Genevieve was a fair and courageous peasant girl who was born around 422 in Nanterre, France.

When only 7 years old, St. Germanus, Bishop of Auxerre, visited Nanterre on his way to Britain.  While he was there, many people flocked to receive his blessing.  Young Genevieve stood amid a crowd but was singled out by the Bishop as he foretold of her sanctity.  At her request, he led her to the Church, accompanied by all of the faithful, and consecrated her to God as a virgin.

The next day he presented her with a cross engraved brass medal to always wear around her neck as a reminder of her promise.  He ordered her to never wear any other jewelry to avoid falling into vanity.

She dedicated her life to prayer, practices and penance.  At 15 years of age, she met with the Bishop of Paris and asked to become a nun.  From this moment, she began praying continuously and fasting, eating only twice a week as a sign of her complete dedication.

She traveled, sharing the faith, performing acts of charity, praying for the sick and prophesying.  Her life was filled with signs of the Holy Spirit working through her including miracles and spiritually inspired predictions.  She had visions of heavenly angels and saints but when she shared them, people began to turn against her.  The Bishop intervened and silenced those persecuting her.

She also had an effect on King Clovis.  He listened to her advice and under her request, granted freedom to several of his prisoners.

Parisian Christians were prepared to run when Attila and his army of Huns approached Paris but Genevieve spoke with them and convinced them to stay, fast and pray to the Lord.  She predicted protection which came true and Attila suddenly changed his path away from Paris.

Genevieve died at 89 years old on January 3, 512.

She is the patron saint of Paris.

Her feast day is January 3.

For God’s Glory.

Ste Genevieve was the first permanent civilized settlement in Missouri which had been originally included in the Illinois Country.  It was named after the Patron Saint of Paris.  It was land claimed by the French with the seat of government established in New Orleans which also held the commercial contacts dominated by the mercantile policies of France and Spain.  It is the oldest European settlement in the region and is the only place in the upper Mississippi Valley where several buildings of the pre-American period have survived.  Today it is one of the newest National Parks. 

The early French explorers and settlers were known to have been in the area in the early 1700s, using the salt springs on Saline Creek for the preservation of foods and mining lead.

Following the Seven Years’ War, the population increased significantly with an influx of French Catholics who feared religious and political persecution at the hands of the British following France’s loss of that territory to England.

In 1803, Napolean Bonaparte I sold the area to the United States and in 1812, Missouri became an official territory with a governor and general assembly.  The County of Ste Genevieve was established as one of the five original territorial districts.