May 27 is the St. Melangell Day, Patron Saint of Rabbits

This is a beautiful art piece of St. Melangell, the patron saint of rabbits.   It piques my interest in who is St. Melangell and what's the background story to have made her a patron saint of rabbits.

 

According to the Catholicreadings.org website:

"St Melangell, also known as Monacella, was a princess and anchoress in Powys, Wales. One day when prince Brochwel of Powys was hunting a hare, it ran and went to Melangell who shielded it inside her cloak.

The prince was amazed by her courage and sanctity and he gave her the valley to become her sanctuary. She founded a small religious community there and became its abbess. Later on, a church was built on that site which today hosts many retreats."

There are more images of St. Melangell with rabbits, here are some examples that are included in the website of St. Melangell: May 27 | saints-feast-family (saintsfeastfamily.com)

There are photos of the St. Melangell church in Wales that has stone curved rabbits on the wall.