ST OUEN, ARCHBISHOP OF ROUEN, CONFESSOR - 24 AUGUST

 

ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN AUGUST

Saints celebrated on the 24th of August

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SAINT OUEN, ARCHBISHOP OF ROUEN, CONFESSOR 

(Adouen) He was otherwise called Dadon [Dado], and was son of Autaire, a virtuous French nobleman, who was settled in Brie. 

St Columban being courteously entertained by him, gave his blessing to his two sons, Ouen and Adon, then in their infancy. 

Autaire placed them both, during their youth, in the court of King Clotaire II, where they contracted a friendship with St Eloi, and by his example conceived a great contempt for the world, and both resolved to devote themselves to the service of God. 

THE DOUBLE MONASTERY OF JOUARRE

Adon executed his design some time after, and founded upon an estate which he had near the river Marne, the double monastery of Jouarre, then called Jotrum, which he endowed with his own estate. It is at present a Benedictine nunnery. 

KEEPER OF THE KING'S SEAL

St Ouen was in great credit with king Clotair II, and with his son and successor Dagobert I who made him keeper of his seal, in quality of his referendary or chancellor; and original acts signed by him by virtue of this office are still extant. He obtained of the king a grant of a piece of land situated in the forest of Brie, between the greater and lesser Morin; where, in 634, he erected a monastery called, from the brook near which it stands, Resbac, at present Rebais. 

By the advice of St Faro, bishop of Meaux, he sent for St Agil, a disciple of St Columban, and got him appointed the first abbot by a council held at Clichi in 636; but in this he was forced to make use of the king’s authority; for the cities of Metz, Langres, and Besancon had at the same time requested St Agil to be their bishop, and the monks of Luxeuil desired to have him for their abbot. 

THEY PROMOTED RELIGION AND VIRTUE THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE KINGDOM

St Ouen would have retired himself to Rebais, there to embrace a monastic life; but king Dagobert and his nobles could by no means be induced to give their consent. 

St Ouen and St Eloi, though yet laymen, were for their zeal, piety, and learning considered as oracles even of the bishops, and they exceedingly promoted the cause of religion and virtue through the whole kingdom. 

Dagobert dying in 638, Clovis II his son and successor, testified the same esteem for St Ouen, and continued him for some time in the office of referendary, by virtue of which all the letters and edicts of the king were brought to him, and he put the king’s seal upon them, says Aymoinus. 

ST OUEN RECEIVED THE CLERICAL TONSURE

At length this prince was prevailed upon to give St Ouen leave to receive the clerical tonsure, and he was shortly after elected archbishop of Rouen, in the room of St Romanus; and at the same time his friend St Eloi was chosen bishop of Noyon and Tournay. They took a considerable time to prepare themselves for this dignity by retirement, rigorous fasting, and prayer, and received the episcopal consecration together at Rheims in 640.   

HE INCREASED HIS HUMILITY, AUSTERITIES, AND CHARITIES

St Ouen in this new dignity increased, not his pomp, but his humility, austerities, and charities. His zeal was indefatigable, and, by his affability and patience, he was truly all to all. He exerted his zeal in extirpating simony and other abuses, and promoted every where the reformation of discipline, especially in the third council of Challons in 644. 

PEACEMAKING TASKS

King Theodoric III employed him in many charitable important commissions, especially in pacifying those who were at variance, and in calming seditions. The saint having procured a peace between the French in Austrasia and Neustria, went to carry the news thereof to king Theodoric at Clichi near Paris, where an assembly of prelates and lords was held; and falling there sick of a fever, he besought the king that St Ansbert, abbot of Fontenelle, who was the king’s confessor, and whom the clergy and people of Rouen desired to have for their pastor, should succeed him. 

HIS HOLY DEATH

He died at Clichi, in great sentiments of holy compunction and joy on August 24, 683, having possessed the episcopal dignity forty-three years. 

From Fr Butler's Lives of the Saints - 📷 St Ouen, Rouen

PRAYER:

Grant, we beseech you, almighty God, that the venerable feast of Saint Ouen may increase our devotion and promote our salvation. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.