Venerable Leo Dupont (1797-1876), the miracle worker known as the Holy Man of Tours, was a simple layman of great faith and devotion. He is most renowned for being an apostle of the Holy Face of Jesus, through which he obtained many miracles. But his love for God showed itself in many other ways as well, and he was also devoted to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary. But to these two great Hearts, Leo Dupont would include the heart of Saint Joseph. Each member of the Holy Family was dear to him, and Leo loved to recommend and circulate prayers in honor of the foster-father of Our Lord. His confidence in St. Joseph was great and, on one occasion, was rewarded in a very charming way. 

Leo Dupont had the charitable practice of providing, on certain festivals such as New Years etc., a supper for the good old people of the Little Sisters of the Poor. Once though, as one of these celebrations was approaching, poor Leo realized that his finances would not be sufficient this time. Knowing that the occasion was eagerly anticipated by his elderly friends, Mr. Dupont was sorry to tell them that he had not the necessary funds to provide the extra food that he had always supplied on those days.

But this holy man of Tours had a solution. He advised his friends to ask St. Joseph, and make a novena to the good Saint so that turkeys and chickens might be obtained for their accustomed feast. 

"Let’s ask for a wild boar!" several of them exclaimed.

A wild boar! Good gracious! That was not exactly what Mr. Dupont had in mind. The request seemed strange to Leo. However, it seemed to strike the fancy of the old men and was the overwhelming preference. So Leo consented to the intention and agreed that they would all pray to St. Joseph and ask him to obtain a wild boar.

Every day of the novena, the old men prayed their part. Leo Dupont also prayed with his habitual fervor and confidence, though he could not help laughing and jesting with his friends about the strange idea the good old men had of asking a wild boar of St. Joseph.

It was the day before the novena ended when a porter from the railroad hastily entered Leo Dupont’s parlor. Quite in a rush, the man asked Leo to give order for the gate at his home to be opened.

"Why? What for?"

"Because," the porter explained, handing him a letter, "There is a wagon there containing a wild boar for you."

In the midst of the confusing and sudden circumstances, Leo at once granted the permission and curiously opened the letter. From one of Leo’s friends, the note read: ''I am a poor marksman, and I know not by what good fortune I killed a boar in my woods. As I am alone in the country, and cannot eat the boar myself, I send it to you, thinking it may be of some use for your poor."

Imagine the smile on the holy man's face. Here was the answer to their prayers - the wild boar from St. Joseph. Despite his confidence, no doubt Leo was amused and yet touched at this unusual display of St. Joseph's power and devotion to those who trust him.

The old men were exuberant at the news! They thanked the good Saint a thousand times over, for being so kind to have listened to their odd, but fervent, request. That particular festival would never be forgotten and was forever remembered as the one where St. Joseph himself had been the founder of their feast!