Saint Who?
Saints Who Fostered Vocations to the Priesthood
Saint Leander of Seville
Bishop († c. 600)March 13
Leander was born of a noble family in Cartagena in Spain during the time it was ruled by the Arian Visigoths. There was fierce strife between Arians and Catholics, and the conflict led his Arian family to relocate to Seville. Here his mother converted from Arianism to Catholicism, bringing her children along with her. At least three of his siblings are also saints, including Saint Isidore (see “Saint Who?” of July 27).
Leander entered a monastery as a young man. This was then the way young men often prepared for the clerical state. After three years there, he was made bishop of Seville. The cathedral school of Seville, which he helped to establish, became an influential training ground for future priests. His brother Saint Isidore, himself a future bishop, attended this school under Leander’s tutelage.
Leander also helped root out Arianism in Spain. He established the practice of reciting the Nicene Creed at Mass. He converted the prince and future martyr Saint Hermenegild. Later, he presided at the Third Council of Toledo, where Hermenegild’s brother, King Reccared, professed the true faith and denounced Arius. This led to the conversion (or deposition) of many Arian bishops. Leander died around the year 600.
Blessed Trinity, through the prayers of Saint Leander, grant us an ever deeper faith in the Incarnation.
