Leo Abbot
Acta Sanctorum, May 25
Source text: Public Domain. English translation/apparatus/encoding: CC BY-NC 4.0, Wroot Press.
https://actasanctorum.org/may/day-25/leo-abbot.html
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ON S. LEO ABBOT,
IN THE TROYES DIOCESE OF THE GAULS.
6TH CENTURY.
HISTORICAL COLLECTION.
On his Life, cult and miracles.

Leo Abbot, in the Troyes diocese of the Gauls (S.)

BHL Number: 4843

BY THE AUTHOR G. H.

Mentuniacum, a village two from the Troyes city
leagues removed, now from S. Leo the Abbot
having received a name, commonly from his name Saint-Lue
is called. In this place once a monastery
had founded S. Romanus, [From his name called.] the first there Abbot, having obtained
from Clovis the first King of the Franks a confirmation
of the donation of certain estates: and dedicated it to SS. Gervasius
and Protasius, of whom some Relics still are kept. Under
this Abbot lived a monk S. Leo, made in the monks'
governance Abbot, his Successor, in the year DXXX created Bishop
of Reims, as more at length to his birthday the XXVIII of February
we set forth. But that monastery Mentuniacum
or of S. Leo, six hence centuries ago either by fire
or by hostile irruption so utterly overturned and
ruined was, that no at all of it survive vestiges,
nor exist indications of a once-built there building,
besides a Cross, which in the same place for the matter's
memory erected remains. As writes Nicolaus Camuzatus,
in the Promptuary of the sacred Antiquities of the diocese
of Troyes, [The epitome of the Life in Camuzatus] to the History of S. Leo, which he asserts he extracted
from the Troyes Church's Breviary, leaving a fuller
history another: which lest to the public he should give that prohibited,
because in many places maimed and truncated it was,
nor among themselves the periods by any bond bound cohered.
Of this fuller history (which we teach, and for a Supplement
we wish to be granted) not even fragments could we obtain:
therefore a compendium from Camuzatus receive.

[2] There was the man most blessed Leo the Abbot in a village, whose
name is Mentuniacum, of the Troyes town,
brought forth; [whereby is described his sanctity,] of parents indeed free, but freer
in mind, more venerably growing up with age. He to schools
delivered, with wonderful speed the science of the Psalms
attained: and in all things and through all in the regular
dogmas was erudite. Therefore B. Romanus, of the Mentuniacum
monastery the Abbot, into Bishop of Reims elected,
B. Leo of that monastery was made Abbot:
for he was in chastity and abstinence most pure,
in fastings and prayers most prompt appeared:
and so great in himself he had charity, and benignity
of faith, and purity of mind, that of his virtues
the insignia in work shone. On a night therefore certain,
while in the baptistery, after his duties performed, now his little body,
on a most vile bed asleep, rest
took; there came to him three men splendid,
with a clear shining light, [and death by the Saints to him foretold] singing with voice unanimous
a sweet song. Waking moreover the man of God, at the feet
of them prostrates himself, adoring them; and their footprints
kissing, with voice diligent with trembling and fear earnestly
them addresses, saying: Whence are you? But they
said: Strengthen your powers, do not fear. Said
moreover one of them: I am Hilary a sinner, and
these are S. Martin and B. Anianus. Wherefore, son,
ships and oars by the overturning of the waves are imperiled,
which the help of God we come to free: whence
also when to you the third day we shall have returned, [after S. Maurelius buried] to the spiritual
place with us you shall be about to go: so that more certainly
you may believe, the venerable man Maurelius the Presbyter, from this
light snatched away, has migrated to the Lord. Therefore on the second
day at first dawn rise, and, with that praise
of which he is worthy, bury him in the basilica of S. Ursio.
Then he proceeding swiftly, what to him had been said
faithfully fulfilled, and returned to his monastery
own. Meanwhile the Priests, just as they had foretold, came:
and they say to him: We are present, called to the spiritual
banquet. Come with us. Answering moreover B.
Leo said: A straight journey, my Lords, to proceed I could,
if with you to the same place myself I had prepared.
I beseech therefore that to me for three days respite you grant,
that, what promised I have, to attain I may merit
the death-bringing garment. Which moreover he asked obtained
he had. [and a three days' respite,] Soon indeed the excellent man to an illustrious woman
his niece directed: A command to you (he says) I will set forth,
lady: for already our Father, leaving the world's
lights, hastens that a light coruscant called he may receive
in the future. Wherefore I beseech, that (what devotion
had promised) a garment to him you transmit funeral.
But she answering: Alas (she says) O Father mine, foolish
and lying I have appeared, since his death later
I hoped: therefore that with age heavy he was not, not it
I prepared. But await I beseech three only days, and
I will prepare it. She him for three days retained: and finished
the lethal habit transmitted. But indeed the most blessed
Leo, the garment received, migrated to the Lord.

[3] In the Register of benefices of the Troyes diocese, there
in the year MDLXII published; [S. Leo's parish] and in the Register general of benefices
of the Archbishopric of Sens, and of the Bishoprics of Troyes,
Auxerre and Nevers, at Paris in the year MDCXLVIII
printed, is named under the Deanery of Troyes the Parish of S.
Leo, whose Patron is the Abbot of the Cella monastery,
but the collation pertains to the Bishop, lord of the place, where notable
its castle is seen. In this church the sacred body
of S. Leo most reverently is guarded, and consecrated
to the annual solemnity a day in the Troyes diocese the XXV
of May is celebrated. So Camuzatus, in whom (but by a fault
typographical) is read the 23 of May, instead of 25: which σφάλμα,
into Arabic numbers or ciphers easily creeping wont,
deceived Saussay in the Gallican Martyrology. [it has the body in the altar,] To this
moreover XXV of May and the Sunday next following, to be celebrated this feast with great concourse of peoples, from everywhere
with great sense of piety flowing to the said
church and his sacred body, enclosed in a chest
of wood gilded, and to the major altar inserted, testifies
Nicolaus Des-Guerrois on the Saints of Troyes. Usuard
in his Martyrology at the said XXV of May inscribed him, in these
words: In the district of Troyes of S. Leo Confessor. [he is venerated the 25th of May.]
Which same things commonly in various Churches' Martyrologies
Ms. and in the present Roman, and in Bellinus, Maurolyco,
Galesinio, Canisius and others are read. In the Ms.
Ado of the Liège monastery of S. Lawrence, these things are had: In
the territory of Troyes of S. Leo Confessor and Monk:
who so himself to the divine obsequies devoted, that
even miracles through him the Lord deigned to work.
Some of these are narrated by Des-Guerrois, which
it pleases here from the French to give, until both these and many other things from
the original Latin to us are sent; for not yet in that city
could we find anyone, who such things would care for; although
with several letters thither directed we strove to stir up the Troyes
diligence, when of SS. Helena and Mastidia
to be treated it was on the IV and VII of May. The text further French into Latin
rendered thus has.

[4] Some harpers, not far from the village of S. Leo,
wishing with their songs to recreate men,
thence gain for food about to receive, drew to themselves alms,
which better had been on the poor scattered.
And behold there were found two men, who at the song
of these harpers dancing, soon among themselves mutually
began with fists to rise: and at length one
the other with a dagger wounded so in the head, that the little skin
of the cranium appeared. Captured this one, [The captive his bonds of themselves loosed is freed:] by the Count or Praetor
of the place into prison is cast. The wretch, who conquered by anger
had wounded the other, the night following in the silence from
his captivity God having prayed, and through the merits
of S. Leo His mercy imploring, saw before his
eyes the Saint, like a Monk with a shaven head; by whom
he was loosed from bonds and chains, and saw the gate of the prison
open. At first these to him as in a dream seemed
done: but soon fully waking, he found all
in truth so to have happened: and with great gladness
having gone out, his bonds soon brought to S. Leo; and
acknowledging his redeemer, to him and God the due
gave thanks. [The tomb of the body of itself into another place withdraws:] There succeeded S. Leo in the governance of the monastery
of Mentuniacum the venerable Baudemundus: who to
the honor of God desired to build a magnificent
temple, and among other industries of his genius wished
to translate the tomb of the body of S. Leo: and to that
end he approached S. Winebaudus the Abbot (whose Acts
we gave the VI of April) and his religious monks, that
they would honor with their presence this of the body of S.
Leo transposition. And behold before all
this wonderful thing was done, that the sacred body was seen
of its own accord to have moved, and into another place to have withdrawn.

[5] A war some had undertaken the King of the Franks
Chlothar, [two men that from the hands of marauding soldiers they might be freed,] that the rebellious and seditious peoples to his
empire he might subjugate; when some insolent soldiers,
in the Troyes domain the husbandmen fiercely vexed,
and everywhere places sacred and profane and churches
to God and the Saints consecrated violated, spoiled, and burned.
At which time two men, lest by the said rascals
they should be spoiled or captive led away, into
flight cast themselves; and when the pursuers otherwise
they could not avoid, they ran into the church of S. Leo,
and the gates closed, that there under the protection
divine safe they might stand. Then those soldiers when
another of avenging manner they did not find, the church
set on fire and fled. And when now the fire everywhere
all things consumed, [the church being burned under the tomb of S. Leo they are saved,] those two men to S. Leo fled,
under his tomb themselves hiding: and, what supremely
to be wondered at is, the remaining parts of the church by fire
consumed, they safe and unharmed preserved were
by Him, who the three boys saved in the furnace of Babylon.
Which same virtue in them exercised all
asserted.

[6] But because some by error this S. Leo
different, is proposed Leo a Martyr at Troyes: but in this city
only is venerated the said S. Leo Confessor. The same
to his Martyrology Benedictine inscribed Hugo Menardus,
confessing however in the Notes, not so certain it to be whether he was
the Ecclesiastical Annals of the Franks at the year 535 number 7.
Better, he says, it would have been the name to expunge, because S.
Leo older is than B. Maurus, of the Order Benedictine on this side
of the Alps the first founder. Menardus thinks him to have lived
about the year of the Lord five hundred sixtieth:
but whether not he was before the said year dead,
to be doubted it could: because he is said not to have been at death
with age heavy. Who him to the eternal joy called
the Holy Bishops, were Hilary of Poitiers whose
Acts we gave the XIII of January; S. Martin of Tours, and
S. Anianus of Orléans; of whom that one the XI, this the XVII of November
are venerated.
