CatholicSaints.Info

Saint Leodegarius of Autun

detail of a stained glass window of Saint Leodegarius of Autun, choir in the church of St-Léger, Orvault, France, date and artist unknown; photographed on 17 February 2017 by Loïc LLH; swiped from Wikimedia Commons Also known as

Leodegar
Leger

Memorial

2 October

Profile

Son of the nobles Bobilo and Saint Sigrada. Brother of Saint Gerinus. Raised in the court of King Clotaire II. Studied in Poitiers, France under the guidance of his uncle, the bishop of Poitiers. Deacon in Poitiers, working in diocesan administration. Priest. Monk at Maxentius Abbey in 650. Abbot in 651, a position he held for six years during which he placed the abbey under the Benedictine Rule. Advisor to Queen Saint Bathild, and tutor to her children, in 656. Reforming bishop of Autun in 663. Fought Manichaeism, reformed the secular clergy, enforced discipline in religious houses, adopted the Creed of Saint Athanasius, and stressed the administration of the sacraments, especially baptism.

His work, and his support of Childeric over Ebroin for the throne, incurred the anger of many powerful entrenched rulers and groups. Exiled to Luxeuil, France in 675, he returned to Autun at the request of Theodoric III after the death of Childeric. When the city was attacked, Leodegarius arranged a surrender to avoid the Autun‘s destruction. He fell into the hands of Ebroin, was blinded, his lips cut off, and his tongue pulled out. Some time later this same Ebroin accused him of instigating the murder of Childeric, had him imprisoned for two years at Fecamp monastery in Normandy, regularly tortured, crippled, and finally executed.

Born

c.616

Died

murdered in 678 in the woods near Sarcing, Somme, France
relics translated to the abbey of Saint Maxentius in 782
relics later translated to Rennes, and then to Ebreuil, which was renamed Saint-Leger
relics later translated to the cathedral of Autun and to Soissons, France