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ST GENULPH, FIRST BISHOP OF CAHORS - 13 NOVEMBER

 

ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN NOVEMBER

Saints celebrated on the 13th of November

ST GENULPH, FIRST BISHOP OF CAHORS

Saint Genulph (Genulphus) - also called Gengulfus, Gondolphus, Gendulphus, Gundolphus, French St-Genou - was the first bishop of Cahors (Cadurcum) in France. While the Decian persecution was raging in Rome his tutor St Sixtus II sent Genulph and his father Geminus to Gaul to preach the gospel there.

The year 247 is given by the chroniclers as the year Genulph's birth, which, however, cannot be correct, since Emperor Decius came to power in A.D. 249, and St Genulph was already ordained at that time. 

Even as a boy Genulph had to put up with a lot from both young and old because of the Christian faith. Moreover, his mother Acria died while he was still at school.

Father and son seemed reluctant to leave the country and thus evade pursuit by the authorities for their Christian faith. In this context it is documented that Pope St Sixtus had to remind them that 'we can also be martyrs through mere will' by fighting 'on the battlefield of the unwilling flesh by exerting the powers of faith'. 

So St Genulph and his father Geminus went to Cahors in France, where they lodged with with a widow whose son he cured of being possessed by demons - thereby winning both of them to the faith. He was soon baptising all of their relatives and bringing about yet more conversions through continued miraculous healings. 

Both were therefore presented to the Praeses Dioscorus as enemies of the gods and the emperor, and on his orders they were first severely beaten and then thrown into a fiery furnace, from which they emerged unharmed, though.

Then it came to pass that the son of Dioscorus died suddenly and unexpectedly. St Genulph prayed, the son was resurrected, and upon this miracle Dioscorus asked to be baptised, together with his whole household. Thus, a congregation of the Lord Jesus Christ was formed  here, which was placed under the care of St Theotokos.

Genulph and his father Geminus continued their apostolic journey, heading for the Bourges area next; namely to Celles in the Berry region, where they freed a former place of sacrifice of the pagan deity Diana from the throng of demons who occupied it. They cleansed it by the cross of Jesus and the power of prayer and built a church for the only true God in its stead. Here died the father of St Genulph. 

The son carried on the work of evangelisation in that area, gathering around him a company of devout disciples whom he led to the fear of God by word and example.

The legend tells of him various miraculous deeds. For example, once a fox stole a farmer's hen, it had to return on Genulph's command and then fell dead on the ground in front of him, which is why - from then onwards - no fox dared to pursue the hens in this stretch of land.

Finally, St Genulph foretold his death, arranging that he be buried in his hair shirt outside the church. The year of his death is not known. His relics were first transferred to Nevers, and from there to Paris, where they are still located today. 

Since he founded the first Christian community in Cahors, he is revered as the "first bishop" of this city. He is to be distinguished from the  Martyr Gengulph, who is venerated on May 11, who was not a bishop. Our St Genulph, however, seems to be identical with St Gundulphus, whom the Roman Martyrology* lists on June 17, just as the breviaries at Cahors (where he is venerated on January 17), and at Bourges (where he is venerated on November 13), have exactly the same lessons. In any case, Genulph is different from St Gendulf, we have already noted above. 

St Genulph is also commemorated on January 17 and June 17.

(Information from Stadler's Complete Encyclopedia of Saints, Volume 2, Augsburg, 1861)

*A hagiography source used by the authors 

Stadler's Complete Encyclopedia of Saints - Sources and Abbreviations

PRAYER:

Grant, we beseech you, almighty God, that the venerable feast of Saint Genulph 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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