Born in Nanterre, France, in about 422, St. Genevieve was a brave and fair peasant girl. Her parents were Severus and Gerontia.

On his trip to Britain, St. Germanus, Bishop of Auxerre, stopped in Nanterre when Genevieve was just seven years old. Many came to seek his blessing while he was present. The young Genevieve was in the midst of a crowd gathered around the man of God who had singled her out and predicted her future sanctity. At her request, the holy bishop brought her and the faithful to a church where she was dedicated to God as a virgin.

Germanus questioned Genevieve the following day about whether or not she had recalled her vow to God. She did, and she vowed to always keep her word. He gave her a brass medal with an engraved cross around it to wear around her neck as a constant reminder of the vow she made to dedicate her life to God. To prevent succumbing to vanity, he commanded her to never wear any more necklaces, bracelets, or jewellery.

Germanus inspired Genevieve to commit her life to deeds of penance, devotion, and prayer. She asked to become a nun in a meeting with the Parisian bishop when she was just 15 years old. As a symbol of her total surrender to the Lord, she also started fasting, eating only twice a week, and praying nonstop from that point on.

After her parents passed away, Genevieve moved to live with her grandmother in Paris and traveled while preaching, sharing her religion, giving to the needy, praying for the sick, and prophesying. Her devoted Christian lifestyle was replete with evidence of the Holy Spirit at work in her life.

Miracles and spiritually inspired predictions were among the Holy Spirit's signs accompanying this holy young woman. She saw saints and angels in heaven regularly. But as soon as she revealed those experiences and visions from the Lord, people started to turn against her. They labeled her a false visionary and dubbed her a hypocrite and were set on drowning her in a lake of fire. But Bishop Germanus stepped in and put an end to the accusations of false assertions and persecution of the woman.

The bishop assigned Genevieve to oversee the care of the consecrated virgins. As they drew nearer to the Lord Jesus, she dutifully carried out her role and assisted in guiding them towards ever-higher holiness.

Genevieve had a significant impact on Childeric, the Gaulish king who conquered Paris. Genevieve journeyed to Troyes by water during a period of severe famine in Paris, and she returned with multiple boats full of corn. Childeric respected her despite being a pagan, and on her behalf, he spared the lives of several prisoners.

She had an impact on King Clovis as well. He took her advice to heart and released a number of his prisoners at her request.

The Christians in Paris were ready to flee when Attila and his army of Huns attacked, but Genevieve talked to them and persuaded them to remain in their houses, fast, and pray to the Lord. She gave them her word that Heaven would watch over them. Her prophecy came true when Attila abruptly veered off course and away from Paris.

Genevieve passed away on January 3, 512, at the age of 89. Shortly after her burial, the villagers constructed a modest church over her tomb, requesting the intercession of Saints Peter and Paul. Her tomb is still there, but it is empty. Around 630, St. Eligius placed her relics in a handcrafted gold and silver shrine.

The church was repeatedly devastated by the Normans over the years. Following its reconstruction in 856, miracles started to occur and St. Genevieve's relics were restored, making this church well-known throughout France.

On numerous instances, Paris witnessed evidence of Genevieve's intercession. The miracle of Des Ardens, often known as the burning fever, was the most well-known event. When a severe fever struck the city in 1129, medical professionals were powerless to save the lives of the sick. During the ceremony, many who touched Genevieve's shrine experienced healing from the Lord. The shrine was taken in a procession to the cathedral. Only three individuals died, no one else got sick, and everyone who was sick recovered throughout the entire town.

The next year, Pope Innocent paid a visit to the city and requested that a celebration be held on November 26 every year to honor the miracle. As is typically the case with such celebrations, he intended to sustain their faith by reminding the faithful that the Lord is always at work in the lives of those who come to Him in prayer and closeness.

St. Genevieve is revered as the patron saint of Paris. She is generally represented wearing a long flowing gown with a cloak covering her shoulders and holding a loaf of bread, symbolizing her charity to those in need. January 3 is observed as her feast day.

Other Saints of the Day
Saint Wenog
Saint Blitmund
Saint Daniel of Padua
Saint Zosimus & Athanasius
Saint Theopemptus and Theonas