France

Winchester, VA - Saint Denis was a bishop of Paris in the third century who was martyred with his companions Rusticus and Eleutherius. There are different accounts his story. According to one account by the poet Venantius Fortunatus, he was sent from Italy to Gaul to evangelize the peoples and settled on the Ile de la Cite on the Seine River. These three missionaries were so effective at converting the Gauls, […]

Winchester, VA - Born in 1581 in Gascony, France, to peasant farmers, Vincent was a smart child, but he was required to work as the herder of his family's livestock. His father would go on to sell his oxen to finance Vincent's seminary education at 15.  Vincent's goal in becoming a priest was to become successful, obtain a benefice, retire early and support his family with his money. Vincent went on, […]

Winchester, VA - The French Revolution was a bloody affair for many in France, but especially for Catholic religious, whose convents and monasteries were closed during the Reign of Terror and who were forbidden from practicing their faith. The 16 Carmelite nuns of Compiegne were one such order, whose convent was closed in 1790, but who were arrested in 1794 on charges of continuing to live in community. Continuing their communal […]

Winchester, VA - Louis and Zelie Martin were born in 1823 and 1831 respectively in France. Both set their hearts on a religious vocation, but such a vocation was not to be for either of them. Louis became a watchmaker and Zelie a crafter of the delicate Alencon lace. While walking on a bridge one day, Zelie recalled that passing a distinguished looking gentleman, she heard an interior voice she identified […]