It is one of the most popular saints in Central Europe. In fact, says a scholar who in his honor were erected not less than six hundred churches and chapels, and his name appears frequently in the toponomastica and folklore. The same scholar adds that he “awoke a particular devotion in times of the Crusades, and among the devotees Boemundo The prince of Antioch, taken prisoner by the infidels in 1100, attributed his release in 1103 the saint, and back Europe, donated to the shrine of Saint-Léonard-de-Noblac, as a former vote, silver chains similar to those he had taken during his captivity. ” San Leonardo is a saint “discovered” in the early eleventh century, and this time back the first biographies, which later inspired the adoration of him.
Leonardo was born on Galia under Emperor Anastasius, ie between 491 and 518. Like their parents, more noble, were friends of Clovis, the great chief of the Franks, he wanted to serve as godfather at the baptism of the child. When I was young, Leonardo did not want to follow the career of arms, preferring to get the service of San Remigio, who was bishop of Reims.
As San Remigio, using the friendships with the king, had obtained the privilege to grant freedom to all prisoners who find, Leonardo also requested and obtained such power, he held many times. The king wanted to give something more: the episcopal dignity. But Leonardo, who aspired to human glory, chose to retire first to St. Maximin in Micy, and then to a location near Limoges, in the middle of a forest called Pavum.
One day her solitude was interrupted by the arrival of Clovis was going to hunt his entire entourage. With the king was also the queen, who at that very moment he came the pain of childbirth. Prayers and San Leonardo care delivery made out very well, and then the king made a covenant with the holy very particular obsequiaría you to build a monastery, all the territory that could go on the back of a donkey. About oratory in honor of Mary would have emerged a new city.