Born in Italy in the third century, Denis was sent to convert the Gauls. 

With him were five other Bishops who helped establish a mission on an island in the Seine near what would become Paris.

This occurred during the reign of the Roman emperor Decius, a vicious persecutor of the early Church. 

Denis and two of those with him, Rusticus and Eleutherius, were arrested and taken to Monte Marte, the mount of Martyrs, and there they were beheaded. 

Denis was buried in a small village north of Paris where, in the sixth century, Ste. Genevieve had a Basilica built over his tomb. 

St. Denis and Companions, please pray for us.