St. Genevieve was born in Nanterre, France around 420 to
Gallo-Roman parents. Upon their death, she moved to Paris and took a vow of consecrated
virginity. She spent her time doing good works for the city’s poor. She became
well-known for her charity and piety, and the bishop of Paris appointed her to
look after the welfare of the dedicated virgins of the city.
In 451, Attila was leading the Huns to attack the city.
Genevieve convinced the panic-stricken people of Paris not to run away and give
their home up to invaders but to remain and pray. The city was spared as the
Huns changed their route to Orleans. The people declared Genevieve Defensor
Civitas — the protector of the city.
In 476 Germanic king Childeric I sieged the city. As famine
set it, Genevieve passed through the siege lines in a boat and brought grain
into the city. She also negotiated with Childeric for more favorable conditions
for prisoners of war.
She is said to have played a large role in the conversion of
King Clovis (and thus the Christianization of France) and was a close advisor
of his wife Queen Clotilde. Clovis founded an abbey where Genevieve could
minister. She was buried there.
In 1129, when the city suffered from an ergot poisoning
epidemic, her relics were processed through the city and became an annual
tradition. In 1793, her relics were intentionally destroyed as part of the
French Revolution.
St.
Genevieve died in 502. She is the patron of the city of Paris. She is commonly depicted with a candle and sometimes with the
devil, who is said to have blown out her candle when she went to pray in church
at night. Her feast day is Jan. 3.
To
commemorate the 1,600th anniversary of St. Genevieve’s birth, the Archbishop of Paris Michel Aupetit wrote, “The Catholic Church in Paris will be particularly
committed in this year of the 1600th anniversary of her birth to share with all
the treasure she carried in her heart.”
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