Saint of the Day – 15 February – St Georgia (6th Century) Virgin, Recluse. Also known as – Giorgia.
The Roman Martyrology reads today: “At Clermont in Auvergne, St Georgia Virgin.”
St Gregory of Tours (594), very well informed regarding the history of Auvergne due to the many years he spent there, reports the following concerning the existence and virtues of St Georgia. (De Gloria Confessorum XXXIV).
, “She lived, towards the beginning of the 6th Century, in Clermont, “pious and devoted to God” she retired to the countryside, to offer more freely to God “her hosts of praise” and, everyday, she dedicated herself to fasting and prayer.
At her death, while her body was being transported to the Church, it was accompanied by an immense flock of doves which, during the ceremony in the Church, went to rest on the roof, to then take flight again and follow the coffin as it was carried in procession to the cemetery. They remained to guard the tomb for the rest of the day.
The appearance of the doves symbolised and honoured, the virginity of the Saint.”
Georgia’s remains are kept in the Church of St Cassian in Clermont. The Roman Martyrology mentions her today on 15 Februar, the day on which the Proper of Clermont also inscribes her veneration.
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