Saint Convoion

Under Bishop Raginaire or Rainier (821-833), he became archdeacon, and discharged this important office for several years to general satisfaction. He was the only one who was not pleased with himself, because, not loving the world, he found himself out of his element in the midst of the honors of the century. To obey God who was calling him to greater perfection, he resolved to embrace the monastic life and shared his desire with five priests of the clergy of Vannes, named Louhemel, Guencalon, Condeloc, Conhoiarn, and Thetwin.

It was in 832. He resigned from his duties as archdeacon, and with the approval of his bishop, he settled at the eastern extremity of the diocese of Vannes, near the confluence of the Oust and the Vilaine, in a place then named Rôs or Roton, and today R edon. Redon Benedictine monastery founded by Saint Conwoion. Ratuili, lord of the place, ceded to them the necessary site to build a monastery there. A holy hermit, named Gerfrol , who h Gerfrol Benedictine hermit who trained the first monks of Redon. ad practiced the rule of Saint Benedict at the convent of Saint-Maur-sur-Loire, in Anjou, came for two years to train the new religious in Benedictine observances.

However, Saint Convoion wished to obtain civil consecration for his work. He addressed himself as early as 832 to the Emperor Louis the Pious; but the latter rebuffed him twice, at the castle of Joac, in Limousin, and at Tours. Finally, in 834, at the urging Noménoé Governor of Brittany and initial protector of the abbey. of Nominoe, governor of Brittany, the emperor ratified the foundation of the Abbey of Redon, and gave it the parishes of Bains and Langon, and some time later he added Renac and Brain to it.

Religious vocations soon flocked to Redon, and the holy abbot had the consolation of seeing charity, abstinence, chastity, and all other virtues flourish around him.

The zeal of the holy abbot was not confined to the monastery; it also extended outward. Having noticed that simony was beginning to be in troduce simonie Buying or selling of spiritual goods, a major struggle of the saint. d into ordinations, he reported this disorder to Prince Nominoe. The latter summoned the accused bishops, and it was decided that a deputation would be sent to Rome. Convoion was part of it. But upon his return, when he saw the prince's violence against the bishops, he separated himself from him (848).

However, trials, which are always the mark of God's works, could not be absent from the establishment of Redon. Several lords harassed the monks, threatened them with death, and sometimes extorted money from them. In 854, the terrible Normans sailed up t he Vilai Normands Viking raids devastating Flanders and Morinia in the 9th century. ne, and the terrified religious took flight.

As these incursions were repeated several times, Saint Convoion had recourse to P rince Salomon, prince Salomon King of Israel whose infidelity caused the schism of the tribes. to ask him for a place of refuge. The latter, touched by his repeated entreaties, built him a new monastery near Plélan. S aint C Plélan Place of refuge and death of the saint. onvoion retired there with a part of his community, leaving the rest at Redon. He died in this retreat, on January 5, 868, at the age of 80.

His body was buried in the new monastery which was not yet completely finished. Later his relics were transported to Redon and were constantly honored there until 1793 when they were indignantly profaned.

A decree of the Congregation of Rites, dated September 1, 1866, restored his cult for the diocese of Rennes, and solemn feasts took place, on this occasion, in Redon, on January 18, 19, and 20, 1868.

M. Le Mené, secretary of the bishopric of Vannes.