No More Learning

7 See Jocelin's or Sexta Vita S. Patricii,
had been a different person from Sannan, or if Ructus had children ; indeed, he rather thinks, the latter name was wrongly written for Succhet. See "Trias Thaumaturga," n. ii, pp. 48, 62.
" That of Joceline. See his Life of St. Patrick, chap, i. , p. 76, ibid.
"
^3 See her Life at the 27th of September.
^4 St. Patrick the Younger was nephew to the Apostle of Ireland, and a son to the brother of our great St. Patrick. See Sexta Vita S. Patricii, cap. clxxxvi. , ibid. , p. 107.
^s According to Jocelin's account.
'^ See Joceline's or Sexta Vita S. Patricii, cap. 1. , p. 76, ibid.
'7 All the more ancient writers adopt this
latter account, while, some among the more modern authors follow Joceline's incorrect
statement, making Tygridia mother over a
numerous offspring.
^^ Ussher also enumerates the names of
St. Patrick's sisters ; but, in place of Ri- chella, he introduces Cinnenus. See " De Primordiis Ecclesiarum Britannicarum," cap. xvii. , p. 823.
^5 The feast of this holy woman does not seem to be known. Another name, by which she appears to have been called, was that of Cinnena.
'° It is thought by some, that Liemania
cap. i. Colgan's
*'
Trias Thaumaturga," p.
The feast day of this holy woman does not seem to be known.
76. Also, the Calendar of Cashel, and
Charles Maguire's commentaries on St.
iEngus the Culdee, with other Irish martyr-
ologies, at the 6th of February.
^
The authorities for this statement will be discovered, in the Acts of our great na- tional patron, as found in Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," /aj^m.
9 From an old MS. , which came to the
hands of Archbishop Ussher, we are told, that Deochain Sannan was a brother to St.
Patrick, Apostle of Ireland, and that it would appear he was father to another
younger saint, bearing the same name, who, after the death of the Irish Apostle, accord-
ing to Jocelin, went to Glastonbury in Bri- tain. In the church of this place, he was
honourably interred. See '* De Primordiis Ecclesiarum Britaimicarum," cap. xvii. , p. 824.
" It is related, that when St. Patrick came to Ireland, he had a brother, named Ructus. See Probus, or Quinta Vita S .
Patricii, lib. i. , cap. xii. Yet, Colgan could hardly say, whether or not, this latter
and co-labourers with their uncle St. Patrick. ^^
Yet,
362 LIVES OF THE lEJSH SAINTS. [February 6.
Some nominal variations, however, occur in their enumeration. '* The last named of these holy sisters is generally allowed to have been the parent ofSt. Mel. Itisstated,thatshehadbeenmarriedtoRestitutus,aLombard, and to Conis. Some authors state, she had sixteen other sons, besides Mel, and two daughters. *3 All of these children were distinguished for their eminent sanctity. The father of our saint is called Conis, and he is sup- posed to have been a Briton. =4 It is probable also, his son, the first bishop of Ardagh, had been a native of Britain. The particular place of his birth is not recorded. Colgan thinks, however, that Conis'5 and Darerca were of Irish birth and descent, as the names themselves are Irish. Dr. Lanigan doubts, if Mel were at all a relation to St. Patrick. ^^ Maol is an equivocal
ConcerningSt. Mel'searlyeducation,wehavenoreliablenotices; how-
ever, it is related, he became a disciple to his reputed uncle, St. Patrick. He laboured with this illustrious Apostle, on the Irish mission. He taught
many early converts of our island the principles of Christianity. Some are of opinion, St. Mel had been a bishop before he came to Ireland. ^9 He
distinguished himself there so much, as a zealous preacher and as a holy is not to be distinguished from Darerca. also Lalloca, a virgin, of Senlios, behind
*'
word 7 when toaman,it hasthe
f applied signification
shaved,"
and when to an irrational animal, it
Thus, his real family origin is left very doubtful.
signifies
"bald"or"
" without horns " or " ears. " =^
Trias Thaumaturga. " the mountain Badgna. The feast of this
See Colgan's
Quinta Appendix ad Acta S. Patricii, cap. iv. , pp. 224 to 231.
latter virgin does not seem to be known, while, it is thought the former holy woman may be identified with a St. Acheach,
*' Thus called by Charles Maguire, in his **
version of the Festilogy," at the 6th of venerated at the 23rd of April. It is not February, and by an old commentator on known, however, that all of these children
St. iEngus, at the same day. We find it, were by Conis, the Briton, or by Restitutus, in a very ancient Irish districh, thus La- the Lombard, Darerca's other husband.
—
tinized, by Colgan ;
See "Trias Colgan's
**
Lupita et Tigris fervida (ut jam numeravi) et Richella ;
iv. , pp. 224 to 231.
=4
Thaumaturga. " Quinta Appendix ad Acta S. Patricii, cap.
See Vita Tripartita S. Patricii, lib. ii. , cap. viii. Joceline's Vita S. Patricii, cap. amplexoe sunt vitam abstractam cum 1. Also, Tirechan, Ussher, Hanmer and
Darerca et Liemania togarum dives, quae
fervore ;
Nomina sunt hsec clare proposita, soro-
rum Patricii, magnarum Ecclesiarum Patroni. "
others, coincide in this account.
°s There existed a very ancient church,
called Boith-Conis, in the territory of Inish- owen,inUlster. Itisnotknown,however, that it had connexion with Conis.
—"Acta Sanctorum Hibemise," vi. Feb-
ruarii. De S. Mele Episcopo Ardacha- vol. i. , chap, vii. , sec. v. , n. 39, p. 338.
densi, n. 6, p. 262.
" In an ancient parchment MS. , con-
Such is also the opinion of Rev. S. Baring- Gould in his " Lives of the Saints," vol. ii. , February vi. , p. 178.
taining a fragmentary Life of St. Patrick,
or rather a commentary thereon, which be-
longed to Colgan, and referring to the Irish
Apostle, these words occur: "quinque sine auribus. " In fine, Joceline styles the
sorores ejus Lupita et Tigris, et Liemania, et Darerca ; et nomen quintae Cinnenus. " Yet, the latter is a masculine, rather than a feminine, form of name; and, probably,
of
father of the two bishops, called Mael and Maelchu, Conis. See Sexta Vita S. Patricii, cap. 1. , p. 72. Colgan's "Trias Thauma- turga. "
^* A
there was some mistake in the
it.
the
Saints Mael and Maelchu, will be found in '3 A commentator on St. ^ngus—and a the "Trias Thaumaturga. " Quinta Ap-
writer who—deals largely in various absurd
conjectures asserts, that Darerca had se- venteen virtuous sons, who were transmarine
bishops, and two daughters, respectively called Achea, a devout person, who raised
the dead to life, and who cured lepers, as
pendix ad Acta S. Patricii, cap. iv. , pp. 224 to 231. Tertia Vita S. Brigidse, n. 3, p. 542, and Quarta Vita S. Brigidse, n. 9, p. 563, ibid.
writing
disquisition, regarding
reputed
=^ See "Ecclesiastical History of Ireland,"
"7 Maolchu, according to the root of this compound word, "idem est quod molassus
"9 See " Life of St. Brigid," by an Irish Priest, chap, iv. , p. 40.
February 6. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 363
missionary, that other writers assert, St. Patrick considered him worthy of
being elevated to the episcopal dignity. It is said, St. Mel had been ap- pointed to the see of Ardagh, when St. Patrick proceeded from Usneach towards that tract of country, now known as Longford. 3° According to another supposition, however, St. Mel had not yet arrived in Ireland, at so early a period. 3^ We are told, likewise, St. Mel had been elevated to the episcopal dignity,32 before the year 454. 33 For, we read in the third chapter of St. Brigid's Life, attributed to St. Ultan of Ardbraccan, that Saints Mel and Melchuo, Bishops, came from Britain, at a time when the great Patroness of Ireland, St. Brigid,34 was borne in her mother's womb. 35 Dr. Lanigan finds no reason for contradicting the statement, that Mel was bishop about the middle of the fifth century ; but, he supposes, that the election of our saint to Ardagh see took place, when St. Patrick journeyed on his way, from Munster towards Ulster. 3^ It has been stated, that the great Apostle left his reputed nephew to reside near a high ridge, which bore the peculiar name, Bri Leith, now called Slieve Galree. It lies between Ardagh to the east, where St. Patrick left Bishop Mel, and Dmimchea, to the west, where hissisterLupitalived. 37 ThisSliabhCalraighewassocalledfromanancient territory known as Calry or Calree, in Teffia, and within the present county ofLongford. Thismountain,sowelldefinedinthedistrict,wasalsocalled
Sliabh Callann Bri Leith. 38
St. Mel built a famous monastery at Ardagh. 39 At this place, also, it is
recorded, he exercised the jurisdiction both of abbot and of bishop. 'K' Among other celestial endowments, our saint received the gift of prophecy, whereby he was enabled to predict future events. -^^ This was exemplified in St. Brigid's case, and soon after he had arrived in Ireland from Britain. He foretold the greatness and sanctity of that holy virgin, while yet carried in her mother's womb. Some time subsequent to St. Brigid's birth, St. Mel
3° According to the Tripartite Life of St. tioned.
"—" Ecclesiastical History of Ire- Patrick. See, also, Rev. Michael J. land," vol. i. , chap, vii. , sec. v. , n. 39, p.
" chap. X. , p. 133.
Popular Life of St. Patrick,"
3* The reader is referred to the account,
already contained in the Life of St. Brigid,
chap. i.
33 St. Brigid was bom about the year 454.
See Dr. Lanigan's "Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. i. , chap, vii. , sec; v. , n. 40, p. 338.
3* See her Life at the 1st of February.
3S See the previous Life of St. Brigid, chap. i.
3^ See Dr. Lanigan, vol. i. , chap, vii. , sec. V. ,p. 335. Inanote,thiswritersays:
"According to other accounts, which are
more consistent, Mel was raised to the epis-
copacy by St. Patrick himself; and even
Jocelin, however partial to British bishops,
joins (cap. 102) in this statement. As to
what is said of his having been a nephew of
St. Patrick, by his sister Darerca, we have
already seen what opinion ought to be St. Mel, and to his reputed brother, St. formed of such stories. Add, that in said
O'Farrell's
338.
37 See Colgan's
3^ See Dr.
tory of Ireland," vol. i. , chap, v. , sec. viii. and n. 71, pp. 238, 240.
Septima p. 133.
Vita S.
lib.
Lanigan's
Patricii,
ii. , cap. xxix. ,
Life of St. Brigid, whence the whole account of Mel is chiefly taken, this or any other re- lationship to our apostle is never men-
Melchuo. See "Vita Tripartita S. Patricii," lib. ii. , cap. xxvi. , p. 132. Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga. "
** Ecclesiastical His-
**
Trias Thaumaturga. "
38 See John O'Donovan's letter, dated Edgeworthstown, May i8th, 1837.
*'
Letters and Extracts containing Infor- mation relative to the Antiquities of the County of Longford, collected during the Progress of the Ordnance Survey in 1837," p. 40.
39 This town is situated in the county of
Longford. It gives name to the episcopal
see yet existing,
40 The Calendar of Cashel, Marianus Gor-
man, Maguire, and the Martyrology of Donegal style him bishop, at the 6th of February. That he had been abbot, at the
same place, would appear from St. Brigid's Life, attributed to St. Ultan. In it, his
residence is spoken of, as being a great mo- nastery. See the sixth chapter. Again, it is said to have been richly endowed with lands and revenues, given by St. Patrick to
*! See ibid.
364 LIVES 01' THE IRISH SAINTS. [February 6.
administeredtohertheSacramentofConfirmation. ^^ Inconjunction,pro- bably, with his disciple St. Machaille, Mel likewise bestowed the religious
veil on that youthful spouse of Christ. 43 AfterAvards, the greatest friendship existed between our saint and the future abbess, as recorded in St. 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.