St. Landry of Paris

St. Landry of Paris (died c. 660) was bishop of Paris in the mid-seventh century, during the Merovingian era. He is remembered above all for his extraordinary compassion during a severe famine that struck the city, when he sold church furnishings, plate, and even sacred vessels to buy food and relieve the starving poor, holding the needs of the suffering above the ornaments of the sanctuary.

He is traditionally credited with founding the first great hospital of Paris, dedicated to the care of the sick and destitute, which developed into the celebrated Hôtel-Dieu that stood for centuries beside Notre-Dame as one of the oldest hospitals in Europe. Honored as a saint for his charity and pastoral zeal, he became a lasting symbol of the Church's care for the poor in the heart of Paris.