9th October, St Dionysius, Bishop, and SS. Rusticus and Eleutherius, Martyrs

St Dionysius, Bishop and SS. Rusticus and Eleutherius, Martyrs

St Dionysius, also called St Denis, was the first Bishop of Paris. He was sent to Lutetia in the 3rd century, accompanied by the priest Rusticus and the deacon Eleutherius. After carrying out his mission there for several years, he was beheaded with his companions (which is why he is represented bearing his head in his hands) at Catulliacum, now St Denis, where they erected over his tomb a basilica; here the kings of France are buried. St. Denis is one of the 14 "Auxiliary Saints"

The Collect and Gospel show forth the Christian heroism of these three Martyrs who fearlessly confessed the name of Christ before men and remained firm in the midst of their sufferings. In the ninth century St Dionysius was erroneously identified with Dionysius the Areopagite, whence the Epistle in the Mass relating the conversion of the latter saint which happened when St Paul passed through Greece on his second journey.

Sapientiam sanctorum narrent populi, et laudes eorum nuntiet Ecclesia: nomina autem eorum vivent in saeculum saeculi. * Exsultate justi in Domino: rectos decet collaudatio.

Let the people show forth the wisdom of the saints, and the Church declare their praise; and their names shall live unto generation and generation. * Rejoice in the Lord, ye just: praise becometh the upright.

(Ecclesiasticus 44:15 and Ps 32:1 from the Introit of Mass)




Deus, qui hodierna die beatum Dionysium, Martyrem tuum at que Pontlficem, virtute constantiae in passione roborasti, quique illi, ad praedicandum gentibus gloriam tuam, Rusticum et Eleutherium sociare dignatus es: tribue nobis, quaesumus; eorum imitatione, pro amore tuo prospera mundi despicere, et nulla ejus adversa formidare.
O God, who for the enduring of his passion, didst on this day endow blessed Dionysius, Thy martyr and bishop, with the virtue of constancy, and who for the preaching of Thy glory to the heathen didst vouchsafe to appoint Rusticus and Eleutherius to be his fellow-workers; grant, we beseech Thee, that we may follow their example by despising the good things of this world for the sake of Thy love and by not fearing any of its adversities.
(Collect)



Istorum est enim regnum caelorum, qui contempserunt vitam mundi, et pervenerunt ad praemia regni, et laverunt stolas suas in sanguine Agni.
Blessed are they who have despised earthly pleasure, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven: they have washed their robes in the blood of the Lamb, and have won the heavenly great reward.
(Magnificat Antiphon from 1st Vespers)



From the Catholic Encyclopaedia: http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/04721a.htm