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St. Denis served as a missionary in Paris, and he later became the first bishop of Paris. The non-Christians were angry over the saint’s success in converting people, so the Roman governor imprisoned him. Along with Ss. Rusticus and Eleutherius, he was martyred during Valerius’ persecutions. The saint died when he was beheaded circa 258 in Montmartre. St. Genevieve built a basilica over his grace. St. Denis is one of the Fourteen Holy Helpers as patron saint against headaches. He is also patron saint against strife and frenzy.

St. Justina of Padua lived in the third century. She took private vows of chastity and devotion to God when she was a young woman. She was martyred circa 304 during Diocletian’s persecutions. St. Justina is patron saint of Padua, Italy.

St. Placid lived in the sixth century. It is said that he was placed into the care of St. Benedict after the saint saved him from drowning. St. Placid accompanied St. Benedict at Monte Cassino and Subiaco. One legend credits St. Placid with founding St. John the Baptist Monastery in Messina, Sicily. St. Placid’s disciples include Eutychius, Faustus, Donatus and Firmatus.

St. Francis of Assisi was born in Italy circa 1181. During a serious illness, he converted to Christianity after a vision of Jesus. He literally followed the example of Jesus. He begged for sustenance and preached about peace and purity. He helped the sick, visited hospitals and treated all people as his siblings. After beginning to attract followers in 1209, he received a papal blessing and founded the Franciscans. Clare of Assisi became his spiritual student in 1212, after which the Poor Clares were founded. St. Francis lived with animals, and composed songs to God. He received stigmata circa 1224 and died Oct. 4, 1226. St. Francis of Assisi is patron saint of animals, ecology and peace.

St. Candidus was a Roman martyr who was buried on Esquiline Hill.

St. Therese of Lisieux was born Jan. 2, 1873, in France. At the age of 8, she was cured from an illness after a statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary smiled at her. When she was 15, she became a Carmelite nun. St. Therese named her path to God as “the little way.” This “little way” is based on loving and trusting God. Miracles have been attributed to her. She died in Lisieux, France, of tuberculosis in 1897. In 1997, Pope John Paul II declared her a doctor of the church. St. Therese is patron saint of sick people.

St. Jerome was born in 347 to a rich, non-Christian family. He studied in Rome to become a lawyer. He was baptized in 365, and began to study theology after he truly converted. Becoming a monk, he lived as a hermit in the desert. He became a priest and then secretary to Pope Damasus I, who had him revise the Latin text of the Bible. He died in 419. This saint is a doctor of the church and a father of the church. St. Jerome is patron saint of librarians, students and translators.

St. Michael the Archangel was the leader of God’s army during Lucifer’s uprising. His name means “Who is like God?” This was the battle cry of the forces in heaven during the uprising. He is patron saint of battle, bakers, bankers, dying people, knights, mariners, police officers, and many other places and people.

St. Firminus of Amiens was born circa 272 in Pamplona, Spain. This son of a Roman senator was converted to Christianity by St. Saturninus. He was then ordained in Toulouse, France, by St. Honestus. He became a missionary in France and first bishop of Amiens when he was just 24 years old. The martyr was beheaded circa 303. St. Firminus is patron saint of Amiens, France.

Today is the feast of Our Lady of Mercy, which commemorates her apparition. She also is known as Our Lady of Ransom. When she appeared, she carried two bags of coins, which she used to ransom Christians whom the Moors had imprisoned. The Mercedarian Order was founded in Barcelona, Spain, on Aug. 10, 1218, after the appearance, and the order was approved by Pope Gregory IX Jan. 17, 1235. Our Lady of Mercy is patron saint of Barcelona and people named Mercy, Mercedes or Clemency.

St. Linus, born in the Tuscany area of Italy, became the second pope in the year 67. In the Canon of the Mass, he is mentioned in the prayer “Communicantes.” Any ancient documents about him have been proven to be inaccurate, so nothing else is known about this saint.

St. Maurice, who lived in the third century, was an officer in a legion of Christian soldiers from Upper Egypt. When St. Maurice and the Christian soldiers, as many as 6,600 men, refused to be involved in pagan sacrifices before battle, they were killed by their fellow soldiers. The saint was martyred circa 287 in what is now Switzerland. St. Maurice is patron saint of alpine troops.