The Holy Guardian Angels

Saint Leodegar was born around 615 into a noble Burgundian family, the son of Bodilon, Count of Poitiers and Paris, and Saint Sigrada of Alsace. Raised in Paris at the Frankish court, he received a careful education and later studied in Poitiers under his uncle, Bishop Desiderius. Ordained a priest, he embraced monastic life at Saint-Maxentius in Poitou, where he became abbot and renewed the community by introducing the Benedictine rule. Called to serve Queen Bathilde, Leodegar helped guide the realm and educate her children. In 659 he was made Bishop of Autun, reforming clergy and religious houses, defending the faith, and caring for the poor while strengthening the city itself. His courage also drew him into bitter conflict with Ebroin, the powerful mayor of the palace. For his resistance and his defense of Church order, Leodegar endured brutal mutilation and, after a sham trial and exile, was led into a forest near Sarcing and beheaded in 679, sealing his witness as a martyr. He is venerated as patron of Lucerne. His feast day is October 2.