ORIGINAL Saint Germaine Cousin Charcoal Sketch
This original 5×7” charcoal sketch, featuring Saint Germaine Cousin is one of 10 sketches completed in my 2024 October Saint Sketch Challenge. All earnings from these sketches from now through November 9th will go to Cross Catholic Outreach for hurricane relief from recent hurricanes, Helene and Milton. Purchase this original to help unlock prints of this piece so others can help contribute to the cause!
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DETAILS:
*original 5×7” charcoal sketch on paper
*Frame/unframed option
*Frame can either sit or stand
*If choosing framed option, please allow 2 weeks for processing
……………………………………………….
ABOUT THIS SAINT/PIECE:
As I stared outside the window washing dishes, thinking about how I would like to depict Saint Germaine, I noticed that my four-year-old daughter was sitting on the picnic table quietly playing by herself. The wind was blowing her hair gently, and I had this overwhelming feeling that God was delighting in her in that very moment. Just as He would have delighted in little Saint Germaine. I can see the little shepherdess sitting in the fields, watching her sheep. Maybe playing with them every once in while in true childlike fashion. And the Lord gently blowing her hair in the breeze delighting in her for simply being His beloved child.
The story of Saint Germaine Cousin is a Cinderella story indeed, despite the absence of fairy Godmothers, and royal marriages that promise “happily ever after.”
No, Saint Germaine was born with deformity/paralysis in her right arm. She was often weak due to malnutrition, and experienced a terrible illness called scrofula, which resulted in cysts/sores on the face and neck. As a result, she faced neglect from her father and abuse from her stepmother. Her stepmother in particular made life quite difficult for the child, treating Germaine like an an outcast and slave due to her deformity/illness. She was made to sleep in the barn rather than indoors with her half-siblings (so as not to spread her illness which had no known cure at the time.) She was starved, beaten, and ridiculed often.
And her daily job was to take care of the family’s sheep.
Despite the lack of care and affection, Germaine’s faith/love in God drew stronger by the day. She had a particular devotion to the Eucharist and would go out of her way to attend Mass, even if it meant leaving her sheep unattended. Stories tell that Germaine’s trust in God was so great, that when she would attend Mass, angels would come and watch over the flock until her return.
Upon seeing the child carrying something in her apron one day, Germaine’s stepmother accused her of stealing bread. Yet, when the accused revealed what was truly in her apron, her stepmother was shocked to see Germaine had been gathering the most beautiful flowers despite it being the middle of winter. After this, people began to notice the holiness of the child, and sought to accept her into their community. But at this point, Germaine was perfectly content with her life, as she found throughout all the neglect and hardship, that the only thing she truly needed was God. So she continued her life as shepherdess and returned to her barn in the evenings to rest.
Saint Germaine died peacefully at the age of 22, and her body was found to be completely incorrupt forty years later.
Saint Germaine Cousin, patron saint of abuse/neglect victims and those with disabilities…pray for us!
This original 5×7” charcoal sketch, featuring Saint Germaine Cousin is one of 10 sketches completed in my 2024 October Saint Sketch Challenge. All earnings from these sketches from now through November 9th will go to Cross Catholic Outreach for hurricane relief from recent hurricanes, Helene and Milton. Purchase this original to help unlock prints of this piece so others can help contribute to the cause!
………………………………………………
DETAILS:
*original 5×7” charcoal sketch on paper
*Frame/unframed option
*Frame can either sit or stand
*If choosing framed option, please allow 2 weeks for processing
……………………………………………….
ABOUT THIS SAINT/PIECE:
As I stared outside the window washing dishes, thinking about how I would like to depict Saint Germaine, I noticed that my four-year-old daughter was sitting on the picnic table quietly playing by herself. The wind was blowing her hair gently, and I had this overwhelming feeling that God was delighting in her in that very moment. Just as He would have delighted in little Saint Germaine. I can see the little shepherdess sitting in the fields, watching her sheep. Maybe playing with them every once in while in true childlike fashion. And the Lord gently blowing her hair in the breeze delighting in her for simply being His beloved child.
The story of Saint Germaine Cousin is a Cinderella story indeed, despite the absence of fairy Godmothers, and royal marriages that promise “happily ever after.”
No, Saint Germaine was born with deformity/paralysis in her right arm. She was often weak due to malnutrition, and experienced a terrible illness called scrofula, which resulted in cysts/sores on the face and neck. As a result, she faced neglect from her father and abuse from her stepmother. Her stepmother in particular made life quite difficult for the child, treating Germaine like an an outcast and slave due to her deformity/illness. She was made to sleep in the barn rather than indoors with her half-siblings (so as not to spread her illness which had no known cure at the time.) She was starved, beaten, and ridiculed often.
And her daily job was to take care of the family’s sheep.
Despite the lack of care and affection, Germaine’s faith/love in God drew stronger by the day. She had a particular devotion to the Eucharist and would go out of her way to attend Mass, even if it meant leaving her sheep unattended. Stories tell that Germaine’s trust in God was so great, that when she would attend Mass, angels would come and watch over the flock until her return.
Upon seeing the child carrying something in her apron one day, Germaine’s stepmother accused her of stealing bread. Yet, when the accused revealed what was truly in her apron, her stepmother was shocked to see Germaine had been gathering the most beautiful flowers despite it being the middle of winter. After this, people began to notice the holiness of the child, and sought to accept her into their community. But at this point, Germaine was perfectly content with her life, as she found throughout all the neglect and hardship, that the only thing she truly needed was God. So she continued her life as shepherdess and returned to her barn in the evenings to rest.
Saint Germaine died peacefully at the age of 22, and her body was found to be completely incorrupt forty years later.
Saint Germaine Cousin, patron saint of abuse/neglect victims and those with disabilities…pray for us!
This original 5×7” charcoal sketch, featuring Saint Germaine Cousin is one of 10 sketches completed in my 2024 October Saint Sketch Challenge. All earnings from these sketches from now through November 9th will go to Cross Catholic Outreach for hurricane relief from recent hurricanes, Helene and Milton. Purchase this original to help unlock prints of this piece so others can help contribute to the cause!
………………………………………………
DETAILS:
*original 5×7” charcoal sketch on paper
*Frame/unframed option
*Frame can either sit or stand
*If choosing framed option, please allow 2 weeks for processing
……………………………………………….
ABOUT THIS SAINT/PIECE:
As I stared outside the window washing dishes, thinking about how I would like to depict Saint Germaine, I noticed that my four-year-old daughter was sitting on the picnic table quietly playing by herself. The wind was blowing her hair gently, and I had this overwhelming feeling that God was delighting in her in that very moment. Just as He would have delighted in little Saint Germaine. I can see the little shepherdess sitting in the fields, watching her sheep. Maybe playing with them every once in while in true childlike fashion. And the Lord gently blowing her hair in the breeze delighting in her for simply being His beloved child.
The story of Saint Germaine Cousin is a Cinderella story indeed, despite the absence of fairy Godmothers, and royal marriages that promise “happily ever after.”
No, Saint Germaine was born with deformity/paralysis in her right arm. She was often weak due to malnutrition, and experienced a terrible illness called scrofula, which resulted in cysts/sores on the face and neck. As a result, she faced neglect from her father and abuse from her stepmother. Her stepmother in particular made life quite difficult for the child, treating Germaine like an an outcast and slave due to her deformity/illness. She was made to sleep in the barn rather than indoors with her half-siblings (so as not to spread her illness which had no known cure at the time.) She was starved, beaten, and ridiculed often.
And her daily job was to take care of the family’s sheep.
Despite the lack of care and affection, Germaine’s faith/love in God drew stronger by the day. She had a particular devotion to the Eucharist and would go out of her way to attend Mass, even if it meant leaving her sheep unattended. Stories tell that Germaine’s trust in God was so great, that when she would attend Mass, angels would come and watch over the flock until her return.
Upon seeing the child carrying something in her apron one day, Germaine’s stepmother accused her of stealing bread. Yet, when the accused revealed what was truly in her apron, her stepmother was shocked to see Germaine had been gathering the most beautiful flowers despite it being the middle of winter. After this, people began to notice the holiness of the child, and sought to accept her into their community. But at this point, Germaine was perfectly content with her life, as she found throughout all the neglect and hardship, that the only thing she truly needed was God. So she continued her life as shepherdess and returned to her barn in the evenings to rest.
Saint Germaine died peacefully at the age of 22, and her body was found to be completely incorrupt forty years later.
Saint Germaine Cousin, patron saint of abuse/neglect victims and those with disabilities…pray for us!