St. Melangell or Monacella, Patroness of Rabbits, Hares and Small Animals

Hermitess, and patroness of rabbits and small animals. Cheesy

Her feast day is May 27th.

The History of St Monacella "From the MSS. of Mr. Powel of Ruabon."
ca. 16th C.

There was in former times in Powys a certain most illustrious prince, by name Brochwel Ysgithrog, and consul (earl) of Chester, who at that time dwelt in Pengwern Powys, which in Latin signifies the Head of Powys Marsh, but now is called Salop: (and) whose domicile or habitation stood in that spot where the college of St. Chad is at present situated.

Now the same illustrious prince gave his domicile or mansion aforesaid, of his own free will, for the use of God, and at the same time from a sense of his own duty, for eleemosynary [charitable] purposes, and made a perpetual grant of it for himself and his heirs.

At length, when upon a certain day in the year of our Lord 604, the said prince had gone hunting to a certain place of Britain called Pennant, within the said principality of Powys, and when the hounds of the same prince had started a hare, the dogs were following the hare and he was pursuing to a certain bramble thicket, a thicket large and thornv; in which thicket he found a certain virgin, beautiful in appearance, praying as devoutly as possible, and given up to divine contemplation, together with the said hare lying under the extremity or fold of her garments (with its face turned towards the dogs) boldly and intrepidly.

Then the prince vociferating "Catch her, little dogs! catch her!" the more he shouted while he urged them on, the more remotely and further off did the dogs retreat, and fled from the little wild animal howling. At length the prince altogether astonished, asked the virgin how long she had dwelt alone on his lands, in so desert a spot; the virgin in reply said that for these fifteen years she had never in any way seen the face of man; he afterwards asked the virgin who she was, where she was born and sprung from; and she with all humility answered that she was the daughter of king Jowchel of Ireland, and "because my father had intended me to be the wife of a certain great and noble person of Ireland, I fleeing from my native soil (God guiding me) came hither, in order that I might serve God and the spotless Virgin with my heart and a chaste body until I should die."

Then the prince inquired the name of the virgin. To whom she said in reply that her name was Monacella. Thereupon the prince considering in his inmost breast the prosperous, (though) solitary, condition of the virgin, broke forth into these words:

"Oh most worthy virgin Monacella, I find that thou art a hand-maiden of the true God, and a most sincere worshipper of Christ; wherefore because it has pleased the supreme and almighty God, for thy merits, to give safety to this little wild hare, with safe conduct and protection from the attack and pursuit of the ravenous and biting dogs, I give and present to thee, with a most willing mind, these my lands for the service of God, and that they may be a perpetual asylum, refuge, and defence, in honour of thy name, O excellent virgin; and let neither King nor Prince dare to be so rash or bold towards God as that, any man or woman fleeing hither, and desiring to enjoy protection in these thy lands, he should presume to drag forth, provided that they in no way contaminate or pollute thy sanctuary or asylum. On the other hand, if any malefactor enjoying (the privilege of) thy sanctuary, shall go forth in any direction to do harm, then the freeholding abbats of thy sanctuary, who alone take cognizance of their crimes, if they afterwards find the offenders and culpable persons, and take care that they be given and delivered over to the officers of Powys to be punished."

This virgin Monacella, so very pleasing to God, passed her solitary life (in the way mentioned above) for 37 years in this same place.

And the hares, wild little animals, just the same as or tame animals, were in a state of familiarity about her every day throughout her whole life; during which time also, by the aid of the Divine Mercy, miracles and various other favours were not wanting to those who asked for her aid, and sought her favour with inward devotion of heart.

After the death of the said most illustrious Prince Brochwel, his son Tyssiliau held the principality of Powys; then Conan, the brother of Tyssiliau; afterwards Tambryd; then Gurmylk and Durres the lame; all of whom sanctioned the said place of Pennant to be a perpetual sanctuary, asylum, or safe refuge of the wretched, (thereby confirming the acts of the said prince.)

The same virgin Monacella, with all solicitude and diligence, took care to appoint and instruct certain virgins in the same (part of the) country, in order that they might persevere and live holily and modestly in the love of God, and should pass their lives in the service of God, doing nothing else day and night.

After this, as soon as the virgin Monacella herself departed this life, a certain man, by name Elisse, came to Pennant Melangell, and wishing to violate, ravish, and pollute the same virgins, died there, and suddenly perished in the most dreadful manner. Whoever has violated the above mentioned liberty and sanctity of the said virgin, has been rarely seen to escape divine wrath on this account, as may be daily perceived. Praises be to the Most High God and to His Virgin Monacella!