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
#15 Acts of Adoration Jesus Christ in the Blessed Sacrament in reparation for all the offenses committed against Him by mankind [Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament]
by VP
Posted on Thursday November 06, 2025 at 01:00AM in Thursday Reparation
15. We adore Thee, inexhaustible fund of treasures! And to make reparation for all the robberies committed in Thy churches, we offer up to Thee the rich and bountiful donations of Thy devout servants. Eternal praise and thanksgiving be to the Most Holy and Most Divine Sacrament.
O Queen of heaven and earth, hope of mankind, who adores thy Divine Son incessantly! We entreat thee, that, since we have the honor to be of the number of thy children, thou would interest thyself in our behalf and make satisfaction for us, and in our name, to our Eternal Judge, by rendering to Him the duties which we ourselves are incapable of performing. Amen
Sixth Day: The Pain of Loss
by VP
Posted on Thursday November 06, 2025 at 01:00AM in Purgatory Month Meditations
"The spiritual suffering, or the pain of loss, is the greatest pain of Purgatory, according to the Fathers of the Church. No one can comprehend the great suffering of a soul departed, which, in all its ardent desire for the highest and only good, sees itself ever repulsed as an object of God's avenging justice.
St. Alphonsus writes: " Far greater than the pain of sense in Purgatory is that pain which the holy souls must endure in being deprived of the vision of God. Because these souls are inflamed, not only with natural, but with a supernatural love of God, they are so vehemently attracted to union with their highest good, that in being repulsed through their own fault, they experience so violent a pain that it would kill them instantly if death were possible to them." "Therefore," says St. Chrysostom, "this pain of being deprived of God is far greater pain for them than the pain of the senses. The fire of Hell increased a thousand times would not cause them such great suffering as does this pain of the loss of God."
Prayer: O God! Father of Mercies, grant the ardent desire of the souls in Purgatory who yearn to behold Thee. Send down to them Thy holy angel with the joyful tidings that the moment of their deliverance has come, that their exile is ended; and bless them with perfect union with Thee forever. Through Christ Our Lord. Amen.
Prayer for Priests in Purgatory: My Jesus, by the sorrows Thou didst suffer in Thine Agony in the Garden, in Thy Scourging and Crowning with thorns, in the Way to Calvary, in Thy Crucifixion and Death, have mercy on the souls of priests in Purgatory, especially those most forgotten and who have no one else to pray for them. I wish to remember all those priests who ministered to me, the priests my heart has never forgotten, and for those that I no longer recall due to my frailty of memory. Do Thou deliver them from the dire torments they endure; call them and admit them to Thy most sweet embrace in Paradise.
Pope Saint Pius X and Saint John Vianney, pray for us and especially for our priests. Amen
Special Intercession: Pray for the souls who are punished for their forgetfulness of the holy presence of God during their life.
Lord grant them eternal rest, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace. Amen. (three times)
Invocation: My Jesus, mercy!
Source: Manual of the Purgatorian Society, Redemptorist Fathers. 1907
