St. Denis (also know as Dionysius) was born in Italy but is very popular in France. In fact, he is considered the patron saint of France. Because he lived at the beginning of Christian history-during the third century - we don’t know as much about him as we would like to.

He came to France and became the bishop of Paris. Then the Emperor Valerian began to harass and trouble the Christians in 258. One day St. Denis was preaching the Good News of Jesus when he and two companions were martyred. His companions were a priest named Rusticus and a deacon named Eleutherius.

The Christian community cherished the memory of these brave martyrs. At first, they were only able to build a little chapel to mark the sight of their death. Later the chapel became the great church of St. Denis.

St. Denis and his companions remind us of the brave men, women and children who have gone before us. They give us the example of their lives and also remind us that they will help us now if we ask them.

The courage of these martyrs sprang from living each day in faithfulness to the spirit of the Gospel.