Daily Saint

St. Leonard of Noblac was born into a noble Frankish family during the reign of King Clovis I. His godfather was St. Remigius, the bishop who baptized King Clovis and brought Christianity to the Franks. Leonard grew up close to the royal court, but even from an early age, he felt God calling him to a different kind of life.

Bishop Remigius offered St. Leonard a bishopric, but he turned it down. Instead of seeking titles or power, Leonard chose the discipline of prayer, simplicity, and service. He spent time at the monastery of Micy near Orléans and later lived in the quiet forests of Limousin as a hermit. Living off the land, he dedicated himself to God—but his solitude didn’t last long. Word spread about his holiness, and people began to seek him out.

St. Leonard became known for his compassion toward prisoners. The king gave him authority to release prisoners he found deserving. Stories tell of shackles falling miraculously from those who prayed through his intercession. Many freed captives stayed with him, working the land and forming a small community. His care extended to women in difficult childbirth as well; in one famous story, his prayers helped the queen deliver safely, leading King Clovis to reward him with land where he founded the abbey at Noblac.

Leonard died around 559, but devotion to him spread quickly. During the Middle Ages, he was one of the most venerated saints in Europe. Pilgrims carried stories of him along the route to Santiago de Compostela, a path in Spain walked by pilgrims honoring St. James the Apostle. Many churches were dedicated to him in his honor.

Today, St. Leonard is remembered as the patron saint of prisoners, captives, and women in labor.