Saint Ronan

**Popular name from early Ireland. There were several Kings and at least *twelve saints called Rónán 
Which include:  
                  

• A * Celtic saint of Irish origin. ** Rónán the Silent (Éire), sometimes confused with St.Rumon of 6th century Britain because stories portray him as keeping a tame pet wolf in anticipation of St. Francis of Assisi. * He preached throughout his part of the Celtic Christian world, particularly in Devon/Cornwall and Brittany.He is venerated particularly in the village of Locronan in Brittany, which is named after him, and which has his relics. **Although not on the official calendar of Saints. Rónán(Ronan) has been venerated on June 1st.

• A saint referred to in Sir Walter Scott's book, St. Ronan's Well. Scott's St. Ronan was a Celtic monk, Bishop of Kilmaronen, who advocated the use of the Roman rather than Celtic manner for the calculation of the date of Easter. This St. Ronan is the patron saint of the Scottish town of Innerleithen. (See Synod of Whitby).

Gallery

• 
  Scenes from the life of St Ronan or Rumon on the polychrome pulpit at Locronan parish church in Brittany. One legend tells us that Ronan's wife denounced him as a werewolf to the local prince, who tested this claim by exposing him to hunting hounds. Being trained to hunt wolves, they would have sensed the presence of a werewolf, but were left unmoved.
• 
  More scenes from the life and death of St Ronan on the Locronan pulpit. Ronan left his wife to take up a life of preaching and healing. After his death, there was much argument over the disposal of his body, so it was placed on an ox cart and the animals allowed to drag it wherever they pleased. They finally took it to Locronan.
• 
  Reliquary of St Ronan, Locronan, Brittany. Legend has it that his remains were taken to Cornwall during the Viking raids, and there worked miracles until the Dissolution of the Monasteries. However it seems that some relics were returned or reappeared in Brittany around the 13th century.
• 
  St Ronan, pictured on the banner of the parish church of Locronan, Brittany. The banner will be used particularly on the saint's feast day, 1 June, and on the Troménies or pardons held at Locronan in July.

References

   *D. H. Farmer (1978). The Oxford Dictionary of Saints.
   ** J.Mac Killop (1998,2004) " Oxford Dictionary of Celtic Mythology"