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The exact century is unknown in which Denis, or Dionysius, was born, though many traditional accounts identify him with Dionysius the Areopagite, who was baptized by St. Paul himself and served as Bishop of Athens. Whatever the case, Denis was sent from Rome to evangelize Gaul. He founded the diocese of Paris, from which he directed the establishment of other churches in what is now France. Eventually the pagans imprisoned, tortured, and beheaded Denis, along with a priest, St. Rusticus, and a deacon, St. Eleutherius. Denis, however, picked up his own head and carried it several miles, preaching the entire way, becoming the most famous of the many cephalophores, or saints who carried their own decapitated head. Denis is fittingly invoked against headaches as one of the Fourteen Holy Helpers. St. Genevieve caused the building of the first major church in his honor, now a cathedral, and together they are patrons of Paris. Denis is also the patron of the French people, and for centuries the French monarchs were accompanied in battle by a great crimson banner symbolizing the saint’s blood and known as the Oriflamme.
AT Paris, the birthday [into heaven] of the holy martyrs Denis the Areopagite, bishop, Rusticus, priest, and Eleutherius, deacon. Denis was baptized by the apostle St. Paul, and consecrated first bishop of Athens. Then going to Rome, he was sent to Gaul by the blessed Roman Pontiff Clement, to preach the Gospel. He proceeded to Paris, and after having for some years faithfully filled the office entrusted to him, he was subjected to the severest kinds of torments by the prefect Fescenninus, and at length, being beheaded with his companions, completed his martyrdom.
The same day, the commemoration of the holy patriarch Abraham, father of all believers.
At Julia (now Borgo-San-Donnino), near Parma, on the Claudian road, St. Domninus, martyr, under the emperor Maximian. As he was trying to escape the raging persecution, he was overtaken by his pursuers, and being transpierced with a sword, died gloriously.
At Cassino, St. Deusdedit, abbot, who was cast into prison by the tyrant Sicardus, and being there consumed with hunger and misery, yielded up his soul.
In Hainaut, St. Gislenus, bishop and confessor, who, resigning his See, led the monastical life in a monastery built by himself, and was distinguished by many virtues.
At Valencia, in Spain, St. Louis Bertrand, of the Order of Preachers, who, being filled with the apostolic spirit, confirmed, by the innocence of his life and the working of many miracles, the Gospel which he had preached in America.
At Jerusalem, the Saints Andronicus, and Athanasia, his wife.
At Antioch, St. Publia, abbess, who, whilst Julian the Apostate was passing by, sang with her religious these words of David: “The idols of the Gentiles are silver and gold;” and: “Let them that make them, become like unto them.” By the command of the emperor, she was struck on the face and severely rebuked.
℣. And elsewhere many other holy martyrs, confessors, and holy virgins.
℟. Thanks be to God.