SAINT ROUIN, IN LATIN RODINGUS, AND CHRODINGUS FIRST ABBOT OF BEAULIEU IN ARGONNE

HE was a native of Ireland, where he embraced the monastic state, and received priesthood. Having afterwards left his own country, he retired to the monastery of Tholey in the diocess of Treves, and became a perfect model of all virtues to the monks, who, according to some writers, elected him their superior. Here he was so often interrupted by the visits of those who came from all parts to consult him, that he quitted the monastery and retired to Verdun, to be near Paul, the holy bishop of that city, where he spent two years. After this, he resolved to settle in the forest of Argonne, but being refused permission by the person to whom it belonged, he went to Rome with his disciples. Upon his return to France he obtained the consent he wished for, and taking up his residence in the forest, he there laid the foundation of the abbey of Beaulieu, which still subsists and is dependent on the congregation of St. Vannes.

The church was dedicated under the invocation of St. Maurice and his companions: and the new community soon became very generous. The holy founder was honored with the protection of king Clovis II. and his queen St. Bathildes: and was also greatly esteemed by Childeric, king of Austrasia, who confirmed the new establishment by his diploma, and endowed it with land. The saint having governed his monastery thirty years, called for a successor, and retired into a solitary place in the neighborhood, out of which he never went, except on Sundays, or when his presence was necessary in the community. He died on the 17th of September, about the year 680, at the age of eighty-six, and was buried in the church of his abbey. He is mentioned in the Gallican and Benedictine Martyrologies. See D. Menard,1. 2, Observ. in Mart. Ben. et addit. and Mabillon addit. Sec. 4, Ben.