great before God; and,
moved by her example, many will decline from evil and incline to that which is
good, and will obtain remission of their sins, and the reward of life from
Christ.” And then, after a pause, he said to the young girl, “My daughter,
Geneviève.” She answered, “Thy little maiden listens.”
Then he said, “Do not
fear to tell me whether it be not your desire to devote yourself body and soul
to Christ.”
She answered, “Blessed be
thou, father, for thou hast spoken my desire. I pray God earnestly that He will
grant it me.”
“Have confidence, my
daughter,” said Germain; “be of good courage, and what you believe in your
heart and confess with your lips, that take care to perform. God will add to
your comeliness both virtue and strength.”
Then they went into the
church and sang nones and vespers, and throughout the office Bishop Germain
rested his right hand on the fair little head of the child.
That evening, after
supper had been eaten and they had sung a hymn, Germain bade Severus retire
with his daughter, but bring her to him again early next morning. So when day
broke, Severus returned with the child, and the old bishop smiled, and said,
“Welcome, little daughter Geneviève. Do you recollect what was said yesterday?”
She answered, “My father,
I remember what I promised, and with God’s help what I promised that I will
perform.”
Then Saint Germain picked
up a brass coin from the ground, which had the sign of the cross on it, and
which he had noticed lying there whilst he was speaking; and he gave it to her,
saying, “Bore a hole in this, and wear it round thy neck in remembrance of me,
and let no other ornament, or gold or silver or pearls, adorn thy neck and thy
fingers.” Then he bade her farewell, commending her to the care of her father,
and pursued his journey.
Now, we may ask, How much
of this is true? Almost everything. Geneviève was certain never to forget how
the old bishop had stopped her, when a little mite of seven, how he had asked
her name, had made her promise to love and fear God; how in church his hand had
rested all through the service on her head, and how he had given her the coin
to wear. But as to the prophecy relative to her future, and to his exacting of
her a promise to be a nun, all that may be the make-up of Genes, writing after
she had been a blessing to the people of Paris, and had embraced the monastic
life.
At the age of fifteen she
and two other girls somewhat older than herself presented themselves before the
bishop to be veiled as dedicated virgins. It was remarked that, although
Geneviève was the youngest, yet the bishop consecrated her first.
After their dedication
they returned to their homes; for, at that time, it was not a matter of course
that consecrated virgins should live in community.
About this time her
mother suffered from inflamed eyes, and for twenty-one months, or nearly two
years, could not see to do her household work. Accordingly, Geneviève was of
immense assistance to her. She was wont repeatedly to bathe her mother’s eyes
with water from the well, and this in time reduced the inflammation, so that
eventually Gerontia recovered her sight.
At last Geneviève lost
both her parents, and now, having no home duties to restrain her, she went to
Paris into a religious community.
In 447 Saint Germain
again visited Britain about the same trouble which had occasioned his first
journey; and when, on his way, he came to Paris, he inquired for the little
girl whom he had blessed at Nanterre eighteen years before.
Genes tells us that some
spiteful people sought to disparage her; but Germain would not hearken to them,
and sent for and communed with her.
What caused them to make
light of her was probably this. She had adopted a life of great asceticism,
eating nothing but barley bread and beans, and that only twice in the week; and
remaining within her cell, conversing with none from Epiphany till Easter.
There were a number of
people in Paris who did not like these extravagances; and it was these, in all
probability, who spoke against her to Saint Germain. But, as we shall see
presently, by this means she did acquire an enormous power over the people of
Paris, which she used for good.
Saint Germain had
probably but just returned from Britain before a new and terrible scourge broke
upon Gaul.
In 451, the Huns, headed
by their king, Attila, burst in. In two columns this vast horde had ascended
the Danube. One of these drew several German peoples along with it, eager for
plunder, whilst the other fell on and crushed the isolated Roman stations. This
agglomeration of invaders met at the sources of the Danube, crossed the Rhine
at Basle, where the proximity to the Black Forest favoured the construction of
rafts for passing over.
The Franks, who occupied
the right bank of the Rhine, extended their hands to the Huns. The Burgundians,
however, offered a vain resistance, and were cut to pieces. The Huns, entering
Gaul, completed the destruction of what had been left standing by Vandals,
Suevi, and Alans. Attila, following the Rhine as he had the Danube, devastated
Alsace. Strasburg, Spires, Worms, ruined by preceding invasions, had not risen
from the dust. Mayence was sacked, Toul sank in flames, Metz had its walls and
towers overthrown after a few months’ resistance. The savage conquerors
massacred all, even to the children at the breast. They fired the town, and
long after its site could only be recognised by the Chapel of Saint Stephen,
which had escaped the conflagration.
Several cities opened
their gates to Attila: they hoped to find safety in submission; they did but
expedite their destruction. Despair gave courage to others, but no heroism
availed against these devouring hordes. Rheims and Arras were delivered over to
the sack. The host broke up into fractions, which ravaged the country, carrying
everywhere fire and sword.
Attila advanced to the
Loire.
Then it was that a panic
fell on the inhabitants of Paris. In madness of fear, they prepared to desert
it: the rich in their chariots and waggons, the poor on foot.
It was now that Saint
Geneviève stood forward and rebuked their cowardice. Whither could they fly?
The enemy penetrated everywhere. The Hun gained audacity by the universal
panic. Better man their walls, brace their hearts, and resist heroically.
The Parisian mob,
headlong and cruel, as such a mob has ever been, howled at her, and prepared to
pelt her with stones and cast her into the Seine, when, opportunely, appeared
the Archdeacon of Auxerre, sent expressly to Geneviève from the bishop, just
returned from Britain, and now dying, bearing Blessed Bread to her, that he had
sent in token of affectionate communion. This loaf, the eulogia, was that from
which the bread for the Communion had been taken, and which remained over. It
had been blessed, but not consecrated; and it was sent by bishops to those whom
they held in esteem.
Such a token of regard
paid to Geneviève by one so highly esteemed awed the rabble, and they swung
from one temper to another. They were now amenable to her advice. They closed
the gates, accumulated the munitions of war, and made preparations to stand a
siege; but Attila did not approach. He foresaw that it would take him too long
to reduce so strong a place. On the 14th of June, 451, the Huns encountered
their first repulse. They were driven from the siege of Orleans. On the field
of Châlons-sur-Marne, the memorable battle was fought between Aetius, the Roman
general, and Attila. “It was a battle,” says the historian Jornandes, “which
for atrocity, multitude, horror, and stubbornness has not had its like.” The
field was heaped with the dead, but it resulted in the expulsion of the Huns
from Gaul.
Feeling a great reverence
for Saint Denis, Geneviève desired greatly to build a church on the scene of
his martyrdom; and she urged some priests to undertake the work. But they hesitated,
saying that they had no means of burning lime – it was a lost art. Then, so
runs the tale, one of them suddenly recollected having heard two swineherds in
conversation on the bridge over the Seine. One had said to the other: “Whilst I
was following one of my pigs the other day, I lit in the forest on an ancient
abandoned lime-kiln.”
“That is no marvel,”
answered the other, “for I found a sapling in the forest uprooted by the wind,
and under its roots was an old kiln.”
The priests inquired
where these kilns were and used them, and Geneviève set the priest Genes, who
was afterwards her biographer, to superintend the work of building the church.
It shows to what a
condition of degradation the art of building had fallen, when the Parisians
were unable to burn lime without old Roman kilns for the purpose.
A little incident, very
simple and natural, was afterwards worked up into a marvel. She was going one
night from her lodging to the church for prayers, carrying a lantern, when the
wind, which was violent, extinguished it. She opened the lantern, when a puff
of wind on the thick red glowing wick rekindled the flame. This was thought
quite miraculous. It is a thing that has happened over and over again with
tallow candles when the snuff is long.
In the year 486,
Childeric, King of the Franks, laid siege to Paris, which had remained under
Roman governors. The siege lasted ten years, to 496. It cannot have been
prosecuted with much persistence.
The Frank army reduced
the city to great straits, and famine set in. The poor suffered the extremity
of want, and were dying like flies. No one seemed to know what to do. All
energy and resourcefulness had deserted those in authority. Geneviève alone
showed what steps should be taken: she got into a ship, and was rowed up the
Seine, and then up the Aube to Arçis, where she knew that she could obtain
corn. In the Seine was a fallen tree with a snag that had been the cause of the
loss of several vessels, but no one had thought of removing the obstruction.
Geneviève made her boatmen saw up the tree and break it, so that it floated
down stream and could effect no further mischief. Another instance of the
condition of helplessness into which the debased provincials of Gaul had
fallen: they neither could build lime-kilns nor keep their rivers open for
traffic. She got together what provisions she could at Arçis, then went on upon
the same quest to Troyes, and finally laded eleven barges with corn, and
returned with them to the famished city. As they neared Paris a strong gale was
blowing, and the barges being laden very heavily ran some risk, especially as
here also there were snags in the water. But with patience and trouble they
were manœuvred through these impediments, and the convoy arrived in Paris, with
the priests singing, and all who were in the boats joining, “The Lord is our
help and our salvation. The Lord hath delivered us in the time of trouble.”
The joy and gratitude of
the Parisians knew no bounds. Afterwards, when the city did fall, Childeric
resolved on executing a great host of captives; but Geneviève, in a paroxysm of
compassion, rushed to him, fell on her knees, and would not desist from
intercession on their behalf till he had consented to spare them.
At length, worn out by
age, she died in 512, and was buried in Paris, where now stands the Panthéon.
The church was desecrated at the Revolution, and turned into a burial-place for
Mirabeau, the regicide Lepelletier de Saint-Fargeau, the brutal Marat,
Dampierre, Fabre, Bayle, and other revolutionaries. The bodies of Voltaire and
Rousseau were also transferred to it.
In 1806 it was again
restored as a church, but was once more turned into a temple after the July
revolution of 1830. Once again consecrated in 1851, it was finally secularised
in 1885 for the obsequies of Victor Hugo.
– text and illustration
taken from Virgin Saints and Martyrs,
by Sabine Baring-Gould, F Anger, illustrator, published in New York, 1901
SOURCE : https://catholicsaints.info/virgin-saints-and-martyrs-genevieve-of-paris/
Vitrail
de sainte Geneviève priant pour arrêter la
pluie lors des moissons, réalisé au XIXe siècle par Alfred Gérente pour orner le corridor de la
nouvelle sacristie de Notre-Dame de Paris.
Stained
glass window of Saint Genevieve praying to stop the rain during
the harvest, made in the 19th century by Alfred Gérente to adorn the corridor of the
new sacristy of Notre-Dame de Paris.
Santa Genoveffa
(Genevieve) Vergine
m. 500 circa
La vita della vergine
parigina Genèvieve (in italiano Genoveffa) è narrata nella «Vita Genovefae», scritta
circa venti anni dopo la sua morte. Nasce a Nanterre, nei dintorni di Parigi,
intorno al 422. A 15 anni Genoveffa si consacra a Dio, entrando a far parte di
un gruppo di vergini votate a Dio che, pur vestendo un abito che le distingue
dalle altre donne, non vivono in convento, ma nelle loro case, dedicandosi ad
opere di carità e penitenze. Nel 451 Parigi è sotto la minaccia degli Unni di
Attila ed i parigini si apprestano alla fuga. Genoveffa li convince a restare
in città, confidando nella protezione del cielo. Non tutti però sono d'accordo
con Genoveffa, al punto che la vergine rischia di essere linciata. Passata la
minaccia degli Unni, Genoveffa si trova ad affrontare la piaga della carestia.
Salita su un battello, lungo la Senna si procura le granaglie presso i
contadini, distribuendole poi generosamente. Entrata in amicizia con i re
Childerico e Clodoveo, sfrutterà la sua posizione per ottenere la grazia per
numerosi prigionieri politici. Muore intorno al 502. Sulla sua tomba viene
eretto un modesto oratorio di legno, che è stato il primo nucleo di una celebre
abbazia, trasformata in basilica da re Luigi XV. È patrona di
Parigi. (Avv.)
Patronato: Parigi
Etimologia: Genoveffa =
dalle bianche guance, dal celtico
Emblema: Candela, Giglio
Martirologio Romano: A
Parigi, in Francia, deposizione di santa Genoveffa, vergine di Nanterre, che a
quindici anni, su invito di san Germano vescovo di Auxerre, prese il velo delle
vergini, confortò gli abitanti della città atterriti dalle incursioni degli
Unni e soccorse i suoi concittadini in tempo di carestia.
Nasce nella Gallia ancora romana, ma che sta per diventare Francia, ossia regno dei Franchi. Il suo nome, Genoveffa («dalle bianche guance», dal celtico) ha origini dalla Germania, da cui arrivano i franchi, e probabilmente anche la sua famiglia, che è autorevole e ricca. E gli effetti del prestigio familiare Genoveffa li «tocca con mano» fin da bambina: la presentano a uno dei personaggi più illustri del tempo, il Vescovo Germano di Auxerre, che è di passaggio nella sua città nativa. E il Prelato si rivela profetico per la piccola Genoveffa: le predice non il matrimonio, ma la consacrazione al Signore. E così accade: nel 434-435, quando ha 15 anni: muoiono i suoi genitori, e lei va a vivere a Parigi dalla sua madrina, osservando privatamente i voti.
«Monaca casalinga», quindi. Ma solo per un po’ di tempo.
Nel 451 gli unni di Attila giungono minacciosi nella Gallia del nord, riempiendo di terrore Parigi. Fuggire con il patrimonio, si pensa nell’alto ceto. Ma nel clima di fuggifuggi generale, emerge la reazione di Genoveffa: si deve rimanere a Parigi, e resistere. Genoveffa «mette in campo» la sua influenza spirituale sulle donne dei grandi casati, e anche l’autorevolezza della sua famiglia, i legami con i potenti. E raggiunge il suo obiettivo: le obbediscono, anche se non tutti (alcuni diffidano da lei e la vorrebbero morta). Risolve poi la situazione la vittoria del generale romano Ezio, che sconfigge Attila presso Chàlon-sur-Marne. Ed ecco che Genoveffa diventa un’«eroina nazionale», la donna più celebre e stimata di Francia; e di lei si parla anche in Medio Oriente.
Mantiene sempre ottimi e frequenti rapporti col re Childerico, e così farà poi anche con suo figlio Clodoveo, che unificherà quasi tutta la Gallia sotto il dominio franco.
Genoveffa è una donna consacrata, ma viaggia lungo il paese per occuparsi anche di necessità pubbliche, come i trasporti e i rifornimenti alimentari in tempo di carestia.
Quando muore, più che 80enne, già da tempo è venerata come santa. Re Clodoveo e
sua moglie Clotilde edificheranno una basilica per custodire i suoi resti, che
però poi verranno quasi completamente bruciati durante la Rivoluzione francese.
Autore: Domenico Agasso
Jr.
Élisabeth Louise Vigée Le Brun (1755–1842), Sainte Genevieve, 1821, 152 x 105, Musée-promenade de Marly-le-Roi. Sainte Geneviève, dit aussi Sainte Geneviève gardant ses moutons, Sainte Geneviève en bergère, ou Sainte Geneviève gardant ses moutons dans la plaine de Nanterre, tableau créé par Élisabeth Vigée Le Brun et offert par elle à l'église Saint-Martin de Louveciennes le dimanche des Rameaux (31 mars 1822). La sainte a les traits de Julie, fille de l'artiste, morte deux ans plus tôt.
La vita della vergine parigina Genèvieve è narrata nella Vita Genovefae, scritta circa venti anni dopo la sua morte. Il documento, seppur non scritto da uno storico e contenente aspetti leggendari, è considerato attendibile. Genèvieve o Genoveffa è naata a Nanterre, nei dintorni di Parigi, intorno al 422. A sei anni fu consacrata a Dio da san Germano di Auxerre, in transito per recarsi in Inghilterra, dove dilagava l'eresia pelagiana. A 15 anni Genoveffa si consacrò definitivamente a Dio, entrando a far parte di un gruppo di vergini votate a Dio che, pur vestendo un abito che le distingueva dalle altre donne, non vivevano in convento, ma nelle loro case, dedicandosi ad opere di carità e penitenze. Genoveffa faceva molto sul serio: prendeva cibo solo il giovedì e la domenica e dalla sera dell'Epifania al giovedì santo non usciva mai dalla sua cameretta. Nel 451 Parigi era sotto la minaccia degli Unni di Attila ed i parigini si apprestavano alla fuga. Genoveffa li convinse a restare in città, confidando nella protezione del cielo. Non tutti erano però daccordo con Genoveffa, al punto che la vergine rischiò di essere linciata, ma la minaccia degli Unni passò, lasciando però un altro problema serio, quello della carestia. Genoveffa, salì allora su un battello, risalì la Senna e procurò le granaglie presso i contadini, distribuendole poi generosamente. Entrata in amicizia con i re Childerico e Clodoveo, sfruttò la sua posizione per ottenere la grazia per numerosi prigionieri politici. Morì intorno al 502. Sulla sua tomba venne eretto un modesto oratorio di legno, che fu il primo nucleo di una celebre abbazia, trasformata in basilica da re Luigi XV. Genoveffa era particolarmente invocata in occasione di gravi calamità, come la peste, per implorare la pioggia e contro le inondazioni della Senna. Durante la rivoluzione francese i giacobini trasformarono la basilica di S. Genoveffa nel mausoleo dei francesi illustri, con il classico nome di Pantheon, distruggendone parzialmente le reliquie. Il culto a santa Genoveffa continuò nella vicina chiesa di Saint-Etienne-du-Mont e rimase molto popolari in tutta la Francia e in particolarmente a Parigi, città di cui la santa è patrona.
Autore: Maurizio Misinato
Jean Auguste Dominique Ingres (1780–1867). Sainte
Geneviève, patronne de Paris, 1844
Un giorno dell’anno 429
gli abitanti di Nanterre, borgo presso Parigi, vedono sbarcare in riva alla
Senna i vescovi san Germano di Auxerre (378 ca.-448) e san Lupo di Troyes (383
ca.-478 ca.). Su richiesta di papa Celestino I, si stanno recando in Gran
Bretagna per opporsi alle dottrine di Pelagio, tese a ridurre l’importanza
dell’intervento divino nella pratica delle virtù.
Visitatori così eminenti
attirano l’attenzione e una folla si dirige loro incontro per riceverne la
benedizione. San Germano nota una bambina di circa 7 anni: è Geneviève (420
ca.-500 ca.) di famiglia cristiana ricca e potente. La fa condurre a sé e la
bacia sul capo. Poi il vescovo si rivolge ai genitori, come attesta il primo
biografo anonimo della santa, affermando: «Siete molto fortunati d’essere i
suoi genitori. Sappiate che alla sua nascita vi è stata una grande gioia fra
gli angeli, e che quell’evento è stato celebrato con tripudio nel cielo. Ella
sarà grande agli occhi del Signore. Presi da ammirazione per la sua vita e la
sua condotta, molti si allontaneranno dal male e ritorneranno verso il Signore.
Questi otterranno la remissione dei loro peccati e le ricompense promesse da
Cristo». Poi alla bimba dice: «Vuoi tu essere consacrata a Cristo nella vita
religiosa, e vuoi tu, come sposa di Cristo, custodire il tuo corpo immacolato e
intatto?», la risposta di Geneviève non si fa attendere: «Padre, tu previeni i
miei desideri: è questo che io bramo. Prega perché il Signore si degni di
compiere i miei voti» (In: Vita Genovefae). Ella riceverà la consacrazione di
religiosa all’età di 20 anni. Nel 445 o 446 il vescovo Germano di Auxerre, di
ritorno dalla Gran Bretagna, si recò nella dimora della giovane, salutandola
con una riverenza che impressiona tutti gli astanti. Racconta quindi come si
era svolto il suo primo incontro con la fanciulla a Nanterre e come egli avesse
presentito fin da allora quale sarebbe stata la santità della sua vita. Da qui
ebbero inizio la stima e l’ammirazione dei parigini per Geneviève.
Nel 451 si diffuse la
notizia che il re degli Unni, Attila, aveva saccheggiato Treviri, Metz, Reims,
e avanzava verso sud. La popolazione ne fu atterrita e molti si apprestarono a
fuggire, ma non la santa di Nanterre che esortò i parigini a non allontanarsi.
Riunì perciò alcune donne per pregare nel battistero: «Che gli uomini fuggano,
se vogliono e se non sono più capaci di battersi. Noi donne pregheremo Iddio
così tanto che ascolterà le nostre suppliche» (ibidem). Alcuni volevano
ucciderla, o lapidandola o gettandola in un burrone. Intanto il vescovo Germano
era morto a Ravenna il 31 luglio 448, ma uno dei suoi arcidiaconi, di passaggio
per Parigi, poté intervenire rivolgendosi ai parigini: «Cittadini, non
acconsentite a un tale delitto! Abbiamo inteso il nostro vescovo Germano dire
che colei, della quale voi tramate la morte, è stata eletta da Dio nel grembo
della madre. E io sto portando le eulogìe [benedizioni ndr], che san
Germano ha lasciato per lei» (ibidem). Parigi fu difesa dai suoi abitanti,
incoraggiati dalle esortazioni e dalle preghiere di Geneviève, e Attila, scoraggiato
dall’inattesa resistenza, passò oltre e si diresse verso Orléans, dove fu
sconfitto nella battaglia dei Campi Catalaunici, presso Châlons-sur-Marne, dal
generale romano Ezio.
Cinque anni dopo,
Meroveo, terzo re dei Franchi, mise sotto assedio Parigi, difesa ancora da una
forte guarnigione di Romani, sotto il comando di Egidio e successivamente sotto
quello del figlio Siagrio. Dopo la morte di Meroveo nel 457, l’assedio proseguì
con il figlio Childerico I, che dopo cinque anni la conquistò. Questa volta Geneviève
non si oppose, presagendo che quella dinastia avrebbe contribuito a diffondere
la fede cristiana fra i barbari. L’assedio e le conseguenti distruzioni nei
dintorni avevano portato una grande carestia e gli abitanti, che non avevano
più pane, morivano di fame. Fu proprio lei a risolvere la catastrofe: si fece
guida sulla Senna di undici battelli fino a Troyes e, passando di città in
città, compiendo molteplici miracoli, ottenne in dono dai mercanti un gran
carico di grano, che riportò a Parigi. La sua autorità, anche a corte, crebbe
sempre più, ma di essa mai si approfittò. Anzi, si assoggettò ad una rigorosa
regola di vita consacrata. Si nutriva di pane d’orzo e di fave, di cui faceva
cuocere in una pentola la propria provvista per due o tre settimane. Durante la
sua esistenza non fece mai uso né di vino, né di altre bevande inebrianti. A 50
però, su consiglio dei vescovi, aggiunse al suo nutrimento del pesce e del
latte. Oltre che asceta era anche una mistica e una taumaturga. Il
celebre san Simeone stilita il Vecchio, che ebbe una particolare rivelazione
divina su di lei, dal suo ritiro sulla cima di una colonna presso Antiochia
(zona nord della Siria), incaricò alcuni mercanti di salutarla a suo nome e di
raccomandarlo alle sue preghiere.
Geneviève se ne andò al
Signore, che grandemente aveva servito, ad oltre 80 anni. Fu sepolta il 3
gennaio di un anno imprecisato, intorno al 500, nella basilica dei Santi
Apostoli che re Clodoveo con la consorte Clotilde avevano iniziato a costruire
per accogliere le sepolture della famiglia reale, basilica che poi prese il
nome di Sainte-Geneviève. La fama di santità dilagò anche dopo la sua morte.
San Gregorio di Tours
(539-594) segnala che sulla sua tomba si verificavano prodigi su prodigi.
Nell’822 ci fu un’inondazione spaventosa a Parigi. Mentre si cercava un luogo
asciutto per celebrare la Santa Messa, si scoprì che le acque non avevano
toccato il letto di morte della prescelta di Dio. Una volta constatato il
miracolo, l’inondazione si ritirò. Nell’857, con le invocazioni dirette alla
santa, i Normanni lasciarono Parigi che avevano assediato. Associato
all’invasione degli Unni questo prodigio contribuì a creare l’immagine di
Geneviève quale patrona di Parigi. Durante la Rivoluzione francese i giacobini
trasformarono la basilica di Sainte-Geneviève nel Pantheon, mausoleo dei
francesi illustri, distruggendone parzialmente le reliquie. Ma il culto della
santa di Nanterre proseguì nella vicina chiesa di Saint-Etienne-du-Mont, oggi
qui invocata contro i moderni barbari, che un giorno, come i loro antenati,
saranno vinti dai fidenti in Dio.
Autore: Cristina
Siccardi
Charles Sprague Pearce (1851–1914). Sainte Geneviève, 1887
Patrona della Francia e di Parigi, Santa Genoveffa (in francese Geneviève), nasce nel 420 circa a Nanterre (Francia). È ancora bambina quando incontra il vescovo Germano di Auxerre (futuro santo) che, colpito dalla luce emanata dal suo volto, vuole conoscerla. Il vescovo predice alla piccola che da grande sarà consacrata al Signore. Così avviene nel 435. Genoveffa non veste l’abito monacale ma, anche se non vive in convento, prega con tanto fervore da impensierire la madre che, per dissuaderla, la schiaffeggia. Per ricordarle che i figli appartengono a Dio, la madre viene punita con la cecità da cui guarisce lavandosi con l’acqua che la figlia benedice. Morti i genitori, Genoveffa va a vivere a Parigi dalla sua madrina. Come prova di fede dedica tutta se stessa all’astinenza: mangia pochissimo e pratica il silenzio isolandosi per giorni da tutti. Per il suo tenore di vita qualcuno comincia a dubitare del suo senno. San Germano, invece, recatosi a visitarla, l’addita come esempio da imitare. Nel 451 gli Unni di Attila invadono la Gallia. I parigini terrorizzati pensano alla fuga. Genoveffa esorta il popolo a restare a Parigi; esercita il suo potere spirituale soprattutto sulle donne, invitandole a pregare digiunando. C’è tra gli uomini chi diffida e minaccia di lapidarla. La santa si affida a Dio e continua a pregare. Intanto attua una straordinaria impresa guidando, attraverso il fiume Senna, una flotta di imbarcazioni, rifornendo di viveri il popolo assediato. Attila viene sconfitto dal generale romano Ezio. Parigi è salva e il popolo attribuisce la vittoria alle preghiere di Genoveffa. La santa diventa famosa e così stimata da essere accolta da re e potenti, ai quali chiede aiuti per assistere i poveri e curare i malati. Si prodiga anche nei miracoli: con un segno della croce guarisce gli indemoniati. A Laon avvicina una povera ragazza paralitica: pregando la scalda con le sue mani e la giovane guarisce. Alla sua morte (3 gennaio 502) il re dei Franchi Clodoveo costruisce una basilica per custodire le sue spoglie. Tuttavia durante la Rivoluzione francese i rivoltosi bruciano i suoi resti che vengono dispersi nella Senna. Santa Genoveffa protegge contro i reumatismi, la guerra, la siccità o troppa pioggia, le calamità naturali, le inondazioni e le alluvioni, le infezioni e le malattie degli occhi. È anche patrona dei pastori.
Autore: Mariella Lentini
SOURCE : http://www.santiebeati.it/Detailed/36150.html
SOURCE : http://www.santiebeati.it/dettaglio/36150
Alphonse Osbert (1857–1939), Vision
de sainte Geneviève, 1892, 235 x 138, Musée d'Orsay
Den hellige Genovefa av
Paris (~422-~500)
Minnedag:
3. januar
Den hellige Genovefa
(Genofeva; fr: Geneviève) ble født rundt 422 i landsbyen Nanterre nordvest for
Paris i Gallia, nå en forstad til Paris. Sannsynligvis kom hun fra en adelig
gallo-romersk familie. Foreldrene het Severus og Gerontia og hun var deres
eneste barn, men legenden om at de var fattige bønder og at datteren som barn
var hyrdinne ved siden av å hjelpe sin blinde mor med å spinne og veve, er av
langt nyere dato. Det er mer trolig at familien var velstående og respektable
byborgere.
Det er sagt at da den
hellige Germanus
av Auxerre var på vei til Britannia i 429 sammen med den hellige Lupus av Troyes for
å bekjempe spredningen av pelagianismen, møtte han i Nanterre en liten jente
som betrodde ham at hun ville leve bare for Gud. Det var Genovefa. Germanus
oppmuntret hennes gode vilje, og hennes eldste biografi sier at han så hennes
fremtidige hellighet og viet henne til Gud ved å legge sine hender på hodet
hennes under en vigilie.
Da Genovefa var femten år
gammel, mottok hun sammen med to andre jenter fra biskopen av Paris sløret som
viet jomfru for et liv i kyskhet, forsakelse og fattigdom. Da foreldrene døde,
dro hun for å bo hos sin gudmor i Paris – byen het da fortsatt Lutetia. Hun
viet sine dager til bønn, askese og nestekjærlig arbeid både i Paris og i andre
byer som Meaux, Tours og Orléans, hvor hennes ry som undergjører spredte seg.
Hun spiste bare to ganger i uken, og da bare litt byggbrød og noen bønner. Slik
levde hun helt til hun var femti år gammel, da hennes biskop ga henne ordre om
å endre diett.
Men hun møtte også
motstand og ondsinnet kritikk av årsaker som ikke er klargjort. Det er mulig at
hun fikk fiender i sin egen klasse fordi hun fastet for å identifisere seg med
de fattige, eller at de motsatte seg at hun som en nestekjærlig handling ga mat
til de fattige – kjøpmenn liker ikke rivaler som gir bort gratis det de kunne
selge. Kanskje var hennes oppførsel overentusiastisk og frastøtende, eller hun
kunne ha vært forargelig som kvinne og sjefete – hun ble stemplet som fantast,
hykler og løgner. En gang ble det til og med gjort et forsøk på å drepe henne.
Men et nytt tegn på støtte fra Germanus, som sendte henne velsignet brød som
tegn på sin aktelse og solidaritet han følte med hennes arbeid, fikk en slutt
på forfølgelsene hun led under.
Genovefas popularitet
økte ikke av hennes mange profetier om farene som truet Paris, som nådde sitt
høydepunkt under Attilas og hunernes herjinger i 451 da de ville forsøke å ta
Gallia fra visigoterne. Men Germanus' erkediakon Sedulius lyktes i å overbevise
den panikkslagne befolkningen om at Genovefa ikke var en profetinne for
undergang, og i stedet for å steine henne som de hadde tenkt, lyttet de til
hennes råd om ikke å forlate sine hjem, men bli der og avverge trusselen ved
bønn og faste. Da Attila forandret sin rute og dro til Orléans, var Paris spart
slik Genovefa hadde spådd, og byens redning ble tilskrevet hennes bønner.
På denne tiden drev
frankerne under kong Kilderik I (fr: Childéric) (458-82) et suksessrikt hærtog
i Gallia og tok Paris etter en lengre beleiring som førte til at befolkningen
sultet. Det fortelles at Genovefa personlig ledet en væpnet ekspedisjon som
seilte opp Seinen og Aube til Troyes og Arcis-sur-Aube for å hente mat til de
sultende innbyggerne. De vendte tilbake i triumf søkklastet med korn. Hvis
denne historien er riktig, synes den å støtte antakelsen om at hun kom fra
handelsklassen og kjente til Seinen som handelsrute.
Fra denne tiden spredte
hennes berømmelse og ry for hellighet seg, ikke bare blant alminnelige
mennesker, men også de herskende klasser. Hun inspirerte i 460 borgerne av
Paris til å bygge en kirke over graven til den hellige Dionysius (Saint-Denis).
Denne kirken ble ombygd med et kloster i 629 av kong Dagobert I (629-39). Selv
om kong Kilderik var hedning, var han full av beundring over Genovefas mot og
lyttet velvillig til hennes bønnfallelser på vegne av krigsfanger. Hennes ry
var så stort at det til og med nådde Syria og den hellige Simeon Stylitten (ca
390-459), som ba om å bli husket i hennes bønner.
Det ble sagt at Kilderiks
sønn Klodvig, frankernes konge 481-511 og grunnlegger av merovingernes dynasti,
holdt Genovefa høyt og på hennes bønner løslot fanger og var mild overfor
ugjerningsmenn. Han ble døpt i 496, og Genovefa oppmuntret ham til å begynne
byggingen av en kirke viet til de hellige Peter og Paulus i
Paris. Han hadde giftet seg med en katolsk burgundisk prinsesse ved navn Klothilde, som
selv æres som helgen og som var delvis ansvarlig for hans omvendelse. Den
skjedde etter et slag med alemannene, hvor han påkalte den Jesus som hans
hustru mente støttet ham. Han vant slaget og ble døpt. Før han døde i 511,
kalte han sammen Synoden i Orléans, den første nasjonale synoden i det som da
hadde blitt Regnum Francorum.
Da Genovefa døde rundt år
500 (etter en tradisjon den 3. januar 502), var hun nesten åtti år og mett av
dage. Pariserne holdt henne så hellig at hennes relikvier ble skrinlagt i
kirken Ss Peter og Paulus av kong Klodvig, så hun til evig tid kunne hjelpe sin
by når farene truet. For pariserne så sin beskytterinnes hånd bak mange
mirakler lenge etter hennes død, og kirken ble kjent som Sainte-Geneviève og
ble berømt over hele Frankrike som et valfartsmål.
Spesielt Peters kult ble
på denne måten ofte overskygget i den sene merovingiske perioden av kulten for
helgener som ble gravlagt lokalt. De sikret lokal besittelse av «førsteklasses»
relikvier – det vil si faktiske levninger, mens alt som kunne skaffes fra apostelgravene
i Roma, var «andreklasses» relikvier – vanligvis tøystykker som var firt ned
for å komme i kontakte med apostelgravene.
I middelalderen ble
Genovefas helgenskrin båret i prosesjon under katastrofer. Mest berømt er en
epidemi i 1129 av ergotisme (meldrøyeforgiftning) eller «brennesyke», også kalt
«hellig ild» i middelalderen. Disse epidemiene feide over Frankrike og
Storbritannia på 1100- og 1200-tallet. Sykdommen var forårsaket av rugbrød som
var infisert av en mørk fiolett sopp, og den fikk sitt folkelige navn av den
brennende følelsen den ga. Den forårsaket også krampeanfall og koldbrann, som
førte til døden. Verken leger eller bønn og faste klarte åpenbart å stanse
epidemien, og den hadde krevd over 14.000 ofre da den plutselig stanset da skrinet
med Genovefas relikvier ble båret i en høytidelig prosesjon gjennom byens gater
til katedralen. Da pave Innocent II (1130-43) besøkte Paris året etter (1130),
innførte han en årlig fest den 26. november for å markere miraklet. Den feires
fortsatt hvert år i kirkene i Paris.
Igjen og igjen har
pariserne påkalt Genovefa i katastrofenes stund, og hennes skrin har vært båret
i prosesjon til katedralen ved store nasjonale kriser eller katastrofer. Hun er
hovedskytshelgen for Paris, og hennes betydning økte da Paris ble landets
hovedstad. Siden de hadde hennes relikvier, følte folket i Paris seg svært nær
henne, og de vendte seg til henne og omtolket hennes legende i lys av samtidige
problemer. Det ble dannet brorskaper til hennes ære, med det privilegiet å bære
hennes skrin i prosesjoner, og hun inspirerte utallige kunstverk. I 1741 kom
kong Ludvig XV (1715-74) til hennes kirke for å takke for en helbredelse som
var skjedd på hennes forbønn.
I Paris lot Klodvig etter
Klothildes råd bygge den mektige kirken Ss Peter og Paulus på Mons
Lucotetius (Mont de Lutèce, senere Montagne Sainte-Geneviève) på
sørbredden av Seinen, i det nåværende femte arrondissement, midt i hjertet av
Latinerkvarteret. Kirken hadde de planlagt sammen som mausoleum, men Klothilde
måtte fullføre den alene etter at kong Klodvig I døde allerede i 511. Klothilde
gravla ham i Apostelkirken (Peter og Paulus), som senere ble viet til Genovefa.
Klodvigs levninger ble senere overført til Saint-Denis, gravkirke for de
franske kongene. Kirken Sainte-Geneviève ble senere overtatt av benediktinerne,
men på 800-tallet ble de erstattet av sekularkanniker, og den ble klosterkirke
for l'Abbaye Sainte-Geneviève. Den ble plyndret av normannerne i 847 og
ble delvis gjenoppbygd, men den ble ikke fullført før i 1177. Da Bastillen falt
i 1789, gikk folket dit for å takke henne.
Hennes gamle kirke
forfalt stadig mer, og en ny neoklassisk kirke med en stor kuppel ble påbegynt
i 1746. Men den ble sekularisert i 1791 under revolusjonen, ble kalt Panthéon
og ble begravelsesplass for Frankrikes store menn og kvinner. På fasaden ble
det plassert en inskripsjon foreslått av Pastoret: Aux grands hommes, la
patrie reconnaissante. Bygningen ble tilbakeført til katolsk bruk igjen i 1821,
og inskripsjonen ble fjernet. Men etter julirevolusjonen i 1830 ble bygningen i
1831 igjen sekularisert som et nasjonalt mausoleum, og inskripsjonen kom opp
igjen. Napoleon III (president 1848-52; keiser 1852-70) gjenåpnet bygningen som
kirke i 1851, og inskripsjonen ble igjen fjernet. I 1885 ble bygningen
sekularisert igjen for godt da forfatteren Victor Hugo ble gravlagt der, og
inskripsjonen kom opp igjen, denne gang for å bli. Den gamle kirken
Sainte-Geneviève ble revet i 1802 for å gi plass for Rue Clovis.
Bilde
Genovefas helgenskrin og
relikvier ble for en stor del ødelagt under revolusjonen, og skrinet ble brent
på samme tid som relikviene ble brent offentlig på Place de Grève i
1793. De få relikviene som var blitt berget, ble spredt for alle vinder av
mobben under Pariserkommunen i 1871. Heldigvis var en stor relikvie blitt oppbevart
i Verneuil-en-Halatte i Oise på 1700-tallet, og denne eksisterer fortsatt. Men
tapet av relikviene fikk på ingen måte slutt på hennes kult i Frankrike. Etter
at den gamle kirken ble revet, flyttet senteret for hennes kult seg til kirken
Saint-Étienne-du-Mont like ved Panthéon. Der står fortsatt et glasskrin med
noen deler av Genovefas originale sarkofag. Der står også hennes rekonstruerte
skrin, som imidlertid er tomt. Flere kirker er viet til Genovefa i hennes egen
by Paris, men også andre steder.
Genovefas navn står i den
hellige Hieronymus'
martyrologium, produsert i Auxerre i 592, og i den hellige Gregor av Tours'
historie, så hennes kult er svært gammel, særlig i Frankrike, England og
Sør-Tyskland. Det meste av informasjonen om henne stammer fra en biografi som
hevder å være samtidig, men nok er skrevet noen århundrer etter hennes død.
Dens autentisitet og verdi er tema for mye diskusjon.
Hennes minnedag er 3.
januar, mens hennes translasjonsfest feires den 28. oktober i Paris. Hennes
navn står i Martyrologium Romanum. I tillegg til å være hovedskytshelgen for
Paris anropes hun mot tørke, voldsomt regn eller flom og andre katastrofer.
Hennes innsats for Paris' sikkerhet førte også til at hun ble utropt til
skytshelgen for de franske sikkerhetsstyrkene, en tittel som ble bekreftet av
den hellige pave Johannes XXIII (1958-63)
i et apostolisk brev av 18. mai 1962 etter anmodning fra erkebiskop Feltin,
erkebiskop av Paris og biskop for den franske hæren.
Genovefa elsket å be i
kirkene alene om natten. En gang blåste et vindkast ut hennes talglys, og
hennes konklusjon var at det var djevelen som prøvde å skremme henne. I kunsten
fremstilles hun derfor oftest med et lys, med eller uten en djevel som prøver å
blåse det ut, og eventuelt en engel som sørger for å holde det tent. Andre
attributter er brød, buskap og gjeterstav eller byen Paris' to nøkler.
Kilder:
Attwater/John, Attwater/Cumming, Farmer, Jones, Bentley, Hallam, Butler (I),
Benedictines, Delaney, Bunson, Engelhart, Schauber/Schindler, Melchers,
Dammer/Adam, KIR, CE, CSO, Patron Saints SQPN, Infocatho, Bautz,
Heiligenlexikon, santiebeati.it, en.wikipedia.org, fr.wikipedia.org -
Kompilasjon og oversettelse: p. Per Einar Odden - Opprettet: 2000-02-01
21:34 - Sist oppdatert: 2007-07-21 13:52
Linken er kopiert til
utklippstavlen!
SOURCE : https://www.katolsk.no/biografier/historisk/genovefa
Genovefa (ook Geneviève of Genoveva) van
Parijs, Frankrijk; herderin, mystica en leidsvrouwe; † ca 512.
Feest 3 januari.
Geschiedenis
Geneviève was afkomstig
uit Nanterre, thans een stad in de banlieu van Parijs, beroemd om haar
futuristische architectuur. Het was in haar tijd dat de Romeinse overheersing
ten einde liep en werd overgenomen door de Franken.
Zij werd geboren uit
eenvoudige ouders, die - volgens een oude wandschildering in de
Sint-Genovevakerk te Zepperen, België - Severus en Gerontia heetten. Zij leidde
het leven van een herderin. In die hoedanigheid werd zij opgemerkt door de
Heilige Germanus van Auxerre († 448; feest 31 juli) die tezamen met bisschop
Lupus van Troyes († 479; feest 29 juli) op doortocht was naar Engeland. Deze
voorspelde aan haar ouders dat uit haar een maagd zou groeien die door haar
toewijding aan God velen tot het geloof zou brengen. Diezelfde dag nog nam
Geneviève zich voor haar leven als maagd aan God toe te wijden. Na de dood van
haar ouders trok zij - jonge vrouw nog - in bij haar peettante te Parijs. Daar
wijdde zij zich aan een teruggetrokken leven van gebed in dienst van God. Om
haar godvruchtige levenswijze verwierf zij bij de Parijzenaars hoge achting.
Talloos waren degenen die
haar raad inwonnen; zij gaf daarbij blijk van een grote mensenkennis. Bovendien
zou zij het vermogen gehad hebben om bezetenen tot kalmte te brengen. Volgens
zeggen zou zij ook de toekomst gekend hebben.
Toen Atilla, de gevreesde
Hunnenkoning, in het jaar 451 optrok in de richting van Parijs, maakte zich een
ware paniek van de Parijzenaars meester en in grote wanorde sloegen er velen op
de vlucht. Maar zij trachtte hen te weerhouden. Op grond van het gezag dat ze
al bij de mensen bezat slaagde zij daar ook in. Een oude kroniekschrijver zegt:
"De vrouwen te overreden was nog makkelijk genoeg, maar de mannen van een
overhaaste vlucht te weerhouden en ze te bezweren te blijven: dat was iets
opzienbarends" (en zeker voor een vrouw in die tijd): "Want - zo zou
ze geroepen hebben - de plekjes buiten de stad waar je een goed heenkomen
zoekt, zullen allemaal onder de voet gelopen worden, terwijl de stad geen
greintje schade zal ondervinden." Op het laatste moment boog Atilla af in
de richting van Orléans; daar werd hem in een veldslag, de zogeheten slag op de
Catalaanse velden (= de velden van Châlons) een vernietigende nederlaag
toegebracht. Vanzelfsprekend waren de inwoners van Parijs hun heilige dankbaar
voor haar raad, die achteraf gezien zo goed had uitgepakt.
Nog voor een tweede maal
redde zij de stad. Dat was, toen de Franken probeerden de stad uit te hongeren.
Nu wist zij op geheimzinnige manier aan voedsel te komen. De uithongeringstactiek
faalde.
Zij zou ook de kerk
hebben gesticht die aan de H. Dionysius is toegewijd: Saint Denis in de
gelijknamige stad even buiten Parijs, waar tot op de huidige dag de Franse
koningsgraven nog te bewonderen zijn.
Tijdens haar leven stond
zij hoog in aanzien; zelfs koning Childerik († 481) en diens zoon Clovis(† 511)
kwamen haar hun hulde brengen.
Zij is patrones van de stad Parijs. Van oudsher heeft de stad een kerk gehad
die aan haar was toegewijd. In 1789 kwam de nieuwe kerk klaar, gebouwd in de
stijl van die dagen: ze had een waardige vervanging moeten worden van de
vroegere Église Sainte-Geneviève. De nieuwbouw is door de antichristelijke
geest van de Franse
Revolutie echter nooit een kerk geworden: wij kennen haar nu als het
Panthéon.
Behalve patrones van Parijs is zij ook beschermheilige van de vrouwen, van
herderinnen, van wijnbouwers en hoedenmakers.
Haar voorspraak wordt ingeroepen tegen oorlog en droogte; daarnaast tegen oogkwalen, koorts, eczeem, huiduitslag en de pest.
Zij wordt in verband gebracht met huiduitslag op grond van de volgende omstandigheid. In 1129 werd de bevolking van Parijs getroffen door een besmettelijke huidziekte, destijds 'heilig vuur' genoemd. Geen medicijn of wondermiddeltje hielp ertegen. Ten einde raad riepen de Parijzenaars de voorspraak in van hun geliefde patrones. Inderdaad werd ieder die aangetast was, door de ziekte en de relieken van de heilige aanraakte, genezen.
Daarnaast wordt haar voorspraak ingeroepen tegen droogte en oorlog.
Afgebeeld
Geneviève wordt afgebeeld als een hoogstaande vrouwe, in gezelschap van een
engel en een duivel (op grond van onderstaande legende), een reekoe of één of
meer schapen (verwijzend naar het feit dat zij als meisje herderin was); vaak
voorzien van een brandende kaars of een licht.
Dit laatste op grond van de volgende legende
"Eens ging Geneviève 's nachts in gezelschap van haar dienstmeisje naar de kerk om daar haar nachtelijke gebeden te doen. Maar de kaars die zij haar dienares in handen had gegeven, woei uit, door toedoen van de duivel. Zij nam hem van het dienstmeisje over en onmiddellijk begon de vlam - met behulp van een engel - vanzelf weer te branden."
Eenzelfde verhaal wordt verteld van Geneviève van Parijs, Herluca van Bernried
en Wivina van Bijgaarden.
Waarschijnlijk moet het vooral symbolisch verstaan worden. De heilige was een klein lichtje van christelijk geloof in een tijd, dat vele mensen nog rondtastten in het duister van een boze wereld of het heidendom. Natuurlijk waren er vele krachten die tegenwerkten, en die probeerden dat kwetsbare lichtje te doven. Maar het was Gods hulp, ingeroepen door het gebed of het geloof van de heilige, waardoor de lamp 'als vanzelf' brandende bleef. Jezus had immers zijn leerlingen op het hart gedrukt: "Houdt uw lampen brandend" (Lukas 12,35).
Zo sluiten deze heilige vrouwen zich aan bij de wijze maagden uit Jezus'
verhaal van de vijf wijze en de vijf dwaze maagden: de wijze maagden hadden
voldoende olie (aanduiding voor geloof, gebed, evangelische houding) om hun
lampen brandend te houden (vgl. Matteus 25,01-13).
In Belgisch Limburg
behoort zij tot de zogeheten Drie Gezusters. Dezen worden vooral vereerd
te Heusden en Zolder. Het betreft hier naast Genovefa, in Belgisch Limburg
vereerd te Zepperen, Vlaanderen: Bertilia van Marolles, in Belgisch Limburg
vereerd te Brustem; en Eutropia van Reims († 5e eeuw; feest 14 december met
haar broer Nicasius), in Belgisch Limburg vooral vereerd te Rijkel.
Op Pinksteren werd te
Heusden-Zolder de begankenis der 'dry ghezusters' gehouden: men trok langs St.
Eutropia in de St-Janskapel, langs Sint Bertilia in de kerk van Eversel en
langs Sint Genoveva in de Smeedseindekapel te Beringen.[237]
[000»bk:Duhamelet-Geneviève; 000»jrb; 000»Theodulfus; 101a; 102»Geneviève;
109p:15(vig); 111p:11.12; 122; 127»Geneviève; 132; 141; 143p:16.18.19(weerhoudt
Parijzenaars).19(boot op Seine); 145nr:89.90; 149/1:17.20.21(kerkParijs); 193p:97;
200/1»01.03; 233p:366; 237; 245p:152; 251p:91vv94; 288»01.03; 293p:9; 300p:230;
314; 319:voorpl.(processie).446; 345p:152.155-157; 400:73; 403/1p:5 Dries van
den Akker s.j./2010.03.30]
© A. van den Akker
s.j. / A.W. Gerritsen
SOURCE : https://heiligen-3s.nl/heiligen/01/03/01-03-0512-genovefa.php
Genoveva von Paris
auch: Genovefa
französischer Name: Geneviève
Gedenktag katholisch: 3. Januar
nicht gebotener Gedenktag in Frankreich
Erhebung der Gebeine: 10. Januar
in Paris: Übertragung der Gebeine: 28. Oktober, 29. Oktober, 10. November
Gedenktag orthodox: 3.
Januar
Name bedeutet: die
sich weiträumig Bewegende (germanisch) oder: Frau des Adels (gallisch)
oder: Tochter des Mannes, der im Recht ist (keltisch)
Nonne
* um 422 in Nanterre in Frankreich
† 3. Januar 502 (?) in Paris in
Frankreich
Genoveva war die Tochter
von gallisch-römischen Patriziern, ihr Vater hatte den römischen Namen Severus,
ihre Mutter den griechischen Gerontia. Die Legende lässt Engel über
der Wiege des neugeborenen Kindes singen. Im Alter von sieben Jahren erlebte
Genoveva in der heimatlichen Kirche in Nanterre zwei
Wanderbischöfe, die - unterwegs nach England - Station machten und predigten.
Einer der beiden war Germanus
von Auxerre; er gab ihr - mit dem Hinweis, es statt Gold und Perlen zu
tragen - ein kupfernes Medaillon mit dem Kreuzzeichen und weihte sie 429 für
ein heilig zu führendes Leben.
Ihre durch ungerechte
Vorwürfe erblindete Mutter heilte Genoveva mit Wasser, später wirkte sie Wunder
gegen viele Arten von Erkrankungen, offensichtlich besonders wirksam auch gegen
Formen der Besessenheit; Bischof Germanus musste
deshalb die gegen sie erhobenen Verleumdungen, sie sei Zauberin, zurückweisen.
Mit fünfzehn Jahren legte sie das Gelübde der Jungfräulichkeit ab. Vor 451 -
der Überlieferung zufolge schon im Alter von 16 Jahren - ging sie nach dem
frühen Tod ihrer Eltern zu einer Tante nach Paris,
wo sie großen Einfluss auf die Bürgerschaft hatte und im Dienst für Arme und
Kranke lebte. Als sie vor Erschöpfung zu sterben drohte, berichtete sie nach
ihrer Genesung, Engel hätten
sie bis vor Gottes Angesicht getragen.
Genovevas Gebet soll die
Stadt Paris vor
den Hunnen gerettet haben: als Attila 451 auf Paris marschierte, sammelte sie
der Legende nach Frauen zum Gebet und feuerte in einer leidenschaftlichen
Predigt die Männer an, Maßnahmen zur Verteidigung zu ergreifen. Die
geängstigten Männer wollten Genoveva steinigen, ja sogar in den Fluss werfen,
die Frauen jedoch ließen sich von der Jungfrau umstimmen und beteten mit ihr.
Das Wunder geschah: die Hunnen wichen zurück und umgingen die Stadt, um sich
nach Orléans zu
wenden - gerade dorthin, wohin die Bevölkerung hatte fliehen wollen. In der
Schlacht bei den Katalaunischen Feldern - wohl nahe Troyes -
wurden die Asiaten dann besiegt.
Bei einer späteren
Belagerung der Stadt Paris durch
die letzten römischen Truppen rettete Genoveva die Bevölkerung vor dem
Hungertod: es gelang ihr, mit Schiffen aus der Stadt zu entkommen; mit reich
beladenen Schiffen kehrte Genoveva aus Troyes zurück
und konnte allen das Notwendige austeilen. Dabei hat sie der Legende zufolge
zwei Drachen, die an einer Seine-Biegung den Schiffen den Untergang androhten,
durch ihr Gebet für immer vertrieben Zur Verbreitung des Christentums soll sie
beigetragen haben, indem sie Frankenherrscher Chlodwig I. bekehrte und mit ihm
das gesamte Volk zum Christentum brachte. Sie leitete den Bau der ersten Dionysius geweihten
Kirche bei Paris und übte großen Einflus auf den Klerus aus.
Ihre große Nächstenliebe
wirkte nach den Legenden viele Heilungen und hilfreiche Taten: Genoveva rettete
einen vierjährigen Knaben aus einem Brunnen; mit ihrem Pallium, das sie über
ihn warf, erwachte er zum Leben. Beim Bau der Basilika St-Dénis,
den Genoveva leitete, ging den Bauleuten das Getränk aus, sie ließ den Kelch
holen, der sich auf ihr Gebet hin füllte und gefüllt blieb, bis der Bau
vollendet war. Eine Kerze hatte ihr ein Teufel ausgeblasen, ein Engel aber
wieder angezündet; auch wenn Kerzen beim Kirchgang oder in ihrer Kammer
erloschen, entzündeten sie sich wieder, wenn Genoveva sie in die Hand nahm.
Partikel ihrer Kerzen bewirkten Heilungen. Als Merowingerkönig
Childerich I. die Stadttore schließen ließ, damit Genoveva die Gefangenen nicht
befreie, eilte sie herbei, die Tore öffneten sich von selbst und die Schlüssel
blieben in ihrer Hand.
Über Genovevas Grab wurde
durch Chlodwig die Apostelkirche - die seit dem 9. Jahrhundert ihr geweihte
Kirche Sainte-Geneviève - errichtet. Nach ihrem Tod ereigneten sich noch
zahlreiche Wunder an ihrer Grabstätte. Mitte des 6. Jahrhunderts
berichtete Gregor
von Tours, Mitte des 7. Jahrhunderts wurde sie in Luxeuil - dem
heutigen Luxeuil-les-Bains verehrt.
Mehrfach wurden im 9. Jahrhundert ihre Reliquien vor
den Normannen gerettet, 885/886 wurde die Rettung der Stadt Paris ihrer
Fürbitte zugeschrieben. Als im Jahr 1129 in Frankreich eine bisher unbekannte
Fieberkrankheit durch verunreinigtes Getreide auftrat, bei welcher menschliche
Heilkunst versagte, wandte man sich an die Schutzheilige um Fürsprache; alle,
die ihre Reliquien berührten,
wurden der Überlieferung zufolge geheilt; für dieses Wunder legte Papst
Innozenz II. den 26. November als Gedenktag fest. 1162 veranlasste König Ludwig
VII. eine Überprüfung ihrer Reliquien und der 10. Januar als Feiertag dieser
Erhebung der Gebeine eingeführt. Im Mittelalter war sie als die die merowingische Johanna
von Orléans die volkstümlichste Heilige Frankreichs und wurde zur
Schutzheiligen von Paris. König Ludwig XV. ließ ihr zu Ehren 1764 die Kirche
Sainte-Geneviève erneuern, die in der Französischen Revolution 1791 von der
Konstituierenden Versammlung benutzt und dann zum Panthéon umgebaut wurde, der
Totengedenkstätte für hochrangige französische Persönlichkeiten. Genovevas
Gebeine wurden 1793 verbrannt und in die Seine geworfen; in der Kirche
Saint-Étienne-du-Mont am Place Sainte-Geneviève in Paris hat man ihr ein neues
Grabmal errrichtet.
Unabhängig von den in
drei Hauptversionen erhaltenen Lebensbeschreibungen Genovevas - der ältesten
von 520, wohl durch Chlothilde beauftragt
- ist die von den deutschen Volksbüchern aufgenommene Kreuzzugslegende
der Genoveva, die dort mit ihrem Sohn Schmerzensreich vertrieben und im Wald
von einer Hirschkuh ernährt wurde.
Attribute: Kerze, Engel und Teufel, kelchartiges Gefäß und die Schlüssel von Paris
Patronin von Paris, der Frauen, Hirten, Winzer, Wachszieher und Hutmacher; gegen Augenleiden, Fieber, Blattern, Aussatz, Pest, Trockenheit und Krieg
Bauernregel: Bringt Genoveva uns Sturm und Wind, / so ist uns Waltraud oft
gelind.
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Autor: Joachim Schäfer
- zuletzt aktualisiert am 17.11.2015
Quellen:
• Vera Schauber, Hanns Michael Schindler: Heilige und Patrone im Jahreslauf. Pattloch, München 2001
• Hiltgard L. Keller: Reclams Lexikon der Heiligen und der biblischen Gestalten. Reclam, Ditzingen 1984
• Erna und Hans Melchers: Das große Buch der Heiligen. 5. Aufl., Südwest, München 1982
• François Pottier, Präsident der Bruderschaft der Träger vom Reliquienschrein der heiligen Genovefa aus Paris, E-Mail vom 27. 10. 2004
• Iris Vandenbroeck-Akhouti, E-Mail vom 26. Januar 2005
• Friedrich-Wilhelm Bautz. In: Friedrich-Wilhelm Bautz (Hg.): Biographisch-Bibliographisches Kirchenlexikon, Bd. II, Hamm 1990
• Lexikon für Theologie und Kirche, begr. von Michael Buchberger. Hrsg. von
Walter Kasper, 3., völlig neu bearb. Aufl., Bd. 4. Herder, Freiburg im Breisgau
1995
korrekt zitieren: Joachim Schäfer: Artikel Genoveva von Paris, aus dem Ökumenischen Heiligenlexikon - https://www.heiligenlexikon.de/BiographienG/Genoveva.htm, abgerufen am 14. 1. 2025
Die Deutsche Nationalbibliothek verzeichnet das Ökumenische
Heiligenlexikon in der Deutschen Nationalbibliografie; detaillierte
bibliografische Daten sind im Internet über https://d-nb.info/1175439177 und https://d-nb.info/969828497 abrufbar.
SOURCE : https://www.heiligenlexikon.de/BiographienG/Genoveva.htm
Tympan de l'église Sainte-Geneviève de La Plaine-Saint-Denis. Sainte Geneviève, priez pour nous ǃ
Voir ausssi : https://www.sainte-genevieve.net/
[Décryptage] Sainte
Geneviève de Paris, un chemin de lumière. Narthex, Publié le : 1er Avril
2020 : https://www.narthex.fr/reflexions/le-sens-des-images/decryptage-sainte-genevieve-de-paris-un-chemin-de-lumiere
Sainte
Geneviève : Patronne de Paris - Religion & Spiritualité [archive], KTO (54 min, Youtube) : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6hJ_Y49j9Io
Orthodoxie-TV : Sainte Geneviève de Paris [archive] (29 min, Youtube): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=szU3AJ_3wx0
Hannah Williams, « Saint Geneviève’s miracles: art and religion in eighteenth-century Paris », French History, Volume 30, Issue 3, September 2016, Pages 322–353, https://doi.org/10.1093/fh/crv076 Published:10 February 2016 - https://academic.oup.com/fh/article/30/3/322/1749181
