Saints celebrated on October 9
October 9 Celebration of Saints
Saint Denis of Paris
Born in the third century AD, Saint Denis was sent by Pope Fabian in 250 to be the bishop of Paris. He was beheaded along with Rusticus and Eleutherius on the Mount of Mars (now Montmartre).
He is venerated as the Patron Saint of both Paris and France, and is counted among the 14 Holy Helpers.
After Saint Denis was buried, a chapel was built on the site of his grave. It eventually grew to become an abbey and then a basilica, located in the French city of Saint-Denis, near Paris.
Known as the Apostle of the French, his patronage includes Paris, France, against frenzy, strife, headaches, hydrophobia and possessed people. Attributes include a bishop’s mitre, chains, palms, carrying his head in his hands and a furnace.
Saint Giovanni Leonardi
Saint Giovanni Leonardi was an Italian priest during the Counter-Reformation period. He is known for his religious devotion, miracles, and for founding the Clerks Regular of the Mother of God of Lucca.
Born in 1541, Giovanni was ordained a priest in 1571. and three years later he formed a group to spread Christian devotion and faith, especially devotion to the Blessed Mother and the Forty Hours, and frequent reception of the Eucharist. He took the religious name of Giovanni of the Mother of God.
In 1583 he formed a group of secular priests in Lucca to convert sinners and restore discipline to the church. The Lucca Fathers association was recognized by the bishop of Lucca and approved by Pope Gregory XIII.
However, city leaders in Lucca did not want a new religious order and tried to stop its formation. Because of this, Giovanni left Lucca for Rome, where Saint Philip Neri became his spiritual director.
He died on October 9, 1609 from the plague while ministering to others during the great plague epidemic.
His community of priests was formally designated in 1621 as the Clerks Regular of the Mother of God. Giovanni was beatified in 1861 by Pope Pius IX and canonized in 1938 by Pope Pius XI.
Other Saints
Other saints for this day include: Abraham, Eleuterio and Rustico, Demetrio of Alexandria, Publia, Andronikos and Athanasia, Sabino Abad, Gislán (or Gisleno) and Luis Bertrand.
