St. Peter together with St. Martha, St. Mary Magdalene & St. Leonard Artwork by: Antonio da Correggio
(CNA) St. Leonard was a French nobleman of great reputation in the Court of Clovis I according to EWTN and in the “flower of his age” converted Christianity together with many thousands of others according to SQPN through the witness of Archbishop Saint Regimius subsequent to the victorious Battle of Tolbiac in 496
Following Leonard’s conversion to Christianity, he began a life of ministry and austerity dedicated to God–with his earnest desire to know God better, Leonard decided to enter the Monastery at Orleans, where Saint Mesmin governed according to EWTN that had been founded by his uncle Saint Euspicius in 508 — In this house, Leonard took the religious habit, subsequently his brother Saint Lifiard would follow Leonard’s example according to SQPN leaving the King’s Court, building a Monastery at Meun and living there.
Leonard further desiring a life of solitude and prayer, with drew into the forest at Limousin, converting many along on the way, he would sustain himself on herbs, wild fruits and spring water. Subsequently, Leonard would build an Oratory, leaving it only for journeys to Churches.
People would soon recognize Leonard’s holiness and would beg to live with him at a Monastery that he would subsequently form around his Oratory. — Leonard possessed great compassion for imprisoned prisons and would convert many of them to Christianity and obtained their release.
In 559 Leonard passed away, following his death, many Churches were dedicated to him in France, England, Belgium, Spain, Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Bohemia, Poland and other countries. Pilgrims would flock to Leonard’s tomb. — In one small village in Bavaria, there are records of 4,000 prayers granted through Saint Leonard’s intercession.
More here from Catholic Online and here from uCatholic
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