Liphardus

Who he was

Saint Liphardus lived in the sixth century at Orléans in Gaul. He was a man of standing in the city: he studied letters and law and, because of his ability and noble birth, was appointed governor and judge. The Orléans tradition makes him a son of Rigomer, prince of the city of Le Mans, and a close relative of King Clovis; his younger brother is said to be Saint Leonard.

Weary of worldly cares, he left office at an age that the sources give differently, about forty or about fifty. He was ordained deacon and entered the monastery of Saint Mesmin. He then withdrew with his disciple Urbicius to Meung, four leagues from Orléans, to a deserted place where stood the ruins of an old castle. There he made a cell and lived in asceticism and prayer. The bishop of Orléans, hearing of his virtue, ordained him priest so that he could teach others.

The historian Symphorien Guyon (died 1657) relates that a dragon terrified the neighbourhood, and that after the saint prayed to God the beast perished beside the rod planted by Urbicius. The account is late and is to be received as local tradition.

Later Liphardus and Urbicius founded the monastery of Meung-⁠sur-⁠Loire, of which Liphardus was abbot; Urbicius ruled it after him. The saint reposed in the second half of the sixth century, around 550, though the exact year is not known.

He is commemorated on 3 June as a saint of the West before the Great Schism (a saint of the undivided Church), by the New Calendar.