Saint Leobon of Saint-Étienne-de-Fursac
IN THE DIOCESE OF LIMOGES (6th century).
A 6th-century solitary from the Creuse, Saint Léobon lived as a hermit near Fursac and later at Salagnac. He is famous for having resisted temptation by lying unharmed on burning coals. His relics were successfully invoked against the epidemic of ergotism in 994.
Contemporaries
Figures and markers around the normalized period for this entry.
Guided reading
4 reading sections
SAINT LÉOBON OF SAINT-ÉTIENNE DE FURSAC, SOLITARY,
IN THE DIOCESE OF LIMOGES (6th century).
Youth and spiritual retreat
Born in the 5th century in Saint-Étienne de Fursac, Léobon chose the eremitic life early on a nearby mountain to devote himself to prayer and manual labor.
Léobon was born in the 5th century in t he village of Saint-Éti enne de Fursac (Creuse, arrondissement of Guéret, canton of Gra nd-Bourg), in the diocese of Limoges. Having felt early on the emptiness and nothingness of earthly things, and resolved to bid the world an eternal farewell, he retired to a mountain near Saint-Étienne, built himself a small hermitage there, and led a solitary life. All his time was divided between prayer, meditation on eternal things, holy reading, and manual labor. He was courageous in temptations, submissive and resigned in afflictions, humble and modest in his actions and speech, poor in spirit and will, chaste in body and heart.
Trial and exile in Salagnac
After miraculously resisting an attempt at seduction by lying on burning coals, Léobon settled in Salagnac to continue his life of asceticism.
He gave a striking example of this last virtue. One night, some debauched youths sent a woman of ill repute into his cell to corrupt him; then, before the eyes of this courtesan, the Saint lay down on burning coals and begged her to do the same. Now, the fire did him no harm: such a miracle frightened this unfortunate woman, who hastened to flee. Touched by this prodigy, the young men themselves came to implore a pardon, which he generously granted them. Nevertheless, Léobon did not believe he should remain any longer in that place; he left it to go and settle in Salagnac (Dordogne), where h e found a suitable retreat and continued his life of penance and mortification.
The Mal des Ardents and Posthumous Miracles
In 994, during the epidemic of the mal des ardents in Aquitaine, the saint's relics performed numerous miraculous healings, notably during a procession toward Limoges.
It was especially after the death of Léobon that God manifested his holiness through miracles: the most famous were those that took place in 994. At that time, a pestilential fire, known by the name of mal des ardents, was wreaking cruel havoc throughout Aquitaine. As all the resources of art were powerless against this strange disease, a solemn supplication was ordered throughout the diocese of Limoges, and everywhere the relics of the Saints were carried in procession. The inhabitants of Salagnac therefore took the reliquary of Saint Léobon from its retreat , opened it, and, taking the bones contained within, they soaked them in wine which the sick then drank and which healed them. While the holy body was being carried to Limoges, a young man ran from La Jonchère (Haute-Vienne, arrondissement of Limoges, canton of Laurière) to meet it and was publicly healed of the pestilential fire, near Ambazac .
Cult and Patronage
Saint Léobon is honored as a patron in Salagnac and in several churches of the Limousin, invoked particularly for the healing of fevers.
Saint Léobon is the patron of Salag nac, where his head was still to be seen in 1405, and where he is invoked to be cured of acute fevers. He is also one of the patrons of the church of Ladignac (Haute-Vienne), and he had a chapel in that of Saint-Hilaire-Lastours (arrondissement of Saint-Yrieix) as well as in the cathedral of Limoges. There was formerly, on the day of his feast, a great gathering of people, exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, and a sermon, in the church of La Brugère, near Limoges, where he was honored as a secondary patron of this small parish.
Propre de Limoges; Sainte d u Limousin, by Labiche de Steignefort.
Iconography
Signs and attributes
Entities
Narrative network
The names, places, and concepts most present in the entry, weighted by centrality in the text.
The supernatural in their life
The miracles of Saint Leobon of Saint-Étienne-de-Fursac
Frequently asked questions about Saint Leobon of Saint-Étienne-de-Fursac
Who was Saint Leobon of Saint-Étienne-de-Fursac?
A 6th-century solitary from the Creuse, Saint Léobon lived as a hermit near Fursac and later at Salagnac. He is famous for having resisted temptation by lying unharmed on burning coals. His relics were successfully invoked against the epidemic of ergotism in 994.
What is Saint Leobon of Saint-Étienne-de-Fursac the patron saint of?
Patronage of Saint Leobon of Saint-Étienne-de-Fursac: Salagnac, Ladignac and La Brugère.
What is Saint Leobon of Saint-Étienne-de-Fursac invoked for?
Saint Leobon of Saint-Étienne-de-Fursac is invoked for: ergotism and acute fevers.
How is Saint Leobon of Saint-Étienne-de-Fursac depicted in Christian art?
In iconography, Saint Leobon of Saint-Étienne-de-Fursac is recognizable by: burning coals, hermit's habit and shrine or relics.
What miracles are attributed to Saint Leobon of Saint-Étienne-de-Fursac?
3 miracles are attributed to this saint, notably: Mastery of the elements, Protection / deliverance and Healing.
Which saints were contemporaries of Saint Leobon of Saint-Étienne-de-Fursac?
Contemporaries include: Saint Remigius (Apostle of the Franks), Saint Antide of Besançon, Saint Eugene of Carthage and Saint Nicaise of Reims.
When did Saint Leobon of Saint-Étienne-de-Fursac die?
Saint Leobon of Saint-Étienne-de-Fursac died around 600.
Annexes & related entities
Structured data for exploration: events, miracles, quotes, places, attributes, patronages, and important entities cited in the text.
Key Events
- Born in the 5th century in Saint-Étienne de Fursac
- Retirement to a hermitage on a nearby mountain
- Trial by burning coals before a courtesan
- Settled in Salagnac for a life of penance
- Posthumous miracles during the epidemic of ergotism in 994