Ronan was born in Ireland sometime around the 6th century and was known among his countrymen for his intelligence and piety. Ronan still longed for a simpler, more contemplative religious life and so exiled himself to Brittany to live as a hermit. His voyage landed him in the extreme Northwest region of France (Léon in Brittany) and he journeyed farther southward to Cornouaille (named after settlers from Cornwall in Britain). There Ronan set up hermitage. A local peasant man grew to admire Ronan’s holiness and would often visit the hermit much to the chagrin of his jealous wife. The wife, Keban, protested to the king of Cornouaille that Ronan was an evil sorcerer who shape-shifted into a wolf at night and killed the townspeople’s sheep. She also claimed that Ronan killed and ate her own daughter. The king set Ronan to the test and released his ferocious hounds on the man. Miraculously, the dogs were immediately soothed and calmed by the holy Ronan. Ronan also proclaimed that Keban had actually killed her own daughter by locking her up in the room so small she died of suffocation. After providing the exact location, Ronan’s accusations were proven true and local citizens turned on the lying Keban demanding her death. Not only did Ronan compassionately insist on sparing Keban’s life, he also purportedly resurrected the daughter from her death. After his death, Ronan’s body was interred at his hermitage and the town of Locronan (“place of Ronanâ€) grew up around his relics. Apparently, his relics also performed miracles and so a cult grew up around him in medieval times. Saint Ronan of Locronan is still an important saint to the people of Brittany and his feast day is June 1.
