October 9th - Feast of St. Denis

St. Denis is said to have been born in Italy, but has become the patron saint of France.  He was born ca. 190 and d. ca. 258.  St. Denis became the bishop of Paris where he encountered Emperor Valerian.  St. Denis and his two friends Rusticus and Eleutherius were imprisoned and then  martyred on Montmartre.  After being decapitated, St. Denis is said to have picked up his head and walked six miles preaching the gospel the entire way.