Saint Libaire The Great

Biography

Saint Libaire The Great, also known as Lievière, was born in the mid-4th century in Roman imperial Gaul (modern-day France), into an illustrious and influential patrician family. She was the daughter of Baccius Lientrude and the sister of several esteemed saints, including Saint Amée, Saint Francule, Saint Gontrude, Saint Hoilde, Saint Lintrude, Saint Menne, Saint Ode, Saint Pusinne, and Saint Suzanne. From a young age, Saint Libaire dedicated herself to a life of piety and virtue. She worked as a shepherdess for her family, spending her time tending to their flocks while engaging in prayer, spinning, and singing hymns. Her deep devotion to the Christian faith strengthened with each passing day. In the year 362, during her travels, Saint Libaire encountered emperor Julian the Apostate in a field. Emperor Julian attempted to sway her loyalty to Christianity by presenting her with a golden statue of Apollo. Refusing to renounce her faith, Saint Libaire struck the statue with her distaff, causing it to crumble and fall apart. This act of defiance served as a testament to her unwavering devotion to Christ. Unfortunately, Saint Libaire's bold actions caught the attention of the emperor's guards, who subsequently captured her. Despite facing threats and persecution, she remained steadfast in her faith. At the 2nd milepost of Apollogranum in Gaul (France), Saint Libaire was cruelly beheaded for her refusal to renounce Christianity. Witnessing her martyrdom, the faithful were profoundly moved by her courage and unwavering commitment to Christ. Legend holds that following her martyrdom, a healing spring miraculously sprang forth at the site of her murder. Additionally, it is said that Saint Libaire's lifeless body picked up her severed head and carried it back to town, where she lovingly combed out the hair to make it more presentable before her burial. This remarkable act of care and reverence signifies her extraordinary faith and devotion. Over the centuries, devotion to Saint Libaire grew, and her relics became objects of veneration and protection. In 1657, her relics were sent to the canons of Saint-Léon in Toul, France, as a safeguard against Protestant raiders. Some of her relics, including a comb that she used to comb her hair after being beheaded, were enshrined in Grand, Vosges, France on February 5, 1793. Over subsequent years, her relics were re-enshrined in Grand in 1804 and 1874. Other fragments of her relics found their way to various locations, including Rambervillers, Burey-en-Vaux, Lépanges-sur-Vologne, Affracourt, and Damelevières, all in France. Saint Libaire's holiness and sacrificial death earned her veneration and recognition as a saint. Although she was canonized prior to the establishment of formal canonization processes, her remarkable faith and martyrdom garnered her the esteemed title of saint in the eyes of the faithful. She is commemorated in various locations, including St Die and Toul-Nancy in France, where her feastdays are celebrated on October 7 and 8, respectively. Furthermore, processions honoring Saint Libaire take place on Pentecost Monday and the first Sunday in October in Grand, France. Today, Saint Libaire is revered as the patroness of Sainte-Livière in Haute-Marne, France, where her memory is preserved and celebrated. Her life and martyrdom serve as an enduring inspiration for Christians, reminding them of the importance of faith, steadfastness, and unwavering commitment to Christ, even in the face of persecution and adversity.