Saint of the Day – 5 November – Saint Laetus (Died 534) Priest and Confessor of Orleans, France, Monk, Monk, Hermit, Miracle-worker. Whilst still a Monk, Laetus was a spiritual guide to St Leonard of Noblac, who was a fellow Monk. Born in the region of Berry, France and died in 534 in the forest of Orléan. Patronage – of the sick. Also known as – Lie, Lié, Lyé, Leto, Lieto. Additional Feast – 2 January in Mohon, in the Ardennes.
The Roman Martyrology reads today: “At Orleans, in France, St Laetus, Priest, Confessor.”
Born of a family in Berry, France sometime during the reign of Chlothar I, his name suggests a Gallo-Roman background. Small of stature,, he was a peasant herdsman, who embraced the monastic life at the age of 12. He spent some time at the Monastery of Micy-Saint Mesmin, near Orléans, where he was welcomed by the Abbot Treïcius, who Ordained him a Deacon and then a Priest. While at Micy, Lié provided direction to fellow Monk and Saint Leonard of Noblac (c496-559).
After a few years, Laetus left the Monastery in search of greater solitude. He headed north and stopped on the edge of the Loges Forest (Forest of Orleans), not far from a clearing where poor woodcutters were felling oaks. There, having found a dense thicket where no sound entered, he built himself a hut and there, spent his days in prayer, living only on wild fruits.
Laetus only left this solitude to visit the sick, to comfort them with a few holy words and to soften the bitterness of the last passage. The blind, the lame, the crippled came to meet him and more than once obtained cures through his intercessary prayer. He was greatly loved by all, especially the sick and hopeless. Laetus was viewed an example to all for his humility. .He lived there until the year 534, which he predicted would be the year of his entry into eternal beatitude. He was buried in the place where he had lived and, on his Tomb, a Chapel was erected.
His body was later brought by Ermentheus, the Bishop of Orleans, to the Church of Pithiviers. They burnt by the Huguenots in 1580. However, there were stille fragments of his legs preserved by Christians of Pithiviers. In 1664, they were returned to the Village of Saint-Lyé after many adventures. They now rest in a Reliquary placed at the foot of the Altar dedicated to him. On Pentecost Monday, many pilgrims would come to venerate St Laetus and ask for the cure of their infirmities.
In 1523 a Brotherhood dedicated to venerating Saint Laetus was founded at Mohon, in the Ardennes. The Brotherhood in 1611, having obtained an Indulgence from Pope Paul V, the dedication of the local Church was changed from that of Saint Gilles to Saint Laetus. Some of his Relics were transported to the Église Saint-Lié de Mohon, probably around 1683. There he is celebrated on 2 January.
Saint Laetus is depicted on a pillar of the south porch of Chartres Cathedral. There are numerous Churches, places, Villages names for our Saint in many regions of France.
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