WHY THE NAME…ST. GERMAINE?

St. Germaine Cousin was born into a poor family in Pribrac, France, in 1579.  Born with a crippled right arm, she also suffered horrific emotional and physical abust at the hands of her stepmother.  Given rags for clothing and kept from sleeping in the family home, she made her livelihood herding sheep near the wolf-infested forrest.  It was a dangerous and lonely existence.

But young Germaine did not allow her circumstance to harden her heart.  She took solace in the church and began to pursue her life as a missionary of love.  She sought to help the children and beggars in her village, and when she was questioned about her own bruises or ragged clothing, Germaine would instead share stories of grace, nature and love.

Germaine died in 1601 when she was only 22 years old.  She was loved and remembered by the villagers for her unwavering faith and kindness despite the cruelty she suffered.  She was granted sainthood for her devotion to GOD, and her dedication to helping abused children and the poor.