St. Leonard of Noblac, Limoges, Hermit and Abbot A.D. 559
by VP
Posted on Thursday November 06, 2025 at 04:00AM in Saints
THE BONDAGE OF SIN. - Leonard, one of the chief personages of the court of Clovis, and to whom this monarch had become sponsor in baptism, was so moved by the discourse and example of St. Remigius, that he relinquished the world in order to lead a more perfect life. The bishop of Rheims having trained Leonard in virtue, he became the apostle of such of the Franks as remained still pagans; but fearful lest he might be summoned to the court on account of his repute for sanctity, he withdrew secretly to the monastery of Micy, near Orleans, and subsequently to the solitude of Noblac, near Limoges. His charity not allowing him to remain inactive while there was so much good to be done, he undertook the work of comforting prisoners, making them understand that the captivity of sin, which they did not bemoan, was more terrible than any mere bodily constraint. He won over a great many of these unfortunate persons, which gained for him many disciples, in whose behoof he founded a new monastery. St. Leonard died towards the year 550.
MORAL REFLECTION.- "The wicked shall be taken with his own iniquities, and shall be held by the cords of his own sins."(Ργου. ν. 22.) Source: Pictorial Half hour with the Saints by Abbe Auguste Lecanu
ST. Leonard was born in France of noble parents; he was baptized by St. Remigius, Bishop of Rheims; Clovis, the first Christian King of France, was his god-father. Clovis offered him, at the proper age, a position of high honor, but Leonard had set his heart on something higher still. He was ordained a priest by Remigius, and passing through the provinces of the broad lands of France, preached of Christ the Crucified to the people, who for the most part worshiped idols. The miracles which he worked, added such force to his words, that thousands and thousands were converted to the faith. He was one day journeying through a thick forest in which the king and his queen were hunting, when the queen was suddenly taken ill. Help was urgently needed. At this very moment, through God's providence, Leonard came to the place where the queen was, and as soon as he saw the sad circumstances, threw himself on his knees in prayer, while the queen gave birth to a finely formed prince. Highly pleased the king, wished to reward Leonard in a princely manner for his prayers. The saint implored the king to give his gifts as alms to the poor; this the king promised, only insisting that Leonard should, at least, accept the forest as a present. But he would take only that part of it, in which the queen so unexpectedly found help, and where he could built huts for himself and his companions, together with a chapel to be dedicated to the Queen of heaven, Mary. The king soon bad one built for him, and thus was commenced the afterwards famous Monastery of St. Leonard at Noblac.
The miraculous power which God gave to the saint, drew the farmers of the neighborhood around him; they came to obtain help from him in all their necessities and no one ever left his presence unaided and unconsoled. The king granted him at times the favor to release prisoners, for whom Leonard had always the greatest compassion. Thus it often happened, that by the saint's aid poor prisoners found the beloved liberty. Others prayed, that God would help them to be released through the merits of His servant St. Leonard, and suddenly the chains fell from their hands and feet, the doors of the prisons opened of itself, and they were free. Many thus freed brought their bonds and chains to the saint, thanking him. But he surprised, humbled himself before God, and used the opportunity to give them touching admonitions to penance, that they might be also loosed from the bonds of sin. They who were sincerely converted and loved solitude, he received into his monastery.
Living in strict penance and in the continual practice of works in honor of God, Leonard reached an advanced age, and had the happiness of seeing the best fruits ripen from the seed which he had planted. Where idolatry, ignorance, coarseness, and horrible vices had their previously own way, there now reigned the pure law of the gospel. The Monastery of Noblac spread its blessings far around, and many who would have been lost in the world, found in it peace for their souls, and a happy death.
Leonard now weary of live, and longing to see the face of Christ, at last received this grace. God called him to Himself by a quiet death in the year 559.
PRAYER OF THE CHURCH. May the intercession, O Lord, of Thy blessed servant St. Leonard commend us to Thee, that those things which we cannot hope for through our own merits, we may obtain by his prayers. Through Christ...
Explanation of the Epistles and Gospels for the Sundays, Holidays By Rev. Leonard Goffiné
