Luperculus

Luperculus (Lupercus, Lupercius) (French: Luperc, Loubert[1], 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.[2] He was traditionally the second in that episcopal see, the first bishop being Paternus.[3][4]

His legend states that his steadfastness led to the conversion of several pagans to Christianity, including a man named Anatolius, captain of the guard.[4]

Eauze Cathedral (Cathédrale Saint-Luperc) at Eauze is dedicated to him.

Eauze is his principal place of veneration, but he was widely venerated in the Armagnac region.[4] 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."[2] 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.[2] 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.