Feast of San Leonardo di Noblac (Limoges)

San Leonardo di Noblac, ora pro nobis

November 6th is the Feast of St. Leonard of Noblac (or St. Leonard of Limoges), Forest Hermit, Ascetic, Abbot, and Wonderworker. A sixth century Frankish nobleman in the court of King Clovis I, founder of the Merovingian Dynasty, St. Leonard converted to Catholicism with the King on Christmas Day in 496 AD. As a gift, St. Leonard attained from Clovis the right to liberate any prisoners he deemed deserving of freedom. The Queen, St. Clothilde, is credited with their conversion.

Forgoing the comforts of his station, St. Leonard chose the austere life of a hermit in the forest of Limousin. His reputation of sanctity quickly spread and he soon attracted a large following, especially among redeemed captives. 

One day, while the King was away hunting near St. Leonard's remote bosky hermitage, the expectant Clothilde, went into labor. Unable to return to the Queen in time, Clovis and St. Leonard prayed together for mother and child throughout the night. After safely gaving birth to a princess, also Clothilde, St. Leonard was handsomely rewarded with royal lands at Noblac, where he founded an abbey. 

In the eleventh century many miracles were attributed to the great Saint and his cult spread throughout Europe. Famously, when Prince Bohemond of Antioch, son of Robert the Guiscard, was taken prisoner during the First Crusade he attributed his release to St. Leonard and in gratitude offered silver manacles to the sanctuary of Saint-Léonard-de-Noblat. 

Widely venerated throughout Southern Italy, St. Leonard is the principal patron of Ardore (RC), Portigliola (RC), Roccabascerana (AV), Baselice (BN), Borgia (CZ), Cariati (CS), Trebisacce (CS), Longobardi (VV), Castelmauro (CB), Castelsilano (KR), Colli a Volturno (IS), Forio (NA), Faeto (FG), Mongiuffi Melia (ME), Serradifalco (CL), Màscali (CT), Siculiana (AG), Montallegro (AG), and Partinico (PA). He is also patron saint of captives (prisoners of war, political prisoners, the unjustly imprisoned, etc.), women in labor, blacksmiths, farmers, and livestock.

In celebration, I’m posting a prayer to Saint Leonard of Noblac. The accompanying photo, courtesy of Andrew Giordano, was taken at the shrine of San Leonardo di Noblac inside the Chiesa San Pietro Caveoso in Matera. Evviva San Leonardo!

Prayer to Saint Leonard of Noblac

O Almighty God, who hast called us to faith in thee, and bast compassed us about with so great a cloud of witnesses; Grant that we, encouraged by the good examples of thy Saints, and especially of thy servant Leonard, may persevere in running the race that is set before us, until at length, through thy mercy, we with them attain to thine eternal joy; through him who is the author and finisher of our faith, thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.