St. Genevieve

St. Genevieve was born around 419 at Nanterre, near Paris in Gaul (modern France), and died around 502 at Paris. As a girl she was consecrated to God by the bishop St. Germanus of Auxerre, and she devoted her life to prayer, fasting, and works of charity, becoming a woman of great influence and holiness in the city of Paris.

She is best remembered for the crisis of 451, when Attila and his Huns advanced on Gaul and the terrified people of Paris prepared to flee. Genevieve urged them instead to remain and to trust in God through prayer and penance, promising that the city would be spared — and Attila's army turned aside, sparing Paris. She later organized relief for the people during a Frankish siege and won the esteem of the kings Childeric and Clovis. Honored ever since as the patron saint and protectress of Paris, she is invoked especially in times of danger to the city.