The Story of St. Dymphna
Dymphna was the only child of a pagan
king who is believed to have ruled a section of Ireland in the 7th
century. She was the very picture of her attractive young Christian
mother.
The remains of Saint Dymphna were later put into a silver reliquary and placed in the Gheel church named in her honour. The remains of Saint Gerebernus were moved to Xanten, Germany. During the late 15th century the original St. Dymphna's Church in Gheel burned, and necessity obliged the erection of the magnificent "Church of St. Dymphna," which was consecrated in 1532 and now still stands on the site where her body was first buried.
When the queen died at a very young
age, the royal widower's heart remained beyond reach of comfort. His
moody silences pushed him on the verge of mental collapse. His
courtiers suggested he consider a second marriage. The king agreed on
condition that his new bride should look exactly like his former one.
His envoys went far a field in search
of the woman he desired. The quest proved fruitless. Then one of them
had a brilliant idea: Why shouldn't the king marry his daughter, the
living likeness of her mother?
Repelled at first, the king then
agreed. He broached the topic to his daughter. Dymphna, appalled,
stood firm as a rock. "Definitely not." By the advice of St. Gerebern,
her confessor, she eventually fled from home to avoid the danger of her
refusal.
A group of four set out across the
sea - Father Gerebern, Dymphna, the court jester and his wife. On
landing at Antwerp, on the coast of Belgium, they looked around for a
residence. In the little village of Gheel, they settled near a shrine
dedicated to St. Martin of Tours.
Then spies from her native land
arrived in Gheel and paid their inn fees with coins similar to those
Dymphna had often handed to the innkeeper. Unaware that the men were
spies, he innocently revealed to them where she lived.
The king came at once to Gheel for
the final, tragic encounter. Despite his inner fury, he managed to
control his anger. Again he coaxed, pleased, made glowing promises of
money and prestige. When this approach failed, he tried threats and
insults; but these too left Dymphna unmoved. She would rather die than
break the vow of virginity she had made with her confessor's approval.
In his fury, the king ordered his men
to kill Father Gerebern and Dymphna. They killed the priest but could
not harm the young princess.
The king then leaped from his seat
and with his own weapon cut off his daughter's head. Dymphna fell at
his feet. Thus Dymphna, barely aged fifteen, died. Her name appears in
the Roman Martyrology, together with St. Gerebern's on May 15.
In the town of Gheel, in the
Flemish-speaking region of Belgium, great honor is paid to St. Dymphna,
whose body is preserved in a silver reliquary in the church which bears
her name. Gheel has long been known as a place of pilgrimage for
persons seeking relief or nervous or emotional distresses. In our
century, the name of St. Dymphna as the heavenly intercessor for such
benefits is increasingly venerated in America.
The remains of Saint Dymphna were later put into a silver reliquary and placed in the Gheel church named in her honour. The remains of Saint Gerebernus were moved to Xanten, Germany. During the late 15th century the original St. Dymphna's Church in Gheel burned, and necessity obliged the erection of the magnificent "Church of St. Dymphna," which was consecrated in 1532 and now still stands on the site where her body was first buried.
A phenomenon is said to have occurred immediately after the finding
of the tombs. A number of people with epilepsy, mental illnesses and
persons under evil influences who had visited at the tomb of Dymphna
were cured. Ever since that time, she has been invoked on behalf of such
people.
St. Dymphna is the patron saint of the nervous, emotionally disturbed, mentally ill, and those who suffer neurological disorders - and, consequently, of psychologists, psychiatrists, and neurologists. She is also the patron saint of victims of incest.
Good Saint Dymphna, great wonder-worker in every affliction of mind and body, I humbly implore your powerful intercession with Jesus through Mary, the Health of the Sick, in my present need. (Mention it.) Saint Dymphna, martyr of purity, patroness of those who suffer with nervous and mental afflictions, beloved child of Jesus and Mary, pray to Them for me and obtain my request.
(Pray one Our Father, one Hail Mary and one Glory Be.)
Saint Dymphna, Virgin and Martyr, pray for us.
St. Dymphna is the patron saint of the nervous, emotionally disturbed, mentally ill, and those who suffer neurological disorders - and, consequently, of psychologists, psychiatrists, and neurologists. She is also the patron saint of victims of incest.
Good Saint Dymphna, great wonder-worker in every affliction of mind and body, I humbly implore your powerful intercession with Jesus through Mary, the Health of the Sick, in my present need. (Mention it.) Saint Dymphna, martyr of purity, patroness of those who suffer with nervous and mental afflictions, beloved child of Jesus and Mary, pray to Them for me and obtain my request.
(Pray one Our Father, one Hail Mary and one Glory Be.)
Saint Dymphna, Virgin and Martyr, pray for us.
