Leobardus

ON S. LEOBARDUS, RECLUSE AT MARMOUTIER NEAR TOURS.

Around the Year 583.

Leobardus, Recluse in Gaul (S.)

From various sources.

[1] The monastery of S. Martin, commonly called Marmoutier (in French, Marmoustier), two miles distant from the city of Tours, produced many ascetics renowned for religious virtue. Among these was S. Leobardus, concerning whom the Roman Martyrology records on 18 January: "In the same place (Tours), S. Leobardus the recluse, The feast of S. Leobardus, who was resplendent for his wondrous abstinence and humility." He is also mentioned by Galesinius, Saussay, Molanus in his Additions to Usuardus, Wion, Menardus, Dorganius, Canisius, and others. Maurolycus and the Cologne Martyrology call him Leobaldus; the Carthusians of Cologne in their supplement to Usuardus call him Leopardus. Hence the Florarium: "At Tours, Leopardus the Confessor." And with some words intervening: "At Marmoutier, S. Leobaldus the Confessor." Felicius calls him Leobardus or Leobaldus; Ferrarius calls him Leonardus and places him on 17 January.

[2] The life of S. Leobardus was written by S. Gregory of Tours in his book on the Lives of the Fathers, the last chapter. We have collated it, previously published by Surius, with the MS. of S. Mary de Ripatorio and several printed copies. His life. The same life, but somewhat abridged, is recounted by Benedictus Gononus in book 2 on the Lives of the Western Fathers, Zacharias Lippelous, and others. In the life of S. Gregory of Tours on 17 November, the following is recorded about Leobardus: "Nor was he less solicitous with similar virtue toward the blessed Leobardus: whom an evil spirit was so disturbing with sinister thoughts that, on account of a certain insult of words, he had resolved to migrate from the place where he had long enclosed himself. But neither could he fall into ruin who deserved to have Gregory as his support. For when the latter came to Marmoutier according to his custom, as if to kiss the sacred footprints of Martin, the solicitous pastor, concerned about how the sheep bound by the love of Christ was faring, turned aside to his hut. To him the recluse at once disclosed the secrets of his heart, which the devil had fashioned as though they were reasonable. Gregory at once, with his most sagacious mind, detected the devil's schemes, and sighing with no small grief, began to rebuke the man and with fitting words laid bare the diabolical cunning: and returning home, he sent him out of pious concern books suited to the purpose of monks. Having read these, not only was he cured of the assault he was suffering, His era. but he also advanced greatly in keenness of understanding." From this the era of S. Leobardus can be gathered, since Gregory was raised to the episcopate in the year 572.

[3] Ioannes Savaro writes in his Origins of Clermont that relics of the Abbot S. Leobardus are preserved in the church of S. Paul at Auvergne, his relics, which he took from the booklet 2 on the Saints, churches, and monasteries of Clermont, where the following is found at no. 14: "In the church of S. Paul, there rests S. Leonardus." On which he himself comments thus: "A native of the territory of Auvergne, a contemporary of S. Gregory of Tours, enclosed in a cell near Marmoutier, who, having well run the course of his life in the utmost austerity, was laid in the tomb that he himself had carved with a mattock in his cell. Gregory of Tours, on the Lives of the Fathers, last chapter. I would believe that Auvergne afterward claimed him as its own and placed him in this church of S. Paul." So he writes. But the argument is slender, since he is called Leonardus, and many Saints of that name have lived in Gaul.

LIFE

By S. Gregory, Bishop of Tours.

Leobardus, Recluse in Gaul (S.)

BHL Number: 4846

Author: S. Gregory of Tours.

[1] The faithful Church is built up whenever the deeds of the Saints are most devoutly recounted: and although the greatest joy is held concerning those who from the beginning of their life led a religious life and deserved to arrive at the harbor of perfection; nevertheless the Church also rejoices, at the Lord's command, concerning those who, converted from the world, were able to bring their begun work to completion, with divine mercy assisting.

[2] The most blessed Leobardus, then, was a native of the territory of Auvergne, not indeed of senatorial stock, but freeborn: who from the beginning held God in his heart, and though he did not shine with glorious birth, nevertheless he was resplendent in his merits. S. Leobardus learns his letters: He, when the proper time came, was sent to school with other boys, and committed something of the Psalms to memory, and not knowing that he was to become a cleric, the innocent boy was already being prepared for the Lord's ministry.

[3] But when he had reached a lawful age, at the urging of his parents according to human custom, he was impelled to give a pledge to a girl, as though about to take a wife. But when he refused, his father said: "Why, dearest son, He contracts a betrothal with a girl: do you spurn your father's wish and refuse to be joined in marriage, so as to raise up offspring from our line, for the benefit of future generations? For we labor in vain if there shall be no possessor to enjoy the fruits. Why do we fill our house with wealth if no one shall proceed from our line to use it? Why do we subject slaves, purchased at a price, to our dominions, if they must again be subject to the dominions of strangers? The divine Scriptures testify that children ought to obey the voice of their parents: and since you are shown to be disobedient to your parents, see that you cannot extricate yourself from heavenly offenses." With the father speaking thus, although he had other sons, he easily persuaded one of such tender age not to oppose his will. And so, having given a ring to the bride, he offers a kiss, presents the shoe, and celebrates the festive day of the betrothal.

[4] Meanwhile, his father and mother, lulled by the sleep of death, departed from the world, the course of their present life having been completed. He, however, together with one brother, when the time of mourning was over, proceeded laden with bridal gifts to the house of another brother: whom he found so sodden with wine that he neither recognized nor wished to receive his own brother in his own house. Sighing and weeping, he withdrew to one side and came to a hut in which hay had been gathered, and there, tethering his horse and giving it fodder, he lay down on the hay to rest. Awakened in the middle of the night, he rose from his bed, and with hands raised to heaven began to give thanks to almighty God -- that he existed, that he lived, He deliberates about leaving the world: that he was nourished by God's gifts -- and continued in many such things. And as he drew long sighs and abundantly watered his cheeks with frequent tears, almighty God, who those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, pierced his heart, so that, leaving the world, he might be devoted to divine worship. Then he, as though already a priest and guardian of his own soul, began to preach to himself, saying: "What are you doing, O my soul? Why are you held suspended in doubt? For the world is vain, its desires are vain, the glory of the world is vain, and all things that are in it are vanity. It is better, therefore, to leave it and follow the Lord than to give consent to its works."

[5] He goes to Marmoutier: Having said these things, when the daylight began to restore the day to the earth, he mounted his horse and began to return to his lodging. And as he was now going along the road with cheerful spirit, he began to revolve within himself what he should do and where he should go; and he said: "I shall seek the tomb of B. Martin, whence nourishing virtue proceeds upon the sick; for I believe that his prayer will also open for me the way to God, who, having besought the Lord himself, brought back the dead from the underworld." And so, making his way with prayer as his companion, he entered the basilica of S. Martin: near which, after staying a few days, he crossed the river and devoutly came to a cell near Marmoutier, from which a certain Alaricus had withdrawn: and there, making parchment with his own hands, he applied himself to writing; there he exercised himself to understand the Holy Scriptures and to retain in memory the Psalms of David's song, which had formerly slipped away. And thus, instructed by the readings of the divine Scriptures, he recognized as true what the Lord had previously inspired in his heart. But lest these things that we have related should seem to anyone as fables, I call God to witness, for I learned them from the mouth of the blessed man himself.

[6] He lives there in holiness: After a short interval of time, he showed himself to be of such quality and stature that he was honored by all: and taking a mattock, he enlarged the cell he had entered by cutting the rock: in which cell he delighted in fasting, prayer, psalmody, and reading: and he never ceased from divine offices and prayer. He sometimes wrote, to shake off noxious thoughts.

[7] Meanwhile, however, so that the tempter might show himself ever hostile and envious to the servants of God, when one of the holy monks had had a certain dispute with neighboring brethren, he put into the recluse's mind the thought that he should leave that cell and move to another. He is tempted but confirmed by S. Gregory of Tours: And when we came there for prayer as usual, he disclosed to us the scheme of the creeping poison. And I, sighing with no small grief, began to rebuke the man, asserting that this was the cunning of the devil, and departing from him I sent him books -- the Lives of the Fathers, and the Institutes of monks, and works on what manner of men those who enclose themselves ought to be, and with what caution monks ought to live. Having read these, not only did he shake off the wicked thought from himself, but he also so instructed his mind with keenness of understanding that we marveled at the eloquence of his speech. For he was sweet in conversation, gentle in exhortation, and he had solicitude for the people, inquiry for kings, and constant prayer for all God-fearing churchmen. Nevertheless, he did not, like some, applaud himself with flowing locks of hair or a long beard; but at a set time he cut his hair and beard.

[8] In this cell, spending twenty-two years in this work, he was so strengthened by the grace of the Lord that, by anointing malignant sores with the saliva of his mouth, He miraculously heals sores and fevers: he suppressed the force of raging venom. For those suffering from fevers, through a cup of wine sanctified by the sign of the blessed Cross, the approaching chill and heat were extinguished; not undeservedly driving away troublesome fevers from others, he who had extinguished in himself the incentives of harmful sin.

[9] At a certain time a blind man came to him, humbly bewailing the miseries of his affliction, imploring and beseeching the Saint to touch and feel with his right hand his sealed eyes. Though he refused for a very long time, at last overcome by the man's tears and moved by compassion, after he had poured out prayer to the Lord for him for three days, on the fourth day he laid his hand upon his eyes and said: "Lord almighty, only-begotten Son of God the Father, who reigns with him and the Holy Spirit forever, who restored light to the man born blind by the spittle of your blessed mouth, restore also to this your servant the sight of his eyes, that he may know that you are the Lord almighty." And saying this, as he traced the Cross over the blind man's eyes, immediately the darkness was driven away, He restores sight to a blind man: and at his prayers the Lord restored the light to him. Abbot Eustachius stands as a corroborating witness to this miracle.

[10] He foretells his own death: At length, broken from the labor of cutting the underground rock which he continually hewed, exhausted by the austerity of fasting, weakened by ceaseless prayer, he began gradually to lose the firmness of his body. On a certain day, when he was excessively weary, he ordered us to be summoned to him. Coming to him, after he had wept over the necessity of his funeral, he begged eulogies from us sinners. Having received them and having drunk wine, he said: "My time is now fulfilled, that the Lord should command me to be released from the bonds of this body: but there will yet be a space of a few days: nevertheless, before the holy day of Easter I am to be called." O blessed man, who so served the Creator of all that he came to know his own death by divine revelation! For it was the tenth month when he said these things.

[11] In the twelfth month he began again to be gravely ill. The Lord's Day arrived; He dies: he calls his servant and says: "Prepare some food for me to take, for I feel myself greatly exhausted." But when the servant answered, "It is ready, my lord," he said to him: "Go outside and see whether, the solemnities having been celebrated, the people are now leaving from Mass." He said this, however, not because he wished to take food, but so that no witness might be present at his passing. The servant, therefore, went out, and afterward returning, when he entered the cell, he found the man of God stretched out in body, with closed eyes, having breathed out his spirit. Whence it became manifest that he was received by the Angels, since the holy Hero did not wish a man to be present at his passing. The servant, seeing this, raised his voice in weeping, and thus, with the rest of the Brethren running together, he was washed and clothed in worthy vestments, He is renowned for miracles, and placed in the tomb that he himself had carved for himself in the aforesaid cell. That he has been admitted to the company of the Saints, frequent miracles revealing this, I consider to be uncertain to none of the faithful.