Gennard de Fontenelle

Who they were

Gennardo spent his youth at the court of King Clotaire III before deciding, under the influence of Saint Wandregisilus, to become a monk at the abbey of Fontenelle. Little else is known of him beyond his attendance at the Council of Rouen in 689, where he met again his childhood friend Saint Ansbert, by then bishop of that city.

He later left Fontenelle to become the second abbot of Saint-Germer-de-Flay, a Benedictine abbey founded in the 7th century by Saint Germer. Near the end of his life he returned to his first monastery at Fontenelle, where he died around the year 720; his feast is kept on 6 April, the day of his death.

The miracles

There was never a formal cause: he has been honoured as a saint since before the Church's formal processes began.

Why that counted as sanctity

Second abbot of Saint-Germer-de-Flay and friend of Saint Ansbert of Rouen; died around 720, feast 6 April.

Connected on this site

• Ansbert of Rouen Saint
  “Second abbot of Saint-Germer-de-Flay and friend of Saint Ansbert of Rouen; died around 720, feast 6 April.” — this site's research