St. Denis, a patron saint of France, was a missionary bishop together with six others. In 250 A.D., he and his companions were sent by Pope Fabian as missionaries to France. After settling in France, St. Denis was appointed as first bishop of Paris. Denis then carried out his duties with the help of St. Rusticus (a priest) and St. Eleutherius (a deacon). The three were very effective in converting the pagans. The priests of the pagans went to the governor to have the three arrested. After the three were arrested and imprisoned, they were beheaded and their bodies were thrown into the River Seine. Converts of the three clergymen recovered their bodies and buried them in a place that would be the foundation for the Abbey of St. Denis (died ca. 258 A.D.).
St. John Leonardi was the founder of the Clerks Regular of the Mother of God. This congregation of diocesan priests lived with vows, and worked for the reform of clerical life. Leonardi's congregation was approved in 1583 A.D. by Pope Gregory XIII. In 1595 A.D., Pope Clement VIII formally recognized Leonardi's community as a religious congregation. The pope also commissioned John Leonardi to reform the monks of Vallombrosa and Monte Vergine. Leonardi was also instrumental for the founding of what would be now known as the College for the Propagation of the Faith, or Urbanium (named after Pope Urban VIII) (died ca. 1609 A.D.).
Sts. Rusticus and Eleutherius (see biographical sketch on St. Denis above)
St. Demetrius of Alexandria became bishop in ca. 188 A.D. He worked as a bishop for 43 years and also made the catechetical school of Alexandria well-known. He appointed Origen director of this school in 203 A.D. But because Origen preached as a layman (not allowed at that time), Demetrius condemned Origen. Fifteen years later, St. Demetrius had to expel Origen from his diocese for being ordained without his permission (died ca. 231 A.D.).
St. Publia was a Christian widow from Antioch, Syria. She established a community of women in Antioch. When Julian the Apostate was on his way to fight the Persians in ca. 362 A.D., as he passed Publia's community, Julian felt personally offended when they sang Psalm 115. He planned to have the community executed upon his return from the battle with the Persians. His plan however did not materialize as he perished in the battle with the Persians (died ca. 370 A.D.).
Sts. Andronicus and Athanasia were a couple who migrated to Antioch with their two children. After their children died, the couple decided to renounce the world, go to Egypt, and join the solitaries at Skete. There they lived in separate cells in the monastic settlement of Tabenna. After being separated from one another, they found themselves together in a monastery called Eighteen near Alexandria. However, though they were together, Andronicus did not recognize Athanasia. Only upon the death of Athanasia was Andronicus able to recognize Athanasia (died ca. 5th century).
St. Savin was born at Barcelona, Spain and was raised by his widowed mother. When a nephew he was tutoring decided to become a monk at Ligugé, he too decided to become one and followed his nephew there. After some time at Ligugé, he left to become a hermit near the monastery at Palatium Aemilianum in the Pyrenees. He spent his last years in his hermit's cell. A village is now named after him: Saint-Savin de Torbes (died ca. 5th century A.D.).
St. Ghislain was a Frank who became a hermit in Hainault. He then became abbot of a monastery he founded near Mons, which was also named after him. He then encouraged St. Waldetrudis and St. Aldegundis to found convents near Mons - at Castrilocus and Mauberge, respectively. The monastery St. Ghislain founded was formerly called the Cell but is now named Saint-Ghislain. It was built in what is now called Bergen, a city of southwestern Belgium, 35 miles southwest of Brussels (died ca. 680 A.D.).
St. Gunther was a relative of St. Henry. He first led a worldly life but when he reached the age of 50, he met St. Gothard. Gothard convinced him to leave his sinful life behind and to join the Hersfeld Monastery which Gothard was reforming. He followed the counsel of Gothard, made a pilgrimage to Rome, endowed the Hersfeld Monastery with most of his wealth, and entered the monastery where Gothard was abbot (at Niederaltaich, Bavaria). In 1008 A.D., he decided to become a hermit in Lalling Forest. He attracted followers until they were inspired to build a monastery (died ca. 1045 A.D.).
St. Louis Bertrand joined the Dominicans when he was eighteen. Ordained in 1547 A.D., he served as a master of novices, became an outstanding preacher. In 1557 A.D., he encouraged St. Teresa of Avila in her work to reform the Carmelites. In 1562 A.D., he went to Colombia as a missionary. He went throughout the Caribbean area and converted many to the Faith. After his years in mission, he returned to Spain where he spent his last years as prior of several Dominican houses (died ca. 1581 A.D.).
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