Leonard, St

Leonard, St., a French nobleman who flourished in the first half of the 6th century, was a convert and pupil of Remigius. He retired at first into a convent near Orleans, and afterwards into a hermitage in the neighborhood of Limoges. Here he applied himself to the conversion of the people. A few followers soon gathered around him. and he founded the convent of Noblac. He took special interest in prisoners, and the legend relates that centuries after his death prisoners were released and captives brought back from distant countries through his intercession. His prayers are said to have saved the life of the queen of France in a dangerous confinement, and he became also the protector of travelers. He died in 559, and is commemorated on the 6th of November. He is especially recognized in France and in England. — Herzog, Real-Encyklop. 8:332; Migne, Nouv. Encyc. Theolog. 2:1168. (J. N. P.)