Elzear (Provençal Aouzias, Italian Elzeario) was born in 1285 at the Ansouis Castle in Provence to the noble Provençal Sabran family — nephew of the Franciscan Bl. Hugh de Digne (a close associate of Sts. Francis of Assisi and Anthony of Padua).
At the age of 12 (1297), Elzear was married to Delphine of Signe, the orphan heiress of the Provençal Signe family (Bl. Delphine of Signe, 1284–1360). The marriage remained virginal by mutual agreement — Elzear and Delphine had both undertaken the vow of perpetual virginity before the marriage.
Elzear succeeded to the family titles as Count of Ariano (in southern Italy, feudal territory of the Angevin Kingdom of Naples) and Baron of Ansouis. In the Angevin service, he served as chamberlain to King Robert the Wise of Naples (1309–1343) — the younger brother of St. Louis of Toulouse.
Elzear and Delphine undertook the Franciscan Third Order Regular (Tertiary) vows together — becoming the classic 14th-century Provençal Catholic virgin-marriage saint-couple. They undertook extensive charitable ministry, personal poverty despite their royal-baronial status, and systematic Catholic pastoral care.
Elzear undertook multiple diplomatic missions to the Avignon papal court and the French royal court on behalf of King Robert. He died at Paris on September 27, 1323 in the course of a diplomatic mission at the French royal court, at the age of 38.
His canonization was completed by his personal friend Pope Urban V (1362–1370) — the Avignon pope who had been personally directed by Elzear during his youth — in 1369.
Bl. Delphine of Signe survived Elzear by 37 years, undertaking the continuing virginal Franciscan-Tertiary life, and died at Apt in Provence on November 26, 1360.