On this 03 January, we celebrate St Genevieve. Born in Nanterre in 423, St Genevieve consecrated herself to God as a child.
Her vertue St. Germain of Auxerre and St. Lupus of Troyes in 429 when they passed through Nanterre on their way to Britain. At the age of 16, she chose to give herself entirely to God and to live an asceticism.
At the age of 28, Geneviève convinced the inhabitants of Paris not to abandon the city to the Huns invaders. She encouraged the women to stay by telling them: "Let the men flee if they are unable to fight, but we women implore God, He will listen to our grievances" and Paris was spared. During the famine of 465, Geneviève crossed the barricades of the besieging Franks through the Seine to Troyes to supply the population.
It was Genevieve who built a church in the tomb of St Denis, first Bishop of Lutece ( Latin name of Paris). It is still her who convince Clovis to built a church in honour of Saints Peter and Paul in the Mons Lucotitius hill wich will be called Montagne Sainte-Geneviève in Paris Ve later on.
Passed away on 03 January 512 at the age of 89, Genevieve has been buried nest to Clovis in the church. The charge of the church was entrusted first to the Benedictines. and then have succeded them the Canons Regular.
Genevieve was the patron saint of the town of Paris and the Nanterre diocese. His reliquary had been transferred back to a place where there was no war. On 08 November 793, the General Council of Paris had it transported to Monnet and burned it in the public square after acts of desecration. But according to some accounts, before its destruction, another reliquary containing Geneviève's arm was sent to Saint-Étienne-du-Mont, hence its presence there until now.
LThe name Genevieve come from the german "geno":good race and "wifa": woman, meaning "woman of good race".The Genevieves are strong at work. Reflective in nature, they like to plan before they act. They are in constant search of what is true and sustainable and are responsible.