AUDOENUS (OUEN), Saint. — Born in 610 near Soissons, he was blessed as a child by St Columbanus; still young — he was then called Dadone — he was sent to the court of Clotarius II, where he formed a friendship with St Eligius. He assisted his brother Ado in the foundation of the monastery of Jouarre near Meaux, and he himself founded that of Revais (634). Bishop of Rouen from 641, he took part in the Second Council of Châlon-sur-Saône (650), promoted monasticism by founding monasteries, among which that of Fontenelle is notable, and, on account of the great influence he enjoyed at the court of the Frankish kings, he took part in political affairs. He died on 24 Aug. 684 at Clichy near Paris, on his return from a diplomatic mission to Cologne.
AUDOENO (OUEN), SANTO
BIBL.: The life of him written by St Eligius, now lost, was later used in the Vita Eligii, in MGH, Scriptores rerum Merovingicarum, V, pp. 663 ff. The oldest Life of St A. (8th cent.) is edited ibid., pp. 536-67; Acta SS. Augusti, IV, Antwerp 1739, pp. 704-840; E. Vacandard, Vie de s. Ouen, Paris 1902; Martyrologium Romanum, pp. 356-57. Mario Scaduto