Saint of the Day – 5 June – St Genesius (Died 725) “the Holy Count.”

Saint of the Day – 5 June – St Genesius (Died 725) Layman, Count of Clermont and Count of Auvergne, renowned as a Miracle-worker, benefactor of the Church. Known as “the Holy Count.”

According to the lessons of the Breviary of the Chapter of Camaleria (Acta Sanctorum June, I, 497), he was of noble birth, His father’s name is given as Audastrius and his mother’s as Tranquilla. He was probably a relative of Bishop Genesius (of Clermont).

Even in his youth he is said to have wrought miracles—to have given sight to the blind and cured the lame. He built and richly endowed several Churches and religious houses.

The “Martyrdom of Bishop Praefectus (625–676)” says that when the Bishopric of Clermont became vacant, King Childeric had sent edicts to elect Count Genesius but he turned down the See. Saint Prix then becamethe Bishop.

Partly by his own ample patrimony and partly by the great generosity of Genesius, the holy Count of Auvergne, Bishop Prix was able to found several Monasteries, Churches and hospitals.

Genesius was a friend of St Bonitus, Bishop of Clermont and of St Meneleus, Abbot of Menat. He was buried at Combronde in Auvergne by St Savinian, successor of Meneleus.