November 6
Saints of the Day...and Events

St. Leonard of Noblac, († 559)
The French rich man who became a Hermit, Patron of prisoners, and many miracles... in just one small town in Bavaria there are records of 4,000 favors granted through Saint Leonard's intercession.

    Soon the sick came to Saint Leonard here also, and prisoners who invoked him from their cells saw their chains break before their eyes. Many came to him afterwards, bringing their heavy chains and irons to offer them in homage. A considerable number wished to remain with him, and he often gave them part of his vast forest to clear and make ready for the labors of the fields, that they might have the means to live an honest life. He continued to be their guardian and father and preached the religion of our Saviour to them; and those who had once been malefactors were transformed by prayer and labor.

    Seven families of persons who were his relatives in the north heard of his reputation and decided to come to him and remain with him. He was surprised but encouraged their good resolutions, saying: “A fare of dry bread, eaten in the joy of a pure conscience, is of more worth than a house abundantly furnished, where quarrels and divisions prevail.”
    After increasing in holiness until his last days, he died on the 6^th of November in the oratory he had dedicated to Our Lady, after having himself transported there. Miracles on behalf of prisoners and the sick followed, as they had preceded, his death.

    The cult of Saint Leonard has remained extremely popular in France ever since; churches were dedicated to him in France, England, Belgium, Spain, Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Bohemia, Poland and other countries. Pilgrims flocked to his tomb, and in one small town in Bavaria there are records of 4,000 favors granted through Saint Leonard's intercession.    

Died c.559 of natural causes

More Information: Leonard of Noblac

 

St. Théopane Vénard, 1829-1861
Another Frenchman priest who was one of the Martyrs of Vietnam

    Raised in a pious family; one brother became a priest, and was later curator for Theophane's writings, and another was the bishop of Poitiers, France. Ordained on 5 June 1852. Missionary to southeast Asia, leaving on 19 September 1852. Worked fifteen months at Hong Kong, then transferred to West Tonkin, Vietnam.

    Christians in the area were being persecuted by order of the ruler Minh-Menh. Betrayed by an ostensible parishioner, he was arrested on 30 November 1860. Tried for his faith, he was given ample opportunity to save himself by denying Christ; he declined. He was kept in a cage for several weeks prior to his execution, during which he wrote a series of joyful, consoling letters to his family. One of the Martyrs of Vietnam.

Born 21 November 1829 at Saint-Loup, diocese of Poitiers, France

Died beheaded on 2 February 1861 at Tonkin, Vietnam; his head was stuck on a pole as a warning to other, but was later recovered and preserved as a relic in Tonkin; the rest of his body was sent back to his family, and is interred in the crypt of the Missions Etrangères in Paris

Canonized 19 June 1988 by Pope John Paul II
More Information: Theophane Venard 

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