Saint Germaine of Pibrac (1579-1601)

Saint Germaine of Pibrac was born with a withered hand. She was desperately poor, growing up on a farm in the French countryside. She was mistreated by her stepmother, fed on scraps, and forced to sleep in the stable. She was a shepherdess from the age of nine. On one bitter, cold, icy winter's day, she was accused by her stepmother of stealing a loaf of bread to feed a starving beggar. Germaine's apron was wrenched open and onlookers expected to see the stolen loaf fall to the ground. Instead, out fell a shower of fresh spring flowers, as fresh and redolent as if they were picked seconds before. Saint Germain of Pibrac died at the age of 21, still a poor French shepherdess. (Taken from "Saints Passionate and Peculiar.")