Leonardo di Noblac, the Saint of November 6, history and prayer

Tomorrow, Saturday 6 November, the Catholic Church commemorates Leonardo of Noblac.

He is one of the most popular saints in all of Central Europe, to the point that no less than 600 chapels and churches have been dedicated to him, including that of Inchenhofen, in Bavarian Swabia, which, in the Middle Ages, was even the fourth place of pilgrimage in the world after Jerusalem, Rome and Santiago de Compostela.

The name of this French abbot is inextricably linked to the fate of the convicts. In fact, having obtained from the King the power to free the prisoners, Leonardo rushes to all the places where he learns that they are.

In addition, many prisoners who have seen their chains break at the mere invocation of his name, seek refuge in his monastery, where they are offered to be able to work in the forest rather than continue robbing for their livelihood. Leonardo died in 559 near Limoges. In addition to women in labor and prisoners, he is also considered the patron of grooms, peasants, blacksmiths, fruit traders and miners.

According to some sources, Leonardo was a frank courtier who was converted from Saint Remigius: he refused the offer of a seat from his godfather, King Clovis I, and became a monk in Micy.

He lived as a hermit in Limoges and was rewarded by the king with all the land that he could ride on a donkey in one day for his prayers. He founded the monastery of Noblac on the land thus granted to him and grew up in the city of Saint-Leonard. He remained there to evangelize the surrounding area until his death.

PRAYER TO SAINT LEONARDO OF NOBLAC

O Good Father Saint Leonard, I have chosen you as my patron and my intercessor with God. Turn your merciful gaze to me, your humble servant, and lift my soul towards the eternal goods of Heaven. Protect me against all evil, against the dangers of the world and the temptations of the devil.Inspire in me true love and true devotion for Jesus Christ, so that my sins may be forgiven and, by virtue of your holy intercession, I may be strengthened in the faith vivified in hope and ardent in charity.

Today and especially at the hour of my death, I commend myself to your holy intercession, when before the court of God I will have to give an account of all my thoughts, words and works; so that, after this short earthly pilgrimage, I may be received in the eternal tabernacles, and that, together with you, I may praise, venerate and glorify Almighty God, for all eternity. Amen.