The Church Service of Saturday, May 13, 2000

in the Collegiale of EU

Welcome and Salutation of the Assembly.

The “Ronde Saint Leger”, an air of the XVth century, is performed on the organ by Mr. Vasseur as we enter the church. It is repeated with more pomp at the end of the service, before the inauguration of the “Passage Robert de Saint Leger”.

This church ceremony is celebrated in the memory of Saint Leger (616-678), our patron of the VIIth century. Some historians believe that we are his descendants (de Sancto Leodegario).

For this reason we take as first reading extracts of the “The Passion of Saint Leger”, a manuscript of the Xth century, written in the Roman language and translated by Champollon-Figeac (1849). While taking into consideration the rhythm of this biography, some slight modifications have taken place to summarize it.

-First Chant (Prayers and chants of God’s people, p. 202A 112):

Refrain - “Lord, we arrive from the four corners of the horizon to you,

Lord we arrive from the four corners of the horizon to your house.”

-First Reading: “Passion of Saint Leger”

It is appropriate that we honor Saint Leger.

Of high nobility he was born,

Of Lords, he knew the honors,

Of torments he bore the colors.

But, there is not a man alive

Who was a greater Lord.

Perfect in charity,

Irreprochable in fidelity as in verity,

His discourses were expressed eloquently,

A wise man he became from humulity.

After frequenting the courts of kings

He became the Monk of Saint Maixent,

Shortly after being nominated Bishop of Autun.

King Childeric made of him his adviser

Alas, Ebroin, grew irritated by this teacher

And no longer wanted to hear of God.

He immediately had him arrested,

With cruelty had him tortured,

He had his eyes gouged out

Then his tongue and lips cut.

But he was much admired by his people

And each time was miraculously saved.

Desiring to save his diocesans

He sacrificed himself .

The criminal Ebroin having decreted his death

Cut off his head with a spear

But he remained on his feet without fear.

We have spoken enough of his body.

Finally, his soul went to God

He died...What a pity!

The Frank barons render hommage to him.

Since we inherited his name, we have someone special to pray to.

We are lucky to carry such a name, and to have such a protector by the side of God.

Father de Mesmay, Celebrating: In the name of the Father....salutation.

Penance Preparation-

God: Creator and Master of the universe, you direct humanity’s evolution across countries and centuries, help us in our inability to learn from the experience of the past in order to build the present with a view of improving the future.

Kyrie eleison, sung with the organ.

Jesus: God made man, you know the difficulties of our human nature to practice the teachings of the Gospel in the midst of an opposing environment. We need your grace to resist, as did our patron saint until martyrdom.

Christe eleison, sung with the organ.

Holy Spirit: Spirit of God, who inspired Saint Leger, we implore your light to give a meaning to our lives, and your strength to withstand all tribulations following the example of our family’s patron.

Kyrie eleison, sung with the organ.

Gloria in excelcis Deo...sung in Latin with the organ.

Epistle: Saint Paul, Conrinthiens 1, Ch. 12, Verset 12 -