Melangell, Patron Saint of Hares

The following is excerpted from The Hare by Jill Mason.

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In Wales, May 27 is the feast day of Saint Melangell, a Celtic virgin who settled in the Tanat Valley in north Wales more than 1,400 years ago, after having come from Ireland. Her Latin name is Monacella.

There is a legend that in 604 AD an illustrious Welsh prince from Powys was hunting in a place called Pennant when his hounds startled a hare and gave chase. He followed them into a thicket of brambles and thorns where he found a beautiful maiden in divine contemplation and perceived that the hare had taken refuge beneath the hem of her garments.

The Prince urged his hounds on but they fled howling. He was moved by her serenity and impressed that she had provided refuge for the little wild hare that his hounds had been pursuing. He endowed her with land in the valley as a place of sanctuary for the service of God and to be a perpetual asylum and refuge.

Melangell spent the rest of her days in that lonely spot where she founded a religious community and wrought miracles for those with pure hearts who sought refuge there. She became the patron saint of hares and even today the local hunters of the Tanat Valley are said not to shoot them. Celtic Christians felt an affinity with the natural world.

Like that hare of long ago, pilgrims from all nations and denominations seek peace and tranquility even today with St. Melangell at the church dedicated to her and at the center named after her at Pennant Melangell in north Wales.


Image 1: Aiden Hart.
Image 2: Patricia Banker.