Saint Luperculus | |
|---|---|
| Bishop and martyr | |
| Died | 3rd century Zaragoza or Eauze |
| Venerated in | Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox Church |
| Feast | March 1; March 5 (Tarbes); June 28 |
Luperculus (Lupercus, Lupercius) (French: Luperc, Loubert, Spanish: Lupercio) is venerated as a saint by the Roman Catholic Church. Christian tradition states that he was a bishop of Eauze and was martyred by the governor Dacian during the reign of Decius.[1] He was traditionally the second in that episcopal see, the first bishop being Paternus.[2][3]
His legend states that his steadfastness led to the conversion of several pagans to Christianity, including a man named Anatolius, captain of the guard.[3]
Eauze Cathedral (Cathédrale Saint-Luperc) at Eauze is dedicated to him.[4]
Eauze is his principal place of veneration, but he was widely venerated in the Armagnac region.[3] He was also venerated at Tarbes.[5]
There is a saint of that name who was martyred at Zaragoza around 304 AD, who is mentioned by Prudentius. This Saint Luperculus had the feast day of April 16. Sabine Baring-Gould writes that the two saints are the same person: "Probably S. Luperculus preached [at Eauze], and thence traveled to Spain, where he suffered."[1] A tradition in Spain makes this Lupercus (San Lupercio) an uncle of the virgin martyr Saint Engratia, who shared the same feast day of April 16.[1] Some sources state that the two saints are not the same person.[6]
Another saint Lupercus was said to have been a son of Marcellus of Tangier, and was martyred at León, Spain with his brothers Claudius and Victoricus.[7]
Saint-Loubert takes its name from him.