Saint Leonard of Noblac, a humble and devoted servant of God

 Today, we remember Saint Leonard of Noblac, a humble and devoted servant of God who lived in the 6th century.

Saint Leonard of Noblac (d. 559) was a Frankish nobleman and disciple of Saint Remigius. After converting to Christianity along with King Clovis I, Leonard was given special permission to visit prisons and free those he believed were unjustly held. Choosing a life of humility, he declined a bishopric and became a hermit at Noblac in the Limousin region of

France, where his holiness attracted followers.

Leonard became widely venerated in the Middle Ages, especially as the patron saint of prisoners, captives, women in labor, and livestock. His cult spread rapidly from the 12th century, especially after Bohemond I of Antioch credited Leonard’s intercession for his release from captivity during the Crusades. This inspired many pilgrimages and donations, which led to the construction of the large Romanesque church in Saint-Léonard-de-Noblat.

His feast day is 6 November, and he is honored in Catholic, Orthodox, and Anglican traditions. Many churches, places, and pilgrimages across Europe—particularly in France, Bavaria, England, Germany, Italy, and Malta—are dedicated to him.