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The Torment of Saint Leodegarius
1997
| SAINT LEGER - C. 616 - 679 Saint Leger, or Leodegar or Leodegarius, descended from a noble Frankish family. His early years were spent in the court of King Clotaire II where his education eventually fell under the careful guidance of Didon, his uncle and bishop of Poitiers, who appointed a priest to further instruct the young Leodegarius. In consideration of his abilities and merit, his uncle ordained him deacon when he was only twenty years of age and archdeacon soon after. In 651, he was ordained and made abbot of Saint-Maixent where he remained for six years. Called to court in 663 by the queen regent, St. Bathildis, Leodegarius was nominated bishop of Autun. There he helped her govern as well as educated her children. His appointment as bishop put to end a two year period of strife and murder caused by rival candidates. Leodegarius took care to relieve the poor, adorned churches, instructed the clergy, preached to his people and fortified the town. It was inevitable in those days that bishops should take an active part in high politics and in this respect St Leodegarius was no different and became heavily involved in secular and court affairs. The saint had been bishop for ten years when King Clotaire III died. Upon this news he went at once to court in support of Childeric and in direct opposition to the scheming Neustrian mayor of the palace, Ebrion. Soon after Childeric became King, Ebrion was exiled to Buxeuil. For a time all went well, so long as King Childeric listened to the advice of St Leodegarius. But being young and violent, the King abandoned the words of his advisor and married his uncle's daughter. Leodegarius denounced the King's marriage and for this was arrested and exiled to Luxeuil where Ebrion still remained. King Theoderic II was put on the throne following the assassination of Childeric. Theoderic restored St Leodegarius to Autun but his principle opponent, Ebrion, pursued him from Luxeuil with an army and laid siege to the city. Ebrion, pretending a desire to revenge the death of King Childeric, falsely accused Leodegarius and his brother, Gerinus, of having plotted the murder. Stating "It is on my account they are come," Leodegarius went boldly out of the town and surrendered to avoid further bloodshed and was immediately seized and imprisoned. Gerinus was stoned to death in his brother's presence but the saint could not be condemned till he had been deposed in a synod but he was first treated with the utmost barbarity; his tongue was torn out, he was blinded with hot irons and his lips were cut off. Miraculously, his wounds healed and he was once again able to speak and professed his innocence. After a mock trial in Marly, his accusers tore up his robe as a mark of deposition. He was then led into a forest and beheaded. Although his death was for political reasons, an assembly of bishops proclaimed Leodegarius a martyr. He is appropriataely invoked for diseases of the eyes and blindness. Feast day - September 12 |
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