Saint Germaine of Bar-sur-Aube

"Every morning also," say her Acts, "Germaine took pleasure in going to draw from the fountain, which has since received her name, a pure wave for the use of the altars; and when, later, public piety erected on the mountain a basilica to Sain t Stephen, th saint Étienne Protomartyr to whom Trond dedicated his property and a church. e first martyr, Germaine contributed to it according to her weak strength, by providing the workers, as much as she could, with the water that was necessary for them."

Despite her zeal and virtue, the young virgin was not sheltered from malice. Some of these men, for whom the simplicity of the righteous is an object of derision, casting a look of contempt on the good functions to which she devoted herself, saw in her only a vile person whom they could toy with with impunity. Bold against gentleness and piety, because they are defenseless, they made a pastime of breaking in her hands the fragile vase she was carrying, and, throwing her an old sieve, urged her, with a mocking laugh, to continue her noble service. Germaine, without uttering a word, but full of faith in the omnipotence of her God, picks up the sieve, goes, without hesitation, to fill it at the fountain, and brings it to the workers, without a single drop of water having escaped from it. It is in memory of this miracle, as well as the constant care with which Germaine provided for the needs of the altars, that she is never represented without placing in her hands or depositing at her feet the two vessels, emblems of the function she had imposed upon herself.

That is not all: it is claimed, even today, that one can recognize the path that Germaine followed along the hillside to come to the fountain that flows at the foot: the inhabitants of Bar-sur-Aube never fail to point it out to travelers or to mention it when the conversation turns to Saint Germaine. The grass, it is said, grows greener and more vibrant there; the wheat, more vigorous.

But the voice of the Spouse, calling her to the eternal banquet, was not to be long in making itse lf hea Attila Leader of the Huns responsible for the destruction of Besançon. rd. Attila had c ross Rhin River bordering the provinces infested by the Huns. ed the Rhine. Soon his fierce soldiers were beneath the walls of Bar. Germaine, unsuspecting, had come down from the mountain, as was her custom, to draw water at the fountain. She is spotted by the soldiers; they run to her, seize her, and bring her to their general. The barbarian sees her: she attracts his attention and captivates his gaze. He intends to make her his companion, but Germaine resists. Promises, threats, everything is employed to seduce or overcome her: everything is useless. The virgin informs him that she is a Christian: that is enough. Furious against the God whose irresistible strength he feels in spite of himself, the tyrant delivers Germaine to the executioner and orders him to cut off her head. The worthy satellites of this fierce master drag the young heroine away; but she praises and blesses the Lord, who not only preserves for her the flower of her innocence, but also deigns to make her triumph over a barbarian tyrant. Finally, the sword is drawn; the head of Germaine falls, and her soul takes flight toward the heavens.

At the news of this glorious death, the faithful of the mountain, all in tears, ran toward the precious body of their dear fellow citizen; they gathered it with love and buried it religiously in the Basilica of Saint-Étienne, in the very places sanctified by the virtues, zeal, and prayers of the humble virgin.

In the dark days of 1793, the body of Saint Ge rmai 1793 Period during which the saint's relics were hidden and lost. ne was no more spared than that of a great number of other servants of God. A few bones escaped the fury of the patriots, and are today venerated in the two churches of Bar-sur-Aube and in the humble oratory erected in 1676, destroyed since, and rebuilt later at the summit of the mountain, on the ruins of the ancient basilica.

At some distance from the chapel is the place where Germaine received the crown of martyrdom. An iron cross was placed there in 1840, and on its stone base a commemorative inscription.

Often throughout the year, but especially on the anniversary of her triumph (January 19) and during the month that the faith of our fathers dedicated to her (the month of May), one sees pilgrims climbing the mountain that bears the name of the virgin-martyr or visiting the altars dedicated under her name in the two churches of Bar-sur-Aube, which preserve some of her precious relics.

The pious virgin Honorée is not forgotten by the faithful of Bar-sur-Aube. After venerating the relics of Saint Germaine in the mountain chapel, they go to kneel before those of her glorious relative, and address their prayers to her with the greatest confidence. Formerly, the body of this Saint rested, for the most part, in the church of the Saint-Nicolas priory (today the hospital), and her feast was celebrated on Whit Monday. The memory of it has been perpetuated until recent times in the hospital church. About twenty years ago, a high mass and solemn vespers were celebrated there on that same day in honor of Saint Honorée, followed by the Benediction of the Most Blessed Sacrament. Finally, not long ago, there existed in Bar-sur-Aube a confraternity under her name.

Life of Saint Germaine, by A bbé Blampignon and M M. l'abbé Blampignon Co-author of the life of Saint Germaine. . Defoy.