d with signal success, and finally
obtained the crown of martyrdom on Oct. 9, 119. Dionysius was beheaded
at the advanced age of 110 years.

The spot where the three martyrs Dionysius, Rusticus, and Eleutherius
suffered martyrdom, is the well-known hill of Montmartre. An ancient
tradition relates that St. Dionysius, after his head was severed from
his body, took it up with his own hands and carried it two thousand
paces to the place where, later, a church was built in his honor. The
bodies of the martyrs were thrown into the river Seine, but taken up and
honorably interred by a Christian lady named Catulla not far from the
place where they had been beheaded. The Christians soon built a chapel
on their tomb.

St. Dionysius was not only a great missionary and bishop, but also one
of the most illustrious writers of the early Church. Some of his works,
which are full of Catholic doctrine and Christian wisdom, are still
extant, and well worthy of a convert and disciple of St. Paul, whose
spirit they breathe.

LESSON

THE apostolic men like St. Dionysius, who converted so many to Christ,
were filled with His spirit, and acted and lived for Him alone. They
gave their lives to spread His religion, convinced that the welfare of
individuals and nations depends upon it.

On religion depends the security and stability of all government and of
society. Human laws are too weak to restrain those who disregard and
despise the law of God. Unless a man's conscience is enlightened by
religion and bound by its precepts, his passions will so far enslave
him, that the impulse of evil inclinations will prompt him to every
villainy of which he hopes to derive an advantage, if he can but
accomplish his purpose secretly and with impunity.

True religion, on the contrary, insures comfort, peace, and happiness
amid the sharpest trials, safety in death itself, and after death the
most glorious and eternal reward in God. How grateful, therefore, must
we be to the men who preached the true religion amid so many
difficulties, trials, and persecutions; and also to those who preach it
now, animated by the same spirit. And how carefully should we avoid all
persons, books, and periodicals that revile and calumniate our holy
Faith, and attempt its subversion!

_Prayer of the Church_

O GOD, who didst confer on Thy blessed servant Dionysius the virtue of
fortitude in suffering, and didst join with him Rusticus and
Eleutherius, to announce Thy glo