Saint Jouin of Ansion
Founder of the monastery of Ansion
Born into an illustrious Christian family of the Loudunais, Saint Jouin retired young to the solitude of Ansion to lead a life of asceticism. He founded one of the first monasteries in Gaul there, training numerous disciples and benefiting from the counsel of Saint Hilary. He died shortly after 368, leaving a reputation for holiness confirmed by numerous miracles at his tomb.
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SAINT JOUIN, FOUNDER OF THE MONASTERY OF ANSION (after 368).
Origins and solitary vocation
Born into an illustrious family from the Loudunais region and brother of Saint Maximin of Trier, Jouin retired young to the solitude of Ansion to dedicate himself to prayer.
Saint Jouin Saint Jouin Founder of the monastery of Ansion in the 4th century. was born in Mouterre-Sill Mouterre-Silly Parish encompassing the saint's birthplace. y, in the Loudunais, the land of his family which was illustrious and powerful according to the world, but greater in the eyes of God for having given the Church several Saints whose memory it honors. He was the bro ther of Saint Maximin o saint Maximin de Trèves Bishop of Trier and superior of Saint Cyriacus. f Trier, whose life we provided on May 29th. It was therefore towards the beginning of the 4th century that he began to edify through his virtues. The traditions of his family, which was entirely Christian at a time and in a country where paganism still had followers, raised his first thoughts to God. A distaste for the world followed, and, while still young, he retired, to think only of his salvation, into a solitude th en cal Ansion Abbey where the saint's relics were deposited. led Ansion, which was watered by the small river Dive, a short distance from Loudun. There, he subjected himself to an austere Rule of work, prayer, and penance. Many disciples soon wished to join him, and became the first inhabitants of the famous monastery known later by the name of Saint-Jou in de Marnes, because Saint-Jouin de Marnes Monastery founded by Saint Jouin in the 4th century. of its proximity to that small locality. This establishment must be dated to the middle of the 4th century, and perhaps to the episcopate of Saint Maixen t, under whos saint Maixent Bishop under whose authority Jouin is said to have received his office. e authority Saint Jouin must have received the abbatial office; such that this foundation would have preceded that of Ligugé, which has long been considered the first monastic establishment of Gaul.
Foundation of the monastery of Ansion
In the middle of the 4th century, Jouin founded a monastery at Ansion, possibly predating Ligugé as the first monastic establishment in Gaul.
The authority that this office conferred upon him only made him more diligent in his duties. Constantly applied to the instruction of his brothers, the pious cenobite quickly led them forward in the perfection of which he provided the example. He had the good fortune to see the e saint Hilaire Bishop of Poitiers and Doctor of the Church, patron of Triaise. piscopate of Saint Hilary, and, undoubtedly, in the great work of his monastic foundation, he enjoyed his conversations and advice more than once. We could also say that he had the sorrow of seeing him die, if it were not rather a consolation to follow, so to speak, with his gaze the final flight of a Saint who abandons the earth for heaven. Be that as it may, he did not survive him by much, according to the most common opinion, and must, consequently, have departed after the year 368 to rejoin the august pontiff who had been his master and his friend.
Abbatial life and episcopal ties
An exemplary abbot, he benefited from the counsel of Saint Hilary of Poitiers and died shortly after him, around the year 368.
These times, so fertile in such eminent virtues, let us say more, in true holiness, were also to be so in miracles. Miracles are the most authentic marks of the perfect charity that God is pleased to honor in His friends. Those that occurred at the tomb of Saint Jouin crowned the reputation he had acquired. The monastery grew under the influence of these wonders; people flocked there from all parts; illustrious disciples were formed there. One saw shining there successively saints formed at the school and by the memories of the holy abbot. Of this number, the Church of Poitiers honors in its public offices Saint Paternus , who became saint Paterne Disciple of the school of Saint-Jouin, who became bishop of Avranches. Bishop of Avranches; Saint Alcadre or Achard, who was Abb saint Alcadre ou Achard Subject of the biography, abbot of Quinçay and later of Jumièges. ot of Jumièges, in Normandy; and Saint Genero sus, who gover saint Généroux Successor of Jouin as head of the monastery. ned the monastery of Saint-Jouin, and had another convent built on the banks of the Thouet at the beginning of the 6th century, the church of which still bears his name.
Miracles and spiritual influence
His tomb became a place of miracles, attracting many disciples who would become major figures of the Church, such as Saint Paternus or Saint Achard.
The body of Saint Jouin, first deposited in a church dedicated to Saint Christopher, was later transferred to another larger and more magnificent one, which he had dedicated himself to Saint John the Baptist. It was kept there until the 9th century. The wars of those unfortunate times brought about, with the ruin of the monastery and the dispersion of the religious, the irreparable loss of the pious treasures that were kept there with love. But God has promised to "find the bones of his saints" on the day of the resurrection they hope for.
Fate of the relics and end of the monastery
His remains, kept in the church of Saint-Jean-Baptiste, were lost during the wars and the ruin of the monastery in the 9th century.
MM. l'abbé Aubert MM. l'abbé Aubert Source or author of the biographical notice. .
Annexes & related entities
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