Saint Grimonia | |
|---|---|
 Église Sainte-Grimonie in La Capelle | |
| Born | Ireland |
| Died | 4th century La Capelle, Picardy |
| Canonized | pre-Congregation |
| Feast | 7 September |
Saint Grimonia (or Grimonie, Grimony, Germana) was a 4th-century Irish virgin who was martyred in La Capelle, Picardy, France. The town is named after her chapel. Her feast day is 7 September.
Paul Guérin (1830–1908) published the account by Henri Congnet (1795–1870) of Soissons in his Les Petits Bollandistes vies des saints de l'Ancien et du Nouveau. In summary, Grimonia was said to have been the daughter of a pagan chieftain in Ireland. She converted to Christianity when she was aged about 12 and dedicated her life to Christ. When she reached the age to marry, her father wanted her to wed one of the noblest and wealthiest chiefs in Ireland. She ran away, but was brought back and imprisoned. She escaped through a miracle, took ship to France and landed on the coast of Gaul-Belgium where the Roman Emperor Valentinian I protected the Christians. She settled deep in the forest of Thiérache in a place named Dorunum (now La Capelle), where she spent her days in prayer, meditation and penance. [1]
Her father sent soldiers to find her and bring her back, dead or alive. They followed her traces and eventually found her in the forest. They tried to persuade her to return to her country where a lavish wedding awaited her. Unable to convince her, they cut off her head and hid her mutilated body under a heap of dirt, then returned to Ireland. After several years a chapel was erected over her grave, which became the nucleus of the town of La Capelle. [2] The relics were thought to have miraculous properties, and were moved several times in the years that followed, with different portions held in different places. [3]
The Monks of Ramsgate wrote in their Book of Saints (1921),
Grimonia (Germana) (St.) V.M. (Sept. 7) (4th cent.) An Irish Saint, martyred in Picardy (France), in defence of her virtue. [4]
The hagiographer Alban Butler (1710–1773) wrote in his Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs, and Other Principal Saints under September 7,
St. Grimonia, or Germana, V. M.
SHE was an Irish maiden of illustrious birth, and left her own country to consecrate herself to God. She was martyred in defence of her chastity in the place of her retirement in Picardy, in the diocess of Laon. On the spot a chapel was built which became famous for her relics and miracles, and grew into a considerable town, called from its original Capelle. In the wars in the fifteenth century her relics were translated to the abbey of regular canons of Hennin Lictard, between Douay and Lens, where she is honoured together with St. Proba her fellow martyr. See Stilting, ad 7 Sept. p. 80. [5]
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.Marcellus and Apuleius were third- or fourth-century martyrs who were inserted in the General Roman Calendar in the 13th century. They were recognized as saints by the Catholic Church, with 7 October as their feast day. Apuleius is considered purely legendary, and is no longer recognized.
Saint Gibrian was an Irish saint associated with Reims and the Marne region.
Odwulf of Evesham was a ninth century saint, monk and Frisian missionary.
Saint Dabius was a 5th-century Irish missionary, possibly a disciple of Saint Patrick, who was active in Scotland, where several churches are named after him. His feast day is 22 July.
Saint Damhnade was an Irish virgin who was known for working miracles. She is sometimes confused with Saint Dymphna. Her feast day is 13 June. Very little else is known of her.
Agoard and Aglibert were martyrs at Créteil, Paris, France, around 400 AD. Other sources say their martyrdom was in the 7th or 8th century. Saint Agoard and Saint Aglibert are celebrated locally on 24 June.
Saint Sidronius was a Roman martyr. His life is confused with a French saint of the same name. His feast date is 8 September or 11 July.
Maxentia of Beauvais was a 5th-century Irish virgin and hermit who was beheaded when she refused to marry. Her feast day is 20 November.
Saint Sindulf of Rheims was a hermit who lived near Reims. His feast day is 20 October.
Saint Turiaf of Dol was a Breton abbot and bishop of the ancient Diocese of Dol.
Saint Lewina was a British virgin and martyr who was put to death by Saxon invaders. Her feast day is 24 July.
Saint Trésain was an Irish missionary in France. His feast day is 7 February.
Saint Tochumra was a holy virgin, or possibly two virgins, in medieval Ireland. Her feast day is 11 June.
Saints Meuris and Thea were two Christian women who were martyred at Gaza, Palestine. Their feast day is 19 December.
Saint Gerebern was an Irish priest who baptized Saint Dymphna when she was a child. He was her companion when she fled to Belgium, where he was murdered beside her. His relics were taken to Sonsbeck in Germany, where they were an object of pilgrimage until they were destroyed during World War II. His feast day is 15 May.
Saint Theodoric of Mont d'Hor was a disciple of Saint Remigius who became abbot of Saint-Thierry Abbey, near Reims, France. His feast day is 1 July.
Saint Salvius of Amiens was a 7th-century bishop of Amiens. His feast day is 11 January.
Saint Suranus was an abbot in Umbria, Italy who was martyred by Lombards. His feast day is 24 January.
Saint Bain, a disciple of Saint Vandrille, was a bishop of Thérouanne in northwest France, and then abbot of the monastery of Saint Wandrille in Normandy. His feast day is 20 June.
Saint Syra of Troyes was an Irish woman, sister of Saint Fiacre, who became a nun in France and died in Meaux but came to be venerated in Troyes. Her story has been conflated with that of a woman named Syria who died in Troyes in the 4th or 5th century. Her feast day is 8 June.