November 6th - St. Leonard of Noblac, Abbot (RM)
(also known as Lienard, Lithenard)
Born c. 466; died c. 559. Leonard of Noblac was one of the most popular
saints of Western Europe in the late Middle Ages, but the account of his
life is unreliable because it was not written until the 11th century.
Doubtless his popularity was due to the very large number of miracles and
aids attributed to his intercession, and to the enthusiasm of the
returning
crusaders, who looked on him as the patron saint of prisoners.
Tradition has it that, like many young nobles, when Leonard was about six
years old he went to live with Saint Remigius, archbishop of Rheims. About
495 he went to the court of his cousin Clovis, King of the Franks, at the
summons of Queen Clotilde. After accompanying Clovis in a victorious war
against the Germans, Leonard was baptized by Saint Remigius, who had
previously baptized Clovis, Leonard's godfather (some say they were
baptized
the same day). Clovis offered Leonard a bishopric, but he turned it down.
Seeking no earthly rewards, Leonard renounced the life of a Frankish
nobleman and withdrew from the court about the year 501. Instead he went
to
the monastery of Micy in Orleans and became a monk under Saint Mesmin and
Saint Lie. Seeking even more solitude he built himself a little hut in a
forest of Pauvin near Limoges, Aquitaine, in a place called Nobiliac and
lived on vegetables and fruit. His zeal and devotion sometimes carried him
to the neighboring churches where his preaching would inflame others to
imitate his life.
The legend says that one day the king went hunting in this forest,
accompanied by his wife, who was pregnant. The moment of birth arrived,
and
it was clear that the queen was in difficulties. Leonard fell to prayer on
her behalf, and her baby was delivered safely. In gratitude the king said
that the saint should be given as much land as he could ride round in one
day on his donkey. Leonard rode all day, was granted many acres and there
founded the abbey of Noblac around which grew the town of Saint-Léonard.
He
used this abbey as a base to preach the Gospel throughout the whole
region.
Leonard was also known for the miracles wrought on his behalf.
A more conservative version says that after saving Clotilde, he left his
solitude to preach to the people and to try to pacify warring princes. In
540, after visiting Saint Remy and living for several years in a monastery
at Micy, he returned from his mission. The saint appears to have had a
remarkable charity towards prisoners for whom he provided both cor****al
and
spiritual help. Some were miraculously delivered from their chains by his
prayers; others were released by the king at Leonard's request out of
respect for his sanctity-a frequent privilege of certain holy bishops
during
that period. Leonard died in solitude in his monastery in the forest of
Pauvin in Limousin about 599, aged about 99 years.
Leonard was the first saint of the French royal family. Although he was
nearly 100 when he died, he is usually represented in art as a young man
of
about 30, because he appeared to many people at different times as a
handsome young man in the flower of his youth. Today Leonard is regarded
as
the patron saint of childbirth, prisoners (because King Clovis promised
that
any prisoner converted by the saint would be released), prisoners of war
(Bohemond, the crusader prince of Antioch, was released from a Islamic
prison in 1103 and visited Noblac to make an offering in gratitude), and
those in danger from brigands, robbers, and thieves (perhaps because the
public was in danger from the very prisoners whom Leonard was responsible
for releasing ) (Attwater, Bentley, Delaney, Encyclopedia, Husenbeth,
White).
He is ****trayed in art vested as an abbot holding chains in his hand of a
deacon with fetters or locks. Sometimes shown freeing prisoners, with
prisoners nearby in stocks, or with a horse or ox near him (Roeder). He is
venerated at Orleans (Abbey of Micy) and Noblac, and is the patron of
cattle, domestic animals and prisoners (Roeder)
Saint Quote:
It is no small gain to know your own ignorance.
-St. Jerome
Bible Quote
He is come up that shall destroy before thy face, that shall keep the
siege:
watch the way, fortify thy loins, strengthen thy power exceedingly. For
the
Lord hath rendered the pride of Jacob, as the pride of Israel: because the
spoilers have laid them waste, and have marred their vine branches.
(Nahum
2:1-2)
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A prayer to be free from a sudden and unprovided death:
O most merciful Lord Jesus, by Thine agony and sweat of
Blood, by Thy precious death, deliver us, we beseech Thee,
from a sudden and unprovided death. O most kind Lord
Jesus, by Thy most sharp and ignominious scourging and
crowning with thorns, by Thy holy Cross and bitter Passion,
by Thy loving-kindness, we humbly pray that Thou wouldst
not suffer us to die unprovided with Thy holy Sacraments.
O dearly beloved Lord Jesus, by all Thy labors and sorrows,
by Thy Precious Blood and sacred Wounds, by those
Thy last words on the Cross: " My God, my God, why hast
Thou forsaken me?" and those other: "Father, into Thy hands
I commend my spirit," we most earnestly beseech Thee to
deliver us from a sudden death. Grant us, we pray, room for
repentance; grant us a happy passing in Thy grace, that so we
may be able to love Thee, praise Thee and bless Thee forever.
Amen.
Our Father... Hail Mary... Glory be...
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