As Bishop of Autun in France he worked to reform the clergy and serve the poor. Caught up in the power struggles of the royal court, he was blinded and later put to death, and is honored as a martyr.
Life
Saint Leodegar (Léger) was a seventh-century cleric in the Frankish kingdom. Raised in a noble family close to the court, he served as an abbot and then became bishop of Autun. As bishop he worked to restore discipline among the clergy, care for the poor and renew his diocese.
He was persecuted amid political conflict with Ebroin, the powerful mayor of the palace. According to the accounts, he was blinded and cruelly treated before being killed around 679. The Church honors him as a martyr on October 2.
Spirituality
The spirituality of Leodegar is a shepherd's sense of responsibility for order and justice in the Church, even in a chaotic age. Caught in the middle of power struggles, he is remembered as one who, in suffering, forgave his enemies and entrusted himself to God.
Reflection
Even in unjust suffering, Leodegar entrusted himself to God. Could I offer even a short prayer today for someone who has hurt me?