Born at Staves in the county of Namur, towards the end of the ninth century; died at Brogne or St-Gérard, 3 October 959. The son of Stance, of the family of dukes of Lower Austrasia, and of Plectrude, sister of Stephen, Bishop of Liège, the young Gérard, like most omen of his rank, followed at first the career of arms. His piety, however, was admirable amid the distractions of camp. He transformed into a large church a modest chapel situated on the estate of Brogne which belonged to his family. About 917, the Count of Namur charged him with a mission to Robert, younger brother of Eudes, King of France. He permitted his followers to reside at Paris, but himself went to live at the Abbey of St-Denis, where he was so struck by the deifying lives of the monks that, at the conclusion of his embassy, with the consent of the Count of Namur and Bishop Stephen, his maternal uncle, he returned to St-Denis, took the religious habit, and after eleven years was ordained priest. He then requested to be allowed to return to Brogne, where he replaced the lax clerics with monks animated by a true religious spirit. Thereupon he himself retired to a cell near the monastery for more austere mortification. From this retreat he was summoned by the Archbishop of Cambrai who confided to him the direction of the community of St-Ghislain in Hainault. Here also he established monks instead of the canons, whose conduct had ceased to be exemplary, and he enforced the strictest monastic discipline. Gradually he became superior of eighteen other abbeys situated in the region between the Meuse, the Somme, and the sea, and through his efforts the Order of Saint Benedict was soon completely restored throughout this region. Weighed down by age and infirmities, he placed vicars or abbots in his stead, in the various abbeys with which he was charged, and retired to that of Brogne. He still had courage to take a journey to Rome in order to obtain a Bull confirming the privileges of that abbey. On his return he paid a final visit to all the communities which he had reorganized, and then awaited death at Brogne. His body is still preserved at Brogne, now commonly called St-Gérard.

MLA Citation

• Léon Clugnet. “Saint Gérard, Abbot of Brogne”. Catholic Encyclopedia, 1913. Saints.SQPN.com. 22 May 2013. Web. 24 May 2013. <>

Confessor, Abbot of Brogne, born Staves, Belgium, 890; died Brogne, Belgium, 959. Of a noble family, he adopted the career of arms, but later, entering religion, became Abbot of Brogne, and established numerous Benedictine houses in Belgium. Relics at Brogne. Feast, 3 October.

MLA Citation

• “Saint Gerard”. New Catholic Dictionary. Saints.SQPN.com. 22 May 2013. Web. 24 May 2013. <>

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• Greek: farmer

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Martyr, patron of England, one of the Fourteen Holy Helpers, died Lydda, Palestine, c.303. He was known to the Greeks as the “Great Martyr.” His existence is established by inscriptions of ruined churches in Syria, Egypt, and Mesopotamia, by his church at Thessalonica, dating from the 4th century, and by the monastery at Baralle built by Clovis in honor of Saint George, c.512. During the Crusades his cult became widespread. He became the patron of the Order of the Garter which Edward III established c.1341, and the cross of Saint George came to be considered the symbol of knighthood. The most popular legend concerning Saint George is that of his encounter with the dragon. The pagan town of Selena in Libya had been harassed by a dragon exhaling a pestilential breath; in order to placate him sheep were offered as victims, but when the supply of these was exhausted, the inhabitants of the town were substituted. The king’s young daughter, having been chosen by lot, was taken to the dragon‘s lair and left to the mercy of the beast. Saint George, riding by, slew the dragon, and the town became converted. Patron of soldiers; invoked against fever. Emblems: horse, dragon, lance, banner, armor, shield. Feast, Roman Calendar, 23 April.

MLA Citation

• “Saint George”. New Catholic Dictionary. Saints.SQPN.com. 21 May 2013. Web. 24 May 2013. <>

• Genes
• Genestus

Memorial

• 1 November

Profile

Benedictine monk. Abbot of Fontenelle. Part of the court and camp of King Clovis II. Chief almoner to Queen Saint Bathildis. Succeeded Saint Chamond as bishop and archbishop of Lyons, France in 657. Chartered the Abbey of Corbie, France. Chartered the Convent of the Blessed Virgin founded by Ebroin, mayor of the palace, and his wife Leutrude. In a conflict between Ebroin and Saint Leger, Bishop of Autun, Genesius took the bishop‘s side and was attacked by an armed band sent by Ebroin to expel him from Lyons. Genesius gathered his own forces and defended his city.

Died

• 679 of natural causes
• his body was in the church of Saint Nicetius till the beginning of the 14th century, when it was transferred to Chelles

Canonized

• Pre-Congregation

Additional Information

• Book of Saints, by the Monks of Ramsgate
• Catholic Encyclopedia
• New Catholic Dictionary
• Our Sunday Visitor’s Encyclopedia of Saints

MLA Citation

• “Saint Genesius of Lyons“. Saints.SQPN.com. 21 May 2013. Web. 24 May 2013. <>

(or Genestus) Thirty-seventh Archbishop of Lyons, died 679. Feast, 1 November. He was a native of France, not of Arabia or Armenia as is sometimes stated and became a religious and abbot (not of Fontenelle, but) attached to the court and camp of Clovis II where he acted as chief almoner to the queen, Saint Bathildis. He succeeded Saint Chamond (Annemundus) in the See of Lyons, and was consecrated in 657 or 658. His name is found for the first time as bishop in a signature of 6 September 664, attached to a charter drawn up by Bertefred, bishop of Amiens, for the Abbey of Corbie. On 26 June 667, he subscribed another charter framed by Drauscius, Bishop of Soissons, for a convent of the Blessed Virgin founded by Ebroin, mayor of the palace, and his wife Leutrude. In the conflict between Ebroin and SaintLeger (Leodegarius), Bishop of Autun, Genesius (675-76) took the part of the bishop and was in consequence attacked by an armed band sent by Ebroin to expel him from Lyons; but Genesius collected a force and successfully defended his city. In September, 677, he assisted at an assembly held at Maslay. He was succeeded at Lyons by Landebertus. His body remained in the church of Saint Nicetius till the beginning of the fourteenth century, when it was transferred to Chelles.

MLA Citation

• Francis Mershman. “Saint Genesius of Lyons”. Catholic Encyclopedia, 1913. Saints.SQPN.com. 21 May 2013. Web. 24 May 2013. <>

Confessor, Archbishop of Lyons, died 679. He supported Saint Leger in his conflict with Ebroin. Relics at Chelles. Feast, 11 November.

MLA Citation

• “Saint Genesius of Lyons”. New Catholic Dictionary. Saints.SQPN.com. 21 May 2013. Web. 24 May 2013. <>

A notary martyred under Maximianus in 303 or 308. Feast, 25 Aug. He is honoured as patron of notaries, and invoked against chilblains and scurf. The Acts, attributed to Saint Paulinus of Nola, state: Genesius, native of Arles, at first a soldier became known for his proficiency in writing, and was made secretary to the magistrate of Arles. While performing the duties of his office the decree of persecution against the Christians was read in his presence. Outraged in his ideas of justice, the young catechumen cast his tablets at the feet of the magistrate and fled. He was captured and executed, and thus received baptism in his own blood. His veneration must be very old, as his name is found in the ancient martyrology ascribed to Saint Jerome. A church and altar dedicated to him at Arles were known in the fourth century.

MLA Citation

• Francis Mershman. “Saint Genesius of Arles”. Catholic Encyclopedia, 1913. Saints.SQPN.com. 21 May 2013. Web. 24 May 2013. <>

• 5 June

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Born to the nobility, the son of Audastrius and Tranquilla. Miracle worker in his youth, restoring sight to the blind, healing the lame. Built and richly endowed several churches and religious houses. Friend of Saint Bonitus, Bishop of Clermont, and of Saint Meneleus, Abbot of Menat.

Died

• 725 of natural causes
• buried at Combronde

Canonized

• Pre-Congregation

Additional Information

• Book of Saints, by the Monks of Ramsgate
• Catholic Encyclopedia
• New Catholic Dictionary
• Our Sunday Visitor’s Encyclopedia of Saints

MLA Citation

• “Saint Genesius, Count of Clermont“. Saints.SQPN.com. 21 May 2013. Web. 24 May 2013. <>

Died 725. Feast, 5 June. According to the lessons of the Breviary of the Chapter of Camaleria, he was of noble birth; his father’s name is given as Audastrius, and his mother’s is Tranquilla. Even in his youth he is said to have wrought miracles – to have given sight to the blind and cured the lame. He built and richly endowed several churches and religious houses. He was a friend of Saint Bonitus, Bishop of Clermont, and of Saint Meneleus, Abbot of Menat. He was buried at Combronde by Saint Savinian, successor of Meneleus.

MLA Citation

• Francis Mershman. “Saint Genesius, Count of Clermont”. Catholic Encyclopedia, 1913. Saints.SQPN.com. 21 May 2013. Web. 24 May 2013. <>