The feast of St Leonard is celebrated in St Leonard-de-Noblat in France, where he lived, and the small parish at Kirkop, Malta, where I will be preaching on the saint tonight during the celebration of his life. He lived in the 6th century, son of nobles but wanted no honors and wanted to serve only his Lord Jesus Christ. He spent much of his life in the forests among wild animals, attracting many people towards Christianity by his example of humility and austerity. The people were very anti-Christian, but he changed many people’s lives as many men joined him in the convent he created. One of the miracles attributed to him was the healing of Queen Misigarda who was able to deliver a healthy baby thanks to his prayers. As a result, King Teodoberto offered him part of the forest and built for him a church and a convent. St Leonard tended to many of the local prisoners and prayed that they will be released, as many of them became monks, following him and living a very religious life thereafter. Various people who were sick, blind, deaf, and mute came to him and were often healed of their infirmities. He died on November 6, 569, and a bigger church in his honor was built in St Leonard-de-Noblat in Central France.
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