St. Mel
He is said to have been the son of Conis and Darerca, the sister of St. Patrick, whom he accompanied to Ireland and helped to evangelize in that country. According to the Life of St. Brigid, he is said to have had no fixed See, which might fit in his being a missionary. St. Patrick himself built the church at Ardagh and to this he appointed his nephew, Mel. Acting upon the apostolic precept, he supported himself by working with his hands, and what he gained beyond bare necessities, he gave to the poor. For sometime, he lived with his aunt Lupait, but slanderous tongues spread serious accusations against them, and St. Patrick himself came to investigate their conduct. Mel was plowing when he arrived, but he cleared himself of the charge by miraculously picking up a live fish from the ground as if from a net. Lupait established her innocence by carrying glowing coals without burning herself or her clothing. St. Patrick was satisfied, but he told his nephew in future, to do his fishing in the water and his plowing on the land, and he moreover, enjoined them to avoid scandal by separating, living and praying far apart. St. Mel's feast day is February 6.
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I never knew who St. Mel was, even though I attended St. Mel's parish in Woodland Hills, CA, for 20 yr.s The only reason I looked him up is because God interceded for me through him. I was married at that St. Mel's parish; and, sadly, had to divorce my ex-wife over her infidelity after bringing two wonderful children into the world through her. During our divorce, she became very abusive. I had a dream where St. Mel reached out with his shephard's staff that he held in his statue at the church, and touched the forehead of my ex-wife, who then started treated me kindly. Due to this 'miracle,' I now looked him up. Fitting that he's the St. of singles, huh?
It is so bad that the nosy busybodies spread bad rumors about those holy people.
This was my confirmation name!
I have finally found out that Mel is a Saints name, When I was in grade school even a lot of nuns never heard of St. Mel so I carried a clipping from a Chicago newspaper that had an article about St. Mel's church in Chicago. Thank you for having this site.
i really like this story.
i really like this saint