7th February – Feast Of St. Mel

7th February St. Mel, Patron Saint of Ardagh & Clonmacnois.

St. Mel died in 488. Mel was a Briton, a disciple and relative, possibly a nephew, of St Patrick, with whom he worked until he was ordained in Ardagh. He is one of the earliest Irish saints and ‘gave the religious veil’ to St. Brigid.

God our Father,
who in the springtime of the faith in Ireland
raised up your servant the bishop Saint Mel,
to foster the growth of the Church;
grant, we pray, that we who venerate his memory
may never fail to imitate his tireless labour.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.