There were thousands of women who served in God’s Kingdom in Medieval times. Over the next few months, we will cover the stories of only a few. Our stories will go in somewhat of a chronological order from around 450 AD to 1500 AD. Like their female forebears in the Patristic Era these women contributed greatly to the Kingdom of God, not so they could be remembered, but so they could serve the Lord Jesus by serving others.[1]
Medieval women displayed Christlike character that was responsible for the advancement of the Gospel through their words of wisdom and deeds of charity. Over one hundred and fifty years ago, Irish writer Julia Kavanagh (1824-1877) noted about women during the Middle Ages:
“The progress of Christianity owes much, however, to these women. They had little personal influence, and thus their action was not perceived at first; but the virtues of Christianity, purity, temperance, forgiveness, and resignation were essentially feminine virtues: they were more easily practiced by women than by men; and this gave to the weaker sex a moral superiority over the stronger one, which is visible even through the primitive rudeness of those dark ages.”[2]
Women were not allowed to participate in the hierarchy of the ecclesiology of the institutionalized church. Nevertheless, they would hold many leadership positions in the monasteries, convents, and other Christian groups such as the faithful Beguines. Some might argue that remaining outside of the hierarchy of the institutional church enabled women to have far greater ministry to the poor, neglected, and oppressed people. When the institutionalized church forbade women access to official ministry, many faithful female believers followed their calling from God to go and show the love of Christ in the world anyway. Countless thousands who were blessed by their ministry have been grateful.
We will begin our journey through the Middle Ages with the story of a very remarkable woman who lived in the 5th century – Genovefa of Paris.
Genovefa (423-502)
Genovefa is most remembered as the woman who saved Paris from Attila the Hun. In the 5th century the Roman Empire was crumbling as hordes of barbarians were pouring into Europe. In Genovefa’s time pagan Franks had established themselves in Gaul in part of the area that we call France today. Notice on the map that this includes Paris. Later some of these Franks would convert to Christianity including Genovefa’s parents Severus and Gerontia.
Genovefa was born in the parish of Nanterre (about 4 miles from Paris) in 423 AD. Even in her earliest years she was recognized as saintly and wise. She desired to live her life in total devotion to God. As many Christians did in that era, she practiced ascetism. Genovefa had the freedom to practice her religion independently of established authorities. For one thing, monasticism had not reached this part of Gaul and so she was not part of a convent. After her parents died, she lived with her godmother. Then later she set up housekeeping with a few female companions. Many women came to her for guidance and perhaps some of them remained under her roof. She led these women in prayer, fasting, and acts of charity.
While some biographers have said that Genovefa was just a peasant, it seems more likely that she was a member of the Gallic upper classes. She owned fields and participated in the harvest. She was free to go where she wished when she wished, including travel outside of the city. She must have been brilliant and headstrong as well as pious because she rose to the occasion and did what she felt was right even when others opposed her.
During the waning years of the Roman Empire whatever local man had the most authority became the ruler. In Gaul this might be a bishop or a wealthy descendant of a Romanized family, a Frank like Genovefa, or even a strong man with an army. Women were normally excluded, but Genovefa would not let her femaleness stop her from aiding Paris by doing some of the work that the men were supposed to do. Once when there was a severe famine in Paris she took a boat up the river to Arcis to collect the taxes that were owed to Paris. When Genovefa returned to Paris she distributed loaves of bread to the poor herself.
Genovefa was unequalled for her works of charity in times of famine, fever, or distress. When Childeric, king of the Franks besieged Paris Genovefa was at Troyes and prophesied his defeat. In spite of his threats, she led a small band outside of the city to find provisions and brought back boatloads of corn for the starving citizens.
In 451 AD Parisians began to panic, fearing that Attila the Hun would seize their city and lay waste to it as he was doing throughout Gaul. People began to pack up their money and valuables and prepare to send them to other cities for safekeeping. Genovefa called together the matrons of the city and persuaded them to join her in prayer with fasting and vigils to ward off the threatening disaster just as Queen Esther had done in the past. The women agreed and went to the baptistry where they sat for days seeking God’s deliverance while fasting and praying and keeping watch. In the meantime, Genovefa tried to persuade the men of Paris to keep their goods with them and not send them to other cities. She said those cities were in danger, but Christ would protect Paris.
Many citizens did not believe her and actually conspired to stone or drown her, but an archdeacon who knew her talked the angry mob out of it. In the event, Genovefa was proven right and the citizens honored her instead.
There are many other stories about Genovefa. Miraculous healings, casting out of demons, and the stopping of a destructive rainstorm on her property are all attributed to her. Genovefa was over eighty years old when she died.
Genovefa wanted to build a church in honor of Peter and Paul. Clovis I, king of the Franks began the construction of the basilica. He died before it was completed but Queen Clotilde finished it. Scenes from Genovefa’s life are depicted throughout the church. (Photo is a statue of St. Genovefa in the Basilica of St. Clotilde.)
Next time, in Part 2, we will continue with the story of Clothilde, Queen of the Franks.
[1]See posts on this blog site from January 22, 2019 through June 4, 2019 for Women in the Patristic Era.
[2]Julia Kavanagh. Women of Christianity, Exemplary for Acts of Piety and Charity(New York, NY: D. Appleton and Company, 1869). 55.
