Notwithstanding the
celebrity
of this saint, Mel, Epis.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v2
Brigid's Life.
-** In some of St.
Patrick's Acts, we find certain fables related, and whicharealtogetherunworthyofcredit; yet,perhaps,bearingsomerelation to matters, connected with Mel's manner of living.
It is stated, that St. Lupita, who had devoted herself to a religious life, who was sister to St. Patrick, and aunt to St. Mel, lodged in the house of her nephew. It is possible, this circumstance gave rise to scandalous, but
altogether groundless, rumours. Some unwelcome reports having reached the ears of St. Patrick, while in Southern Teffia, he resolved on paying a visit to St. Mel and St. Lupita. We are told, miraculous ordeals convinced the Apostle of Ireland, that the charges preferred were totally without foun- dation. 45 Then to remove all future cause for suspicion, St. Patrick decreed that consecrated men and women—even although nearly related—should live apart, and in separate habitations, lest the weak might be scandalized, or that any injury might be inflicted on religious decorum, by the existence of possible causes, tending to temptation. We are told, also, that St. Mel had been left by his illustrious director, in Ardagh, which was eastwards from a mountain called Bri-leith ; while St. Lupita remained at a place, calledDruimcheo,westwardofthissamemountain. Bothoftheseplaces, however, were not far apart. ^^
CHAPTER II.
ST. brigid's intimacy with bishop MEL—ABSURD MISSTATEMENTS OF CERTAIN WRITERS NOTICED—ST. MEL A DISCIPLE OF ST. PATRICK—SAID TO HAVE WRITTEN THE IRISH apostle's ACTS—DEATH OF ST. MEL—HIS FESTIVAL—THE CATHEDRAL AND COLLEGE DEDICATED TO ST. MEL AT LONGFORD—CONCLUSION.
St. Brigid seems often to have visited St. Mel, when she resided not far fromArdagh. Atonetime,thekingofthatdistrictentertainedboththese
<=* This appears to have furnished the groundwork for a foolish fabrication, which stated, that St. Brigid received episcopal consecration, at the hands of St. Mel, con- trary to the ordinance of Christ and to the constant discipline of the Catholic Church. Colgan supposes this fable to have probably arisen, from the circumstance, of some thougiitless person present confounding the Sacrament of Confirmation, conferred on St. Brigid, with that of Holy Orders, and afterwards circulating such a false report, among the rude and uninstructed Christians of that time.
torum Hibemise," vi. Februarii. Vita S. Meli, cap. i. , ii. , iii. , iv. , vi. , vii. , and nn. I, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 25, 27, 28, 29,30,pp. 259, to 263.
^s Notwithstanding the particularity with which these miracles are related, their ab- surd tenor will hardly allow us to credit their authenticity. These legends, however, appear to have been credited by the people, at an early period of our ecclesiastical his- tory. In the Tripartite Life of St. Patrick, we find this account, in continuation. *'Et in perennem utriusque memoriam, locus in quo primum a S. Mele patratum est miracu-
sicca et secundum, an Maoile-tene i. fatuus ignis, nuncupatur. " Pars ii. , cap. xxix. , p. 133.
Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga. "
•'* See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga. "
^3 We are
told,
that St. Mel of
Ardagh
lum, vulgo
anchorathirini i.
piscina
;
presided over a great monastery, before he
had visited St. Brigid. See Dr. Lanigan's
"
Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. i. , sec. ix. and nn. 99, 100.
The substance of these foregoing ob- Vita Tripartita S. Patricii, pars ii. , cap.
servations will be found, in the Acts of St.
Mel, as published in " Acta Sane- Colgan's
xxix. Also Toceline's Vita S. Patricii, cap,
cii. , pp. 88,
89, 133.
February 6. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 36s
holy personages ; and,- a remarkable miracle was wrought by the illustrious abbess, at a banquet, given in their honour. ^ The kindness of St. Mel, in-
terceding with the king for a supposed transgressor, on this occasion, pleasingly illustrates the holy bishop's character. St. Mel and St. Moelchu—both being regarded as distinct—are stated to have accompanied the abbess, to a synod, which was held at Tailten, in Meath. ^
Our thoroughly ignorant and presumptuous antiquarian, Ledwich, con- founds St. Mel, with a St. Maula,3 venerated in Kilkenny city, and said to have been the mother of St. Canice. He therefore, flippantly assumes, the sex of this present saint to be doubtful, and that other accounts about him are un- authentic^ Perhaps, absurdity of statement is carried to a still further degree, where we find it gravely advanced, that St. Mel is to be identified with the Cuthite Melissa ;5 and again, that he left his name to Mellifont. ^ St. Mel is classed among the disciples of St. Patrick, by Colgan. 7 There can be no doubt, that our holy bishop acted under the advice and direction of that great master. Whether or not, he survived St. Patrick is open to question. It seems probable enough, however, that Mel passed away from earth, before the Irish Apostle had terminated his earthly career.
It is said, that St. Mel wrote the Acts, virtues and miracles of his uncle, St. Patrick,^ while this latter holy man had been living f for, the great
supposed however, about the year 487" or 488. ^3
Chapter II. —' See "The Life of St.
Brigid," by an Irish Priest, chap, iv. , pp.
41, 42.
^
See ibid. ^ p. 46.
3 A legendary account of St. Maula is to
beseeninHanmer's"ChronicleofIreland,"
pp. 125, 126.
^ See Ledwich's "Antiquities of Ireland,"
P- 497.
5 We are told, another name for this
"Venus of thg East," was Damater, "the Ark. " Thus, by an easy process of trans- fer, we have St. Mel identified with the " Deity of the Ark," or with " the Mother
Apostle
to have survived our saint five ^° For years.
of Ireland is
hisdeath,a. d. 466hasbeenassigned. " MeldepartedthisHfe,atArdagh,
St. ^Engus the Culdee,^* the Mar-
Masters:" "Mel, Bishop of Ard-achadh, in Teathbha, disciple of Patrick, died," vol. i. , pp. 152, 153. His death occurred
in the ninth year of King Lughaidh's reign. According to Colgan and Harris, the Ulster Annals, and an ancient Irish Calendar, place his demise in 487.
^3 At the year 488, however, Ussher states, in his "Index Chronologicus :" "Hoc anno, ut Ultonienses Annales indi- cant, mortem obiit S. Mel, primus Arda- chadensium Episcopus ; qui avunculi sui S.
Patricii adhuc superstitis Acta scripsisse
dicitur," p. 523. Yet, on referring to the ""
of the Gods, by Marcus Keane. For his my- body of Ussher's work, Britannicarum
thologic authority, he cites Bryant, vol. iii. ,
Ecclesiarum Antiquitates," cap. xvii. , pp. 426, 430, where Mel's name occurs, we find no warrant for crediting Ussher's later state- ment. Sir James Ware and Dr. Lanigan place his death at A. D. 488. See "Eccle- siasticalHistoryofIreland,"vol. i. , chap,
pp. 230 to 234. ^"
Towers and
See Marcus Keane's
Temples of Ancient Ireland :
and History discussed from a new point of view,"pp. 91,92.
their Origin
7 See "Trias Thaumaturga. " Quinta vii. , sec. v. , n. 41, chap, viii. , sec. xiii. , Appendix ad Acta S. Patricii, cap. xxiii. , pp. 335, 339, 418.
p. 266. ^4 The following rann^ from the Feilire
^""
See Sir James Ware, De Scriptoribus Hibemiae," lib. ii. , cap. i. , p. I04.
of St. yEngus, Leabhar Breac" copy, has been extrac—ted and translated by Professor
9 See Harris' Ware, vol. Ardagh," p. 248,
*°
of
O'Looney
b. uiii. i'o. ^n'0]\eAt* A]\'o Aoix-oAn efpuc moel iTHtiT) txlge
tuciA CO riAnie riAcctiiTifCAiEfec mite.
Andrew high his ordination, Bishop Moel a kingly mind ;
Lucia with pure splendour, Whom thousands moved not*
If St. Mel wrote some memoirs of St. Patrick, they are not now known to be ex* tant. See Dr. Lanigan's "Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. i. , chap, vii. j sec* v. , n. 41, p. 339-
" See Bishop Challonef 9 * * Britannia
Sancta," part i. , p. 108.
" At the former of these yearS, We tead
in Mr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four
i. ,
"Bishops
:
366 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [February 6.
tyrology of Tallagh, Marianus O'Gorman, Cathal Maguire, and the Martyr- ology of Salisbury, record this holy bishop's festival, at the present date. It was probably that of his death, which is usually assigned to the 6th of February,^5 and according to accounts left by our Irish hagiographers. ^^ This corresponds with the 8th of the February Ides. ^7
his feast is a double of the first class, with an octave.
Notwithstanding the celebrity of this saint, Mel, Epis.
— — meaning bishop
istheonlyentry,intheMartyrologyofTallagh,^^concerninghim. Besides this, we read, in the Martyrology of Donegal,^9 as having a festival on this day,Mel,BishopofArd-achadh,inTethbha. HewasadiscipleofPatrick, according to the same authority ; but, nothing has been noted, about his relationship. Mel is regarded, as the first bishop over the see of Ardagh, and, he has been constantly venerated as the special patron saint of that diocese. Longford being of late years the chief town in the diocese of Ardagh, the magnificent new cathedral of St. Mel was commenced there, by the bishop of that see. Dr. O'Higgins, about forty years ago, and completed, nearly as it now stands, by the late bishop. Dr. Kilduff. The beautiful high altar was erected since this prelate's death, as a memorial to commemorate his zeal and virtues. ='° The present bishop. Dr. Conroy, has contributed largely to complete the interior, and further improvements are yet contemplated. ^^ Adjoining the cathedral, a fine college has been erected, in a delightful situation, and on very extensive grounds, for purposes of lay and ecclesiastical education of a high order. This establishment has also been placed under the patronage of St. Mel. The fine cathedral, dedicated to St. Mel, at Longford, is one of the largest and handsomest ecclesiastical structures in Ireland. It is built of the finest grey marble limestone,^* which on the exterior is cut and carefully dressed, from the foundation to the projecting course, that crowns the walls. Cut stone mouldings enclose the windows exteriorly, and these are covered with moulded pediments. Six pillars are intended to support a grand pediment in front, but this portion has yet to be erected. The style throughout is of the Italian composite order. The ground plan includes a nave, connecting two side aisles, by a double range of eleven arches, divided on either hand, resting on twelve grey marble columns
of great height, yet symmetrical and solid. '3 The columns are capped by chiselled capitals, under the turning of the arches. A transept extends across the upper end of the nave and side aisles. A grand high altar of
^s To show his and to as learning, appear
correcting Ware, Harris says, that an old "
** Ware understood those subje—cts vastly better than his dull correc-
Calendar placeth his death on the 8th of the Ides of February, that is the 5th of the February 487, —with which the Annals of
tor. "
488.
Dr. "Ecclesiastical His* Lanigan's
Ulster agree. "
tory of Ireland," vol. i. , chap, vii. , sec. v. ,
n. 41, pp. 338, 339.
Harris' vol. ^'^ Ware,
•*
*^
Bishops of Ardagh," p. 248.
For other
particulars regarding
this
samt, we are referred to his brother's Acts,
and to Colgan's Appendix, for the Life of
St. Patrick, in "Trias Thaumaturga. " See
"Acta Sanctorum
Vita S. Meli, cap. v. , vi. , vii. , viii. , ix. , x. , and n. 31, pp. 259, 260, 261, 263, 264.
'7 Harris does not appear to know, that the 8th of the Ides corresponded not to the 5th but to the 6th of that month, as Ware has it ; although, he might have found this in all the common tables of the Roman Ca- lendar. And as to A. D. 487, it was accord- ing to the computation of some old annalists,
Hibernias,"
vi. Februarii.
the same as
Edited Rev. Dr. i. , by
In Ardagh diocese,,
xiVi
'5 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, ppi
40, 41.
=° A white marble statue of this bishop
has been erected within the college grounds
adjoining.
=' these a fine marble Among additions,
altar dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary
is conspicuous.
" This valuable building stone was ob*
tained from quarries two miles from the
town of Longford.
=3 These observations are made from per«
sonal inspection of St. Mel's Cathedral, in June, 1876. The patron's feast is celebrated
there, each 6th of February.
Kelly, p.
February 6. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 367
exquisitely white polished Carrara marble—of elaborate and congruent
design with the style of building—is in the centre, and opposite to the great
entrance by the nave. At the end of the right side aisle, there is a side
altar of our Holy Redeemer, and at the end of the left side aisle, there is
one dedicated to the Blessed Virgin. Transverse columns and arches are in
the transepts. Four circular-headed windows light either side aisle, and
they alternate with circular canopied niches, all with fine mouldings in-
teriorly. Five such niches fill up the circular apse, behind the front altar.
A circular-headed window, between similarly designed niches, ornaments
either end of the transept. Twenty-eight angels, wrought in a highly artistic manner, rise immediately over the capitals of all the nave columns.
The coved roof of the ceiling is wrought very tastefully in plaster, while a highly ornamental cornice runs over the whole circuit of nave and apse, in the same elaborate style. High in the coved ceiling, over the three large entrance vestibules, is the fine-toned organ of the choir. Two fine columns, with three connecting arches, support the organ-loft and choir. The vesti- bules, in front, lead to the nave and aisles. A moulded cornice runs imme- diately under the window sills, all through the cathedral. Twelve clerestory and circular-headed lights are over their respective colonnade arches, on either side of the nave. The bishop's throne is on the Gospel side, within the sanctuary ; while the pulpit rises against the third circular column, on the Epistle side of the nave. Basso-relievo flat columns are placed along thewallsofthetransepts,ofthesideaisles,andoftheapse. Thecampanile, surmounted with a dome, and terminated by an elaborate gilt cross, is an object of great architectural beauty. On an octagonal base, rising over the roof, are three projecting mouldings, each sustaining a highly ornate com- partment of the campanile. Carved columns sustain the cornices. ^"'*
As in the instance of the renowned Saint Mel, we find the holiest persons
arenotexemptfromunjustsuspicions. Inlikecases,wemusthavepatience awhile ; slanders are not usually long-lived. Truth is the child of Time ; ere long she shall appear to rehabilitate the character of those, who respect her dictates. Then shall the caluminated and maligned retire from life, vindicated and rewarded. Even, should base calumny fasten a sting, a stigma, or a stain, on the motives or actions of departed persons ; the Almighty, who knows the hearts of all men, and who views their whole course of conduct, in a clear light, will justify the innocent, and most cer- tainly reverse the false opinions of all men, on the day of General Judg- ment.
Article II. —Reputed Festival of St. Melcu or Moelchuo, SUPPOSEDTObeaBishopOFArdagh. Ifwearetocreditsomerecords, at this date should we add the festival of a" St. Melchu or a St. Moelchuo, thought by many to have been the brother and the inseparable companion ofSt. Mel. ^ TheMartyrologyofSalisburycommemorates,atthisdate,four brothers, St. Mel, St. Melchuo, St. Munis,"" who are called bishops, and St.
=* A curious relic of ancient Irish eccle- siastical art, in fine preservation, was acci- dentally found in the old church ruins, at Ardagh, some few years past. This is an antique crozier, covered with elegantly wrought bronze lamince, and highly orna^ mental in design. It is of the old type, furnished with a crook, and the baculus is
about one yard in length. This crozier is at present m possession of Rl. Rev. George
Conroy,BishopofArdagh. Itisevidently of remote date, and it most probably be* longed to a prelate of this ancient see.
Article ii. - ^ See his Life, already
given, for this day.
= See his Life, at the i8th of Decembef.
368 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [February 6.
Rioch,3 called an abbot. They are said to have been distinguished for sanctity, and for many miracles. On the date, contained in such entry, Colgan confesses himself induced to place the festival of those reputed brothers, at the 6th of February ;+ although, he says it is possible, St. Melchuo may be identified with St. Mellan, whose festival was observed on the 28th of October,s in the territory of Hibh Echach, in Ulster. ^ Other writers have followed Colgan's arrangement ; among these may be noted Bishop Challoner,7andRev. S. Baring-Gould. ^ Ancienttractshavealsodistinguished St. Mel from St. Melchuo, a reputed brother. Ware and Colgan are said to have been led astray by these accounts, but they are corrected by Dr. Lanigan. 9 BothMelandMelchusarerepresentedashavingbeenleft,in
Southern St. and as— over the see of
Teffia, by Patrick, jointly ruling Ardagh. ^°
f their festivals is the same a circumstance rather and The o—
day singular, suspicious being reputed brothers, as co-bishops, likewise, in one and the same see. Without sufficient authority, Ware and Harris" place Melchuo afterMel,intheorderofsuccession. Thesenamesandnoticesareapplied, it is thought, to one and the same person ; the real etymon, which was pro-
bably Melchu, having been contracted, and Latinized into Melus or Mel,
signifying
honey. "
"
^' Hence a false distinction of have arisen. persons may
St. Melchu—it has been asserted—was an assistant to St. Mel, during his
missionary labours and preaching. It is thought, too, that Melchu had been
consecrated bishop, by his reputed uncle, St. Patrick ; and that, he remained
withhisreputedbrotherMel,inthemonastery,atArdagh. Theyaresup- posed to have been emulous of each other, only in sanctity, and that Maelchu,
having thus persevered to the end, deserved to be registered among the saints. '3 it is not probable, that Tirechan would have omitted to mention Melchu, in addition to Mel, had the former name belonged to a brother of Mel, and to a joint-administrator, at Ardagh. '-^ Nor is it likely, the name of Melchu should have been omitted, in our most authentic Irish Martyro- logies and Annals, while particular mention is made of Mel or Melus. 'S Labouring under a mistake, Colgan distinguishes St. Melchuo from St. Mel. He devotes a separate short notice to the former, after having given St. Mel's Acts in full, at the 6th of February. For his various illustrations and proofs, reference is made to these Acts. ^^
Article III. —Reputed Festival of St. Munis, Bishop of Forgney, County of Longford. {Fifth Century. '] At this date, the Martyrology
3 of " See his Life, at the 1st August.
See Harris' Ware, vol. i. ,
*'
of
* See "Acta Sanctorum Hibemise," vi. Februarii. De S. Melchuone, Episcopo, with notes, p. 264.
s See an account of him, at that day.
*
Our native Martyrologists state, that St. Mellanus, with his companions Beonus and Nazadius, claimed Britain as their native place. See ibid.
Ardagh," p. 248.
" In the Tripartite Life of St. Patric—k,
Melus is called, "homo vere melleus. " ""
Colgan's Trias Thaumaturga. Septima Vita S. Patricii, lib. ii. , cap. xxix. , p. 133.
'3 See Bishop Challoner's "Britannia
Sancta," part i. , p. 108.
** Jocelin mentions Mel alone.
'S in the old enumerations of St. Patrick's
pretended nephews, with the exception of what Dr. Lanigan considers an interpolated
one, in "Trias Thaumaturga," p. 227, we find only Melus. See " Ecclesiastical His-
tory of Ireland," vol. i. , chap, vii. , sect, v. , n, 41, p. 339.
'^
Colganappearstorely,mainly, onthis following entry, in the Martyrology of Salis-
7 See
•'
Britannia Sancta," part i. , Feb-
ruary 6th, p. 108. ^"
See Lives of the Saints," vol. ii. ,
February vi,, p.
It is stated, that St. Lupita, who had devoted herself to a religious life, who was sister to St. Patrick, and aunt to St. Mel, lodged in the house of her nephew. It is possible, this circumstance gave rise to scandalous, but
altogether groundless, rumours. Some unwelcome reports having reached the ears of St. Patrick, while in Southern Teffia, he resolved on paying a visit to St. Mel and St. Lupita. We are told, miraculous ordeals convinced the Apostle of Ireland, that the charges preferred were totally without foun- dation. 45 Then to remove all future cause for suspicion, St. Patrick decreed that consecrated men and women—even although nearly related—should live apart, and in separate habitations, lest the weak might be scandalized, or that any injury might be inflicted on religious decorum, by the existence of possible causes, tending to temptation. We are told, also, that St. Mel had been left by his illustrious director, in Ardagh, which was eastwards from a mountain called Bri-leith ; while St. Lupita remained at a place, calledDruimcheo,westwardofthissamemountain. Bothoftheseplaces, however, were not far apart. ^^
CHAPTER II.
ST. brigid's intimacy with bishop MEL—ABSURD MISSTATEMENTS OF CERTAIN WRITERS NOTICED—ST. MEL A DISCIPLE OF ST. PATRICK—SAID TO HAVE WRITTEN THE IRISH apostle's ACTS—DEATH OF ST. MEL—HIS FESTIVAL—THE CATHEDRAL AND COLLEGE DEDICATED TO ST. MEL AT LONGFORD—CONCLUSION.
St. Brigid seems often to have visited St. Mel, when she resided not far fromArdagh. Atonetime,thekingofthatdistrictentertainedboththese
<=* This appears to have furnished the groundwork for a foolish fabrication, which stated, that St. Brigid received episcopal consecration, at the hands of St. Mel, con- trary to the ordinance of Christ and to the constant discipline of the Catholic Church. Colgan supposes this fable to have probably arisen, from the circumstance, of some thougiitless person present confounding the Sacrament of Confirmation, conferred on St. Brigid, with that of Holy Orders, and afterwards circulating such a false report, among the rude and uninstructed Christians of that time.
torum Hibemise," vi. Februarii. Vita S. Meli, cap. i. , ii. , iii. , iv. , vi. , vii. , and nn. I, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 25, 27, 28, 29,30,pp. 259, to 263.
^s Notwithstanding the particularity with which these miracles are related, their ab- surd tenor will hardly allow us to credit their authenticity. These legends, however, appear to have been credited by the people, at an early period of our ecclesiastical his- tory. In the Tripartite Life of St. Patrick, we find this account, in continuation. *'Et in perennem utriusque memoriam, locus in quo primum a S. Mele patratum est miracu-
sicca et secundum, an Maoile-tene i. fatuus ignis, nuncupatur. " Pars ii. , cap. xxix. , p. 133.
Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga. "
•'* See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga. "
^3 We are
told,
that St. Mel of
Ardagh
lum, vulgo
anchorathirini i.
piscina
;
presided over a great monastery, before he
had visited St. Brigid. See Dr. Lanigan's
"
Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. i. , sec. ix. and nn. 99, 100.
The substance of these foregoing ob- Vita Tripartita S. Patricii, pars ii. , cap.
servations will be found, in the Acts of St.
Mel, as published in " Acta Sane- Colgan's
xxix. Also Toceline's Vita S. Patricii, cap,
cii. , pp. 88,
89, 133.
February 6. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 36s
holy personages ; and,- a remarkable miracle was wrought by the illustrious abbess, at a banquet, given in their honour. ^ The kindness of St. Mel, in-
terceding with the king for a supposed transgressor, on this occasion, pleasingly illustrates the holy bishop's character. St. Mel and St. Moelchu—both being regarded as distinct—are stated to have accompanied the abbess, to a synod, which was held at Tailten, in Meath. ^
Our thoroughly ignorant and presumptuous antiquarian, Ledwich, con- founds St. Mel, with a St. Maula,3 venerated in Kilkenny city, and said to have been the mother of St. Canice. He therefore, flippantly assumes, the sex of this present saint to be doubtful, and that other accounts about him are un- authentic^ Perhaps, absurdity of statement is carried to a still further degree, where we find it gravely advanced, that St. Mel is to be identified with the Cuthite Melissa ;5 and again, that he left his name to Mellifont. ^ St. Mel is classed among the disciples of St. Patrick, by Colgan. 7 There can be no doubt, that our holy bishop acted under the advice and direction of that great master. Whether or not, he survived St. Patrick is open to question. It seems probable enough, however, that Mel passed away from earth, before the Irish Apostle had terminated his earthly career.
It is said, that St. Mel wrote the Acts, virtues and miracles of his uncle, St. Patrick,^ while this latter holy man had been living f for, the great
supposed however, about the year 487" or 488. ^3
Chapter II. —' See "The Life of St.
Brigid," by an Irish Priest, chap, iv. , pp.
41, 42.
^
See ibid. ^ p. 46.
3 A legendary account of St. Maula is to
beseeninHanmer's"ChronicleofIreland,"
pp. 125, 126.
^ See Ledwich's "Antiquities of Ireland,"
P- 497.
5 We are told, another name for this
"Venus of thg East," was Damater, "the Ark. " Thus, by an easy process of trans- fer, we have St. Mel identified with the " Deity of the Ark," or with " the Mother
Apostle
to have survived our saint five ^° For years.
of Ireland is
hisdeath,a. d. 466hasbeenassigned. " MeldepartedthisHfe,atArdagh,
St. ^Engus the Culdee,^* the Mar-
Masters:" "Mel, Bishop of Ard-achadh, in Teathbha, disciple of Patrick, died," vol. i. , pp. 152, 153. His death occurred
in the ninth year of King Lughaidh's reign. According to Colgan and Harris, the Ulster Annals, and an ancient Irish Calendar, place his demise in 487.
^3 At the year 488, however, Ussher states, in his "Index Chronologicus :" "Hoc anno, ut Ultonienses Annales indi- cant, mortem obiit S. Mel, primus Arda- chadensium Episcopus ; qui avunculi sui S.
Patricii adhuc superstitis Acta scripsisse
dicitur," p. 523. Yet, on referring to the ""
of the Gods, by Marcus Keane. For his my- body of Ussher's work, Britannicarum
thologic authority, he cites Bryant, vol. iii. ,
Ecclesiarum Antiquitates," cap. xvii. , pp. 426, 430, where Mel's name occurs, we find no warrant for crediting Ussher's later state- ment. Sir James Ware and Dr. Lanigan place his death at A. D. 488. See "Eccle- siasticalHistoryofIreland,"vol. i. , chap,
pp. 230 to 234. ^"
Towers and
See Marcus Keane's
Temples of Ancient Ireland :
and History discussed from a new point of view,"pp. 91,92.
their Origin
7 See "Trias Thaumaturga. " Quinta vii. , sec. v. , n. 41, chap, viii. , sec. xiii. , Appendix ad Acta S. Patricii, cap. xxiii. , pp. 335, 339, 418.
p. 266. ^4 The following rann^ from the Feilire
^""
See Sir James Ware, De Scriptoribus Hibemiae," lib. ii. , cap. i. , p. I04.
of St. yEngus, Leabhar Breac" copy, has been extrac—ted and translated by Professor
9 See Harris' Ware, vol. Ardagh," p. 248,
*°
of
O'Looney
b. uiii. i'o. ^n'0]\eAt* A]\'o Aoix-oAn efpuc moel iTHtiT) txlge
tuciA CO riAnie riAcctiiTifCAiEfec mite.
Andrew high his ordination, Bishop Moel a kingly mind ;
Lucia with pure splendour, Whom thousands moved not*
If St. Mel wrote some memoirs of St. Patrick, they are not now known to be ex* tant. See Dr. Lanigan's "Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. i. , chap, vii. j sec* v. , n. 41, p. 339-
" See Bishop Challonef 9 * * Britannia
Sancta," part i. , p. 108.
" At the former of these yearS, We tead
in Mr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four
i. ,
"Bishops
:
366 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [February 6.
tyrology of Tallagh, Marianus O'Gorman, Cathal Maguire, and the Martyr- ology of Salisbury, record this holy bishop's festival, at the present date. It was probably that of his death, which is usually assigned to the 6th of February,^5 and according to accounts left by our Irish hagiographers. ^^ This corresponds with the 8th of the February Ides. ^7
his feast is a double of the first class, with an octave.
Notwithstanding the celebrity of this saint, Mel, Epis.
— — meaning bishop
istheonlyentry,intheMartyrologyofTallagh,^^concerninghim. Besides this, we read, in the Martyrology of Donegal,^9 as having a festival on this day,Mel,BishopofArd-achadh,inTethbha. HewasadiscipleofPatrick, according to the same authority ; but, nothing has been noted, about his relationship. Mel is regarded, as the first bishop over the see of Ardagh, and, he has been constantly venerated as the special patron saint of that diocese. Longford being of late years the chief town in the diocese of Ardagh, the magnificent new cathedral of St. Mel was commenced there, by the bishop of that see. Dr. O'Higgins, about forty years ago, and completed, nearly as it now stands, by the late bishop. Dr. Kilduff. The beautiful high altar was erected since this prelate's death, as a memorial to commemorate his zeal and virtues. ='° The present bishop. Dr. Conroy, has contributed largely to complete the interior, and further improvements are yet contemplated. ^^ Adjoining the cathedral, a fine college has been erected, in a delightful situation, and on very extensive grounds, for purposes of lay and ecclesiastical education of a high order. This establishment has also been placed under the patronage of St. Mel. The fine cathedral, dedicated to St. Mel, at Longford, is one of the largest and handsomest ecclesiastical structures in Ireland. It is built of the finest grey marble limestone,^* which on the exterior is cut and carefully dressed, from the foundation to the projecting course, that crowns the walls. Cut stone mouldings enclose the windows exteriorly, and these are covered with moulded pediments. Six pillars are intended to support a grand pediment in front, but this portion has yet to be erected. The style throughout is of the Italian composite order. The ground plan includes a nave, connecting two side aisles, by a double range of eleven arches, divided on either hand, resting on twelve grey marble columns
of great height, yet symmetrical and solid. '3 The columns are capped by chiselled capitals, under the turning of the arches. A transept extends across the upper end of the nave and side aisles. A grand high altar of
^s To show his and to as learning, appear
correcting Ware, Harris says, that an old "
** Ware understood those subje—cts vastly better than his dull correc-
Calendar placeth his death on the 8th of the Ides of February, that is the 5th of the February 487, —with which the Annals of
tor. "
488.
Dr. "Ecclesiastical His* Lanigan's
Ulster agree. "
tory of Ireland," vol. i. , chap, vii. , sec. v. ,
n. 41, pp. 338, 339.
Harris' vol. ^'^ Ware,
•*
*^
Bishops of Ardagh," p. 248.
For other
particulars regarding
this
samt, we are referred to his brother's Acts,
and to Colgan's Appendix, for the Life of
St. Patrick, in "Trias Thaumaturga. " See
"Acta Sanctorum
Vita S. Meli, cap. v. , vi. , vii. , viii. , ix. , x. , and n. 31, pp. 259, 260, 261, 263, 264.
'7 Harris does not appear to know, that the 8th of the Ides corresponded not to the 5th but to the 6th of that month, as Ware has it ; although, he might have found this in all the common tables of the Roman Ca- lendar. And as to A. D. 487, it was accord- ing to the computation of some old annalists,
Hibernias,"
vi. Februarii.
the same as
Edited Rev. Dr. i. , by
In Ardagh diocese,,
xiVi
'5 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, ppi
40, 41.
=° A white marble statue of this bishop
has been erected within the college grounds
adjoining.
=' these a fine marble Among additions,
altar dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary
is conspicuous.
" This valuable building stone was ob*
tained from quarries two miles from the
town of Longford.
=3 These observations are made from per«
sonal inspection of St. Mel's Cathedral, in June, 1876. The patron's feast is celebrated
there, each 6th of February.
Kelly, p.
February 6. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 367
exquisitely white polished Carrara marble—of elaborate and congruent
design with the style of building—is in the centre, and opposite to the great
entrance by the nave. At the end of the right side aisle, there is a side
altar of our Holy Redeemer, and at the end of the left side aisle, there is
one dedicated to the Blessed Virgin. Transverse columns and arches are in
the transepts. Four circular-headed windows light either side aisle, and
they alternate with circular canopied niches, all with fine mouldings in-
teriorly. Five such niches fill up the circular apse, behind the front altar.
A circular-headed window, between similarly designed niches, ornaments
either end of the transept. Twenty-eight angels, wrought in a highly artistic manner, rise immediately over the capitals of all the nave columns.
The coved roof of the ceiling is wrought very tastefully in plaster, while a highly ornamental cornice runs over the whole circuit of nave and apse, in the same elaborate style. High in the coved ceiling, over the three large entrance vestibules, is the fine-toned organ of the choir. Two fine columns, with three connecting arches, support the organ-loft and choir. The vesti- bules, in front, lead to the nave and aisles. A moulded cornice runs imme- diately under the window sills, all through the cathedral. Twelve clerestory and circular-headed lights are over their respective colonnade arches, on either side of the nave. The bishop's throne is on the Gospel side, within the sanctuary ; while the pulpit rises against the third circular column, on the Epistle side of the nave. Basso-relievo flat columns are placed along thewallsofthetransepts,ofthesideaisles,andoftheapse. Thecampanile, surmounted with a dome, and terminated by an elaborate gilt cross, is an object of great architectural beauty. On an octagonal base, rising over the roof, are three projecting mouldings, each sustaining a highly ornate com- partment of the campanile. Carved columns sustain the cornices. ^"'*
As in the instance of the renowned Saint Mel, we find the holiest persons
arenotexemptfromunjustsuspicions. Inlikecases,wemusthavepatience awhile ; slanders are not usually long-lived. Truth is the child of Time ; ere long she shall appear to rehabilitate the character of those, who respect her dictates. Then shall the caluminated and maligned retire from life, vindicated and rewarded. Even, should base calumny fasten a sting, a stigma, or a stain, on the motives or actions of departed persons ; the Almighty, who knows the hearts of all men, and who views their whole course of conduct, in a clear light, will justify the innocent, and most cer- tainly reverse the false opinions of all men, on the day of General Judg- ment.
Article II. —Reputed Festival of St. Melcu or Moelchuo, SUPPOSEDTObeaBishopOFArdagh. Ifwearetocreditsomerecords, at this date should we add the festival of a" St. Melchu or a St. Moelchuo, thought by many to have been the brother and the inseparable companion ofSt. Mel. ^ TheMartyrologyofSalisburycommemorates,atthisdate,four brothers, St. Mel, St. Melchuo, St. Munis,"" who are called bishops, and St.
=* A curious relic of ancient Irish eccle- siastical art, in fine preservation, was acci- dentally found in the old church ruins, at Ardagh, some few years past. This is an antique crozier, covered with elegantly wrought bronze lamince, and highly orna^ mental in design. It is of the old type, furnished with a crook, and the baculus is
about one yard in length. This crozier is at present m possession of Rl. Rev. George
Conroy,BishopofArdagh. Itisevidently of remote date, and it most probably be* longed to a prelate of this ancient see.
Article ii. - ^ See his Life, already
given, for this day.
= See his Life, at the i8th of Decembef.
368 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [February 6.
Rioch,3 called an abbot. They are said to have been distinguished for sanctity, and for many miracles. On the date, contained in such entry, Colgan confesses himself induced to place the festival of those reputed brothers, at the 6th of February ;+ although, he says it is possible, St. Melchuo may be identified with St. Mellan, whose festival was observed on the 28th of October,s in the territory of Hibh Echach, in Ulster. ^ Other writers have followed Colgan's arrangement ; among these may be noted Bishop Challoner,7andRev. S. Baring-Gould. ^ Ancienttractshavealsodistinguished St. Mel from St. Melchuo, a reputed brother. Ware and Colgan are said to have been led astray by these accounts, but they are corrected by Dr. Lanigan. 9 BothMelandMelchusarerepresentedashavingbeenleft,in
Southern St. and as— over the see of
Teffia, by Patrick, jointly ruling Ardagh. ^°
f their festivals is the same a circumstance rather and The o—
day singular, suspicious being reputed brothers, as co-bishops, likewise, in one and the same see. Without sufficient authority, Ware and Harris" place Melchuo afterMel,intheorderofsuccession. Thesenamesandnoticesareapplied, it is thought, to one and the same person ; the real etymon, which was pro-
bably Melchu, having been contracted, and Latinized into Melus or Mel,
signifying
honey. "
"
^' Hence a false distinction of have arisen. persons may
St. Melchu—it has been asserted—was an assistant to St. Mel, during his
missionary labours and preaching. It is thought, too, that Melchu had been
consecrated bishop, by his reputed uncle, St. Patrick ; and that, he remained
withhisreputedbrotherMel,inthemonastery,atArdagh. Theyaresup- posed to have been emulous of each other, only in sanctity, and that Maelchu,
having thus persevered to the end, deserved to be registered among the saints. '3 it is not probable, that Tirechan would have omitted to mention Melchu, in addition to Mel, had the former name belonged to a brother of Mel, and to a joint-administrator, at Ardagh. '-^ Nor is it likely, the name of Melchu should have been omitted, in our most authentic Irish Martyro- logies and Annals, while particular mention is made of Mel or Melus. 'S Labouring under a mistake, Colgan distinguishes St. Melchuo from St. Mel. He devotes a separate short notice to the former, after having given St. Mel's Acts in full, at the 6th of February. For his various illustrations and proofs, reference is made to these Acts. ^^
Article III. —Reputed Festival of St. Munis, Bishop of Forgney, County of Longford. {Fifth Century. '] At this date, the Martyrology
3 of " See his Life, at the 1st August.
See Harris' Ware, vol. i. ,
*'
of
* See "Acta Sanctorum Hibemise," vi. Februarii. De S. Melchuone, Episcopo, with notes, p. 264.
s See an account of him, at that day.
*
Our native Martyrologists state, that St. Mellanus, with his companions Beonus and Nazadius, claimed Britain as their native place. See ibid.
Ardagh," p. 248.
" In the Tripartite Life of St. Patric—k,
Melus is called, "homo vere melleus. " ""
Colgan's Trias Thaumaturga. Septima Vita S. Patricii, lib. ii. , cap. xxix. , p. 133.
'3 See Bishop Challoner's "Britannia
Sancta," part i. , p. 108.
** Jocelin mentions Mel alone.
'S in the old enumerations of St. Patrick's
pretended nephews, with the exception of what Dr. Lanigan considers an interpolated
one, in "Trias Thaumaturga," p. 227, we find only Melus. See " Ecclesiastical His-
tory of Ireland," vol. i. , chap, vii. , sect, v. , n, 41, p. 339.
'^
Colganappearstorely,mainly, onthis following entry, in the Martyrology of Salis-
7 See
•'
Britannia Sancta," part i. , Feb-
ruary 6th, p. 108. ^"
See Lives of the Saints," vol. ii. ,
February vi,, p.
