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Saint Dymphna |
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Feast Day: May 15
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Also known as
- Dympna; Dimpna
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- Profile
- Daughter of a pagan
Irish chieftain named Damon, and a beautiful devoted Christian woman
whose name has not come down to us. Her
mother died when Dymphna was a teenager. Her
father searched the Western world for a woman to replace his wife,
but none could. Returning home, he saw that his daughter was as
beautiful as her mother, and maddened by grief, he made advances on her.
She fought him off, then fled to
Belgium with Saint
Gerebernus, an elderly
priest and family friend.
Dymphna's father searched for them, and his search led to
Belgium. There an
innkeeper refused to accept his money, knowing it was difficult to
exchange. This told Damon that his daughter was close - it would be
unusual for a village
innkeeper to know a lot about foreign currency, and his knowledge
indicated that had recently seen it. The
king concentrated his search in the area. When he found them in
Gheel, he beheaded
Gerebernus, and demanded that Dymphna surrender to him. She refused,
and he killed her in a rage.
The site where she died is known for its miraculous healings of the
insane and
possessed. There is now a well-known institution on the site, and
her relics are reported to cure
insanity and
epilepsy.
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- Patronage
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against sleepwalking,
epilepsy,
epileptics,
family happiness,
incest victims,
insanity,
loss of parents,
martyrs,
mental asylums,
mental disorders,
mental health caregivers,
mental health professionals,
mental hospitals,
mental illness,
mentally ill people,
nervous disorders,
neurological disorders,
possessed people,
princesses,
psychiatrists,
rape victims,
runaways,
sleepwalkers,
therapists
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- Prayers
- Prayer I
to...,
Prayer II
to...,
...for the
intercession of...,
Nine Prayers
to...,
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Representation
- princess with a sword holding the devil on a leash; often shown with
Saint Gerebernus; princess holding a lamp and sword; lamp; kneeling at
Mass while her father murders the
priest Gerebernus; praying in a cloud surrounded by a group of
lunatics bound with golden chains; being beheaded by the king
Images
Gallery of images of Saint Dymphna [6 images,
156 kb]
Readings
Lord, our God, you graciously chose Saint Dymphna as patroness of
those afflicted with mental and nervous disorders. She is thus an
inspiration and a symbol of charity to the thousands who ask her
intercession.
Please grant, Lord, through the prayers of this pure youthful martyr,
relief and consolation to all suffering such trials, and especially
those for whom we pray. (Here mention those for whom you wish to pray).
We beg you, Lord, to hear the prayers of Saint Dymphna on our behalf.
Grant all those for whom we pray patience in their sufferings and
resignation to your divine will. Please fill them with hope, and grant
them the relief and cure they so much desire.
We ask this through Christ our Lord who suffered agony in the garden.
Amen
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