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SAINT LEONORUS, IN FRENCH LUNAIRE, B.
HE was of a noble family in Wales, and educated
under the care of St. Iltut; and passing over into that part of
France called the province of Domnone, he founded a monastery between
the rivers of Rancé and Arguenon, on a piece of ground which
was given him by Jona, the lord of the country. His many
extraordinary virtues drew the attention of king Childebert, who very
pressingly invited him to Paris, where he was received by this prince
and his royal consort Ultrogotha with every possible demonstration of
the highest respect. At his return he had the affliction to hear that
his protector Jona was stripped of his possessions, and murdered by
Conomor. Happily however he arrived time enough to shelter that
unfortunate nobleman’s son Judual from the bloody tyrant’s
cruelty, and conveyed him safely to England: whence Judual afterward
returned, and recovered his inheritance. The saint is styled bishop,
though he had no fixed see. For it was then an established custom in
Brittany to honor the principal abbots with the episcopal dignity.
The year in which St. Leonorus died is not known. His body was
translated to a parochial church near St. Malo, which still retains
the name of St. Lunaire: here his tomb is shown, which is empty, his
relics being inclosed in a shrine. The feast of his translation is on
the 13th of October, but he is principally honored in the several
diocesses of Brittany on the 1st of July. He is patron of many
churches. See the Breviary of Leon, of the abbey of St. Meen, &c.
also Lobineau, Vies des SS. de Bretagne, p. 91, and the Martyrology
of Usuard.
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