St. Dymphna
Dymphna was the daughter of a Damon, a
Celtic chieftain and his
beautiful wife who was a
pious Christian. Damon
loved and
respected his
holy wife , who raised Dymphna as a
Christian. Dymphna took as her
spiritual director an elderly
priest named Gerebran.
According to tradition, when Dymphna was fourteen, her mother died and her father's grief drove him over the
brink of
madness. To relieve Damon of his great
distress, his
advisers recommended he take another wife. They instituted a
search to find another righteous, noble, and beautiful woman who would consent to marry Damon. Unfortunately they could find none. Damon then hit upon the
idea of marrying his daughter, who was as pure and beautiful as her mother.
Dymphna, horrified by the idea of this
union,
resisted her
insane father and with the help of her priest, Gerebran, she
abandoned her
home and crossed the
sea to
Belgium. Damon found them in Gheel and immediately had Gerebran
beheaded for his part in the
escape. The mad chieftain again attempted to persuade her to return with him to
Ireland. When Dymphna continued to resist his advances, Damon drew his
sword in a fit of
rage and beheaded his daughter on the spot. She was only 15 years old at the time.
About 620 Dymphna received the
crown of
martyrdom in the
defense of her
chastity. Today Gheel, where both Dymphna and Gerebran were
killed, has become a holy
shrine. As the result of invocations to St. Dymphna many
miracles have taken place at the
site . The old
church of St. Dymphna in Gheel was destroyed by
fire in 1489. Its replacement was
consecrated in 1532 and still stands.
Dymphna is now the patron saint of those suffering from
mental and
emotional distress. She has also been called the Patroness of Victims of
Abuse and
Incest.
St. Dymphna’s Feast Day is May 15. Every year on her feast day and on the Tuesday after
Pentecost,
pilgrims visit her
shrine in Gheel. In art, Dymphna is often depicted with a sword in her hand and a fettered
devil at her feet. St. Dymphna
encourages all who face and deal with emotional and mental illness, stress, tension, frustration, abuse and incest. As a victim of one possessed by insanity, Dymphna remained faithful to her beliefs.
St. Dymphna Devotion
The St. Dymphna Devotion is sponsored by the Franciscan Mission Associates to bring spiritual benefits to all who are afflicted with emotional stress, tension, frustration, or mental illness.
Prayers to St. Dymphna
Here us, O God, Our Savior, as we honor St., Dymphna, patron of those afflicted with mental and emotional illness. Help us to be inspired by her example and comforted by her merciful help. Amen.
Prayer in Honor of St. Dymphna (from the St. Dymphna Devotion)
Lord, God, Who have graciously chosen St. Dymphna to be the patroness of those afflicted with mental and nervous disorders, and have caused her to an inspiration and a symbol of charity to the thousands who invoke her intercession, grant, through the prayers of this pure, youthful martyr, relief and consolation to all who suffer from theses disturbances, and especially to those for whom we pray.
(Here mention those for whom you wish to pray.)
We beg You to accept and to satisfy the prayers of St. Dymphna on our behalf. Grant to those we have particularly recommended patience, in their sufferings and resignation to Your Divine Will. Fill them with hope and, if it be in accord with You Divine Plan, bestow upon them the cure they so earnestly desire. Through Christ, our Lord, Amen.