June 15 - St. Germaine Cousin
The Incorruptibles! - St. Germaine Cousin
la Fête de la Miséricorde à la Sainte Germaine à Pibrac - 03/04/2016
THE INCORRUPT BODY OF GERMAINE - as portrayed in the movie GERMAINE:REQUIEM OF A SOUL
Le pèlerinage de Sainte Germaine aura lieu à Pibrac
The Basilica dedicated to St Germaine Cousin in Pibrac near Toulouse, France
Life was not kind to Germaine Cousin (1579– 1601). Born with a deformed right hand and a scrofulous skin condition, she lost her mother very early on; her stereotypical stepmother forced Germaine to have her bed in a barn. After a short life of ill health and of prayer by herself in the fields as a shepherdess, she died alone in her bed in the barn.
When her uncorrupt body was uncovered 43 years after her burial, people recalled that she was very faithful in attending Mass, took food to those even less fortunate than herself, and worked miracles in her lifetime. A long investigation ended in the canonization of Sainte Germaine de Pibrac in 1867.
The Catholic Church does not require its saints to have been born to lives of privilege, to have been given towering intellects or to be ‘respectable’ persons. We are free to believe that St Louis and St Thomas Aquinas led the rejoicing when the poor little shepherdess of Pibrac, patron of the abused and marginalized, was received among the Holy Company of Heaven.
...Prayers Asking the Intercession of
St. Germaine Cousin
I.
Saint
Germaine, look down from Heaven and intercede for the many abused children in
our world. Help them to sanctify their sufferings. Strengthen children who
suffer the effects of living in broken families. Protect those children who
have been abandoned by their parents and live in the streets. Beg God’s mercy
on anyone who abuses children. Intercede for handicapped children and their
parents.
Saint
Germaine, you who suffered neglect and abuse so patiently, pray for us. Amen.
II. Remember us,
blessed Germaine, your brothers and sisters who labour and suffer in this
difficult world. Know that we place our hope in you, ask for your help in our
need, and for consolation in our suffering. Hear us, as we ask you to be with
us in our time of trial. You experienced much pain, isolation, humiliation, and
suffering. Now from your place of glory please look with kindness upon our
sorrows. In your happiness, remember our tears.
Form us in
the way of your humility, your patience, your faith, and your charity.
And then, at the hour of our death, welcome us to our eternal home. Amen.
http://www.salemcatholic.org/?p=3529
.