Saint Gens of Le Beaucet

Biography

Saint Gens of Le Beaucet, also known as Gens du Beaucet, Gens Bournarel, Gens the Hermit, Gein, Gence, Gentius, Genzio, was a hermit who lived in Le Beaucet, France, during the early 12th century. Born in 1104 in Monteux, Carpentras, France, he was drawn to the life of a holy solitary from a young age. In his teens, Gens embraced a life of solitude and prayer, living as a hermit in Le Beaucet. His father, recognizing his son's devoutness, gifted him two cows. Gens relied on their milk for sustenance and cultivated a garden which they plowed. He also traded the excess milk and vegetables with others, sustaining himself through this modest means. Saint Gens was renowned for his severe penances and a life dedicated to constant prayer. He believed in the power of miracles and became known as a miracle worker in the region. Numerous legends surround his holy life and the miracles attributed to him. One such legend tells of a drought that plagued the community. It is said that a religious procession led by Gens brought an end to the drought, through his intercession with God. Another account describes how, during a visit from his parents, Gens caused a spring of fresh water and one of wine to emerge from the earth, providing them with refreshment. A more remarkable tale recounts an encounter with a wolf that threatened Gens's cows. In an act of divine intervention, he caused the wolf to stop its attack, prayed for it, and tamed the animal. The wolf then joined the cattle in plowing the garden plot, serving as a testament to Gens's holiness and his ability to bring harmony to the natural world. Saint Gens passed away on May 16, 1127, or 1140 (records vary) in Le Beaucet, France, of natural causes. He was buried beneath a rock in the valley of Le Beaucet. In the following years, a monastery was erected near his tomb, indicating the reverence that grew around his memory. For centuries, members of La confrérie de Saint-Gens (Brotherhood of Saint-Gens-de-Monteux) embarked on a pilgrimage from the local church to the old hermitage, carrying a statue of the saint. This tradition served as a remembrance of his virtuous life and the miracles associated with him. While Saint Gens of Le Beaucet is not widely represented in art, his devoutness, severe penances, and miraculous deeds have earned him recognition as a revered figure in Catholicism. He is celebrated as the patron saint for rain and is also associated with the towns of Saint-Gence, France, and Saint-Gein, France. Though Saint Gens's official canonization process occurred before the establishment of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, he is acknowledged as a saint by the Catholic Church. His veneration as a saint highlights his exemplary spiritual life and the impact he had on the communities that surrounded him.