On 2 September 1792, French revolutionaries in Paris gravely concerned over the approaching armies of Prussians and believing that the Catholic Clergy were an unreliable support, attacked and killed many Catholic clergy and religious.

At a Carmelite convent, 150 priests were massacred, including Bl. Severin Girault, a member of the Third Order of St. Francis. Bl. Severin and the other priests at the Carmelite convent had been imprisoned there by the French Revolutionary government for refusing to take the oath of loyalty to the French Revolution.

Over the next several days other Catholics would be killed – including 200 priests and three bishops. Many of those who lost their lives would be beatified in 1926.