St. Genevieve
St. Genevieve is patroness of Paris, and Virgin of the Church. Saint Genevieve is credited with preventing Paris from falling to Attila the Hun, as well as miraculous cures during the Plague by her intercession. A woman of great faith, Saint Genevieve was graced with the gift of clairvoyance and miracle-working by the Lord, which she used to increase the devotion of the faithful throughout France.
St. Genevieve was born in Nanterre near Paris in the late 5th century. She often tended her father's flocks on Mt. Valerien. St. Germanus of Auxerre, passing through, noticed the little shepherdess and predicted her future sanctity. At the age of seven she made a vow of perpetual chastity.
After the death of her parents she moved to Paris, but often travelled on works of mercy. Through fasting, vigil and prayer, she progressed in her spiritual life, and received from God the gifts of clairvoyance and of working miracles. By age 15, Genevieve was a nun. When her hometown of Paris was under siege by Childeric, King of the Franks, she risked her own safety to go into the city to find food and supplies for the suffering. Years later, she faced another dangerous conqueror -- Attila the Hun. As Parisians prepared to leave their homes rather than face the wrath of the barbarians, Genevieve convinced them to stay in their homes and pray instead. Today, it is still unknown why Attila the Hun didn't attack Paris. Genevieve died in a.d. 500.
Through the centuries she has shown her miraculous intercession and protection of the people of Paris, and is considered one of the patron of Paris, disasters and fever. Most of her relics, and those of other saints, were destroyed during the French Revolution.
