It’s the Feast of Feria / BVM on Saturdays, 4th Class, with the color of White. In this episode: the meditation: “Jesus, Vanquisher of Evil”, today’s news from the Church: “Philippines: Christmas Concert at the Iloilo Novitiate”, and today’s thought from the Archbishop.
Saint Genevieve of Paris was a woman whose quiet authority helped save a city and shape a nation’s faith. Born around 422 in the village of Nanterre, she was still a child when Saint Germanus of Auxerre noticed her seriousness and devotion. He foretold that she would belong wholly to God, and Genevieve embraced that calling early, dedicating her life to prayer and service while remaining a laywoman. She moved to Paris as a young adult, living simply and gaining a reputation for discipline, fasting, and unwavering trust in God.
Her greatest moment came during crisis. In 451, when Attila the Hun advanced toward Paris, panic swept the city. Many urged flight. Genevieve stood before the people and urged them instead to stay, pray, and trust in God’s protection. She organized days of fasting and constant prayer, assuring the terrified population that Paris would be spared. Against all expectation, Attila turned away and never reached the city. From that moment, Genevieve was no longer seen as merely pious, but as a protector whose faith had real consequence.
Genevieve’s influence did not fade with the danger. She became a moral anchor for Paris during decades of instability. She negotiated with kings, ransomed prisoners, and ensured grain shipments during famine. When Clovis, the Frankish king, converted to Christianity, Genevieve encouraged the building of churches and supported the spread of the faith throughout the region. Yet she never sought position or authority. She remained a woman of prayer, often spending nights in vigil and days caring for the poor. Those who met her described firmness without harshness and confidence without pride.
She died around the year 502, mourned by the entire city. Her tomb quickly became a place of prayer, and Paris claimed her as its guardian. For centuries, when plague,...
