November 6, 2007

  • November 6 St Leonard's Ride (Feast Day)

    In Bavaria, people dress up in native costume and decorate their horses in preparation for a festival in honor of St. Leonard whom they consider the patron of cattle.  There is much singing and cracking of whips as the march in parade through the town.   (Could this date once have been associated with a cattle sacrifice?)

     St. Leonard is venerated by Roman Catholics and Anglicans and November 6th is considered his Feast Day.  He is generally depicted as an abbot holding chains, fetters or lock, or manacles.  And he is considered the patron saint of political prisoners, imprisoned people, prisoners of war, and captives, women in labor as well as horses and cattle.

    He was a Frankish noble in the court of Clovis I who was converted at Christmas 496 along with the king.  Leonard asked Clovis I to grant him the right to liberate prisoners who he would find worthy of it.  Although it was his right, he declined the offer of a bishopric and instead entered the monastery of Micy near Orleans.  Eventually he became a hermit in the forest of Limousin where he gathered a few followers.

    A legend states that he was honored as the patron of women in childbirth because through his prayers, the queen of the Franks was safely delivered of a male child.  She was with her husband hunting when she went into labor in the woods.  St. Leonard came out of his hermit's cell to pray for her and as stated before she safely delivered her child.  In payment for his good works, the King gave Leonard royal lands at Noblac where he founded an abbey.  A village grew around the Abbey and became known as Saint-Leonard de Noblac.

    He is also considered the patron of prisoners and when his name is invoked by those who have been unjustly imprisoned, he brings about their freedom.   A legend states that when his name was invoked by prisoners from the cells, their chains broke before their eyes.  Many of these prisoners would bring their heavy chains and irons and offer them to St. Leonard in homage.  They would stay with him and he gave them forest to clear and work so that they would have a means to live an honest life.

    It was not until the 11th Century following the release of Bohemond I of Antioch (a charismatic leader of the First Crusade) in 1103 from a Danishmend prison through the "intercession" of St. Leonard that his fame spread.  Bohemond visited the Abbey of Noblac where he made an offering in gratitude to St. Leonard for his release.  Noblac became a stop on the pilgrimage route towards Santiago de Compostela.

    St. Leonard was one of the most venerated saints of the Middle Ages.   It is recorded that he died in 559.

    You never know the truth of legends but you can be inspired by the stories.  St. Leonard sounds like a really good soul.  He wanted to help prisoners to be free of their bondage and freely provided land for them to work.  (It is called "Putting your money where your mouth is!")  He came from a wealthy family and could have anything he wanted, including a position as a bishop in the church.  It would appear that he was guided to live a life of simplicity and solitude as a hermit.  It is often much easier to hear God when you are not surrounded constantly by distractions.  As far as the safe birth of a child, I feel that he was in the right place at the right time to pray and keep all concerned from getting upset about their circumstance.  I don't believe the birth was miraculous but the situation was fortuitous.

    I would say that I am hearing to be still and listen for the voice of the Creator for guidance.  And to be happy in doing the little things in life which are often "big" things to the receivers of your work.

    Namaste