Podcast channels: Apple β Spotify β iHeart β Audible. Quote: After this, they were brought before the judge and subjected to further torture. Then, the judge ordered the beheading of all three of themβDenis, Rusticus, and Eleutheriusβwhile they were professing their faith in the Holy Trinity. This execution took place near the Temple of Mercury, and they were beheaded using three axes.
Immediately after, the body of St. Denis stood up and carried his own head in his arms. Guided by an angel, he walked about two miles from the execution site, known as the Hill of the Martyrs, to the location where he now rests, which he chose through divine guidance. Reflection: Saint Denis, whose Latin name is Dionysius, was most likely a Roman citizen who was born within the Roman Empire, possibly modern-day Italy.
Nothing certain is known about his early life, and the mixture of fact and legend about his later life and martyrdom comes from at least the sixth century.
He is believed to have been martyred sometime in the middle- to late-third century. Most sources suggest that he was martyred during the reign of Emperor Decius, who ruled from to and initiated a widespread persecution of Christians. Others suggest that his martyrdom might have been during the reign of Valerian, who ruled from to and also persecuted Christians. Still others suggest a later date. Pope Fabian served as pope from β As a layman and a farmer, he was an unlikely candidate for the papacy.
However, he had traveled to Rome to attend the election of the new pope in , and, during the debate, a dove miraculously landed upon him. Everyone present believed this to be a divine sign, and he was immediately chosen by popular consent to be the new Vicar of Christ.
