Saint of the Day – 5 March – Saint Elouan (5th Century) Hermit

Saint of the Day – 5 March – Saint Elouan (5th Century) Hermit and Irish Missionary to France. Also known as – Elouen, Elowan, Eluen, Elven, Llywan, Loan, Louan, Louen, Louenn, Luan, Youen, Youenn.

His history is obscure. Originally from Ireland, Elouan was a missionary to France, having been part of a company of Celtic Missionaries probably under the leadership of St Tugdual and later a Hermit in the forest which is now the Parishes of Mûr and Sainte-Guin . He lived there and died there. He is celebrated there both today and on the last Sunday of August.

His veneration is ensured particularly by a Chapel bearing his name which located at Saint-Guen, in the Côtes-d’Armor, near Mûr-de-Bretagne, in a very remote part of the See of Cornouaille.

In 1646 , Father Maunoir discovered the Saint’s Chapel in ruins and the Saint;s Tomb. This led to a revival of his cult, causing up to 80,000 pilgrims a year to this isolated place.

His sanctity has been recognizsd by the Church for centuries, as evidenced by the Statue and the Chapel erected in his honour and not forgetting the great number of pilgrims who come to pray at his Tomb.