Saints celebrated on the 15th of June
SAINT GERMAINE COUSIN, VIRGIN
In 1579 in Pibrac, a village not far from Toulouse, a girl called Germaine was born to poor farming parents. While she was still in her cradle, she lost her mother. Poor little one! She was also physically sick. Her father decided to marry again, but made a bad choice. As soon as his new wife began to have children of her own, she forced her step-daughter to leave the house.
O, WITH WHAT FERVOUR DID SHE PRAY!
Germaine managed to make enough to eat by spinning and weaving, and would often go, leaning on a stick, to watch the sheep in the countryside, O, with what effective grace and love did the Heart of Jesus work within the heart of that poor labourer! O, with what fervour did she pray and with what resignation did she accept suffering.
SHE WOULD GO HAPPILY TO MASS
Being out in the country made her able to think about all created things and their Creator. She would plant her stick in the ground and the sheep would gather around her, the she would go happily to Mass, where she devoutly fed on the bread of the angels, and when she returned, the sheep would still be there.
FLOWERS
Her horrid stepmother continued to persecute her, even inducing her father to treat her mercilessly. What bread Germaine had she often gave to the poor, and it was almost as if the bread multiplied itself by miracle so that it could be a sign of her love. Her stepmother suspected her of robbing the house and she once saw her with something in her apron and took a stick to beat her. When Germaine let the contents of her apron fall, what had been meant for the poor was changed into flowers, despite it being winter.
A HOST OF VIRGINS DRESSED IN WHITE CAME DOWN FROM HEAVEN TO TAKE HER SOUL TO PARADISE
In spite of such marvels, she was always persecuted and treated badly. At the age of 22, she was found dead with a smile on her face and from her body there came a heavenly smell. Two devout people saw a host of virgins dressed in white come down from heaven and take that soul with them back to paradise. [St Germaine Cousin was canonised by Pope Pius IX.]”
From: Msgr Nicola Tafuri, Month of the Sacred Heart
Dear St Germaine, pray for us!
PRAYER:
Grant, we beseech you, almighty God, that the venerable feast of Saint Germaine may increase our devotion and promote our salvation. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.
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