History of St. Liborius, Bishop of Le Mans
From a limited source of the history of St. Liborius, this much we can know…
St. Liborius was born of an illustrious family of Gaul (a region in the Roman Empire which extended to the area on the west bank of the Rhine river of the present day Germany), and became Bishop of Le Mans, France. He was a trusty companion to St. Marinus (Martin of Tours). They were both bishops, neighbors in office. St. Liborius was bishop for about 49 years and ordained 217 priests, 186 deacons and 93 sub deacons and other churchmen. He is said to have died on July 23, 397 A.D. with Bishop Martin at his side.
Much of the ministerial life of Bishop Liborius covered the second half of the 4th century. By this time, the Roman Empire ended its persecution of Christianity with Emperor Constantine the Great’s Edict of Milan in the year 313. Freed from persecution, the Christian faith was now free to grow. However, during this time, foreign tribes roamed the land. There was chaos and misery. Bishop Liborius’ Episcopal area had been Christian for some time but heathen Druids were still active and through their mysterious pagan rites were able to influence the people. So, Bishop Liborius built many churches and celebrated the Eucharist with piety and dignity. The well-trained priests in his diocese finally triumphed over the Druids. Nowadays, we would call the works of Bishop Liborius and his clergy at the time as primary evangelization.
In the year, 836 A.D., (9th century), the relics of Saint Liborius were brought from Le Mans , France , to Paderborn , Germany . At this time, relics of the saints were well guarded and venerated in churches and dioceses which had them. The willingness of the diocese of Le Mans to handover the relics of St. Liborius to the diocese of Paderborn was a true act of charity. The event forged a long lasting friendship between the sister cities of Le Mans and Paderborn ; it has existed for over 1,000 years to this day.
Fr. Rempe, the first Parish priest of St. Liborius, Steger , Illinois , was born in Zalzkotten in Germany near the cathedral town of Paderborn . His family immigrated to the United States in 1883. He had requested for the relic of St. Liborius from the Bishop of Paderborn for his new Parish and he received it. This was the beginning of the Parish called St. Liborius in Steger, IL., which was established in 1902 with 40 Catholic families in and near the area.
St. Liborius is also the Patron Saint of the Paderborn Cathedral Parish in Germany . The city celebrates his feast on July 23 followed by a week of “Liborifest” with procession through the city, Masses and other festivities.
Saint Liborius is depicted as a bishop with a peacock. (Legend has it that a peacock led the procession of his remains from Le Mans to Paderborn .) His image may be carrying small stones on a book. He is invoked against colic, fever and gallstones illnesses.
St. Liborius, pray for us.
