St. Leander was born around 534 in Cartagena, Spain, to Severianus and Theodora, illustrious for their virtue. When Leander was 20, the family moved to Seville. Leander was the elder brother of St Isidore of Seville, St. Fulgentius of Ecija, and St. Florentina of Cartagena. He became a Benedictine monk at Seville in 576 and spent three years praying and studying. In 579, he was appointed bishop of Seville. Leander became a great defender of the faith against Arianism, a heresy that denied the Divinity of Christ. He founded a school that became a center of Catholic learning.
Leander befriended Princess Ingunthis and supported her efforts to convert her husband, Hermenegild, the eldest son of Arian Visigothic King Leovigild, to Christianity. This action earned Leander the king's wrath and forced him into exile. So, from 579 to 582, Leander resided in Byzantium. While in exile, he composed many important writings against Arianism and met the future Pope Gregory the Great. Leander had suggested Gregory to write the famous commentary on the Book of Job called the Moralia. Leander returned to Seville under the reign of King Reccared and continued his work of promoting true faith and fighting against Arianism.
In 589, he presided over the third local Council of Toledo, which decreed the consubstantiality of the three Persons of the Trinity and brought about moral reforms. Leander's unerring wisdom and unwavering dedication led the Visigoths and the Suevi back to the true faith. Leander also composed a monastic rule for nuns and was the first to introduce the Nicene Creed at Mass. Leander died around 600 and was succeeded as Bishop of Seville by his brother, Isidore. St. Isidore wrote of his brother, "This man of suave eloquence and eminent talent shone as brightly by his virtues as by his doctrine."
St. Leander, intercede for us to be enlightened by the Holy Spirit to understand and live our faith.
Prepared and updated by:
Jonathan Fabian Ginunggil,
Penampang, Sabah Malaysia.
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