No More Learning

—"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.
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.