Saint Dymphna
Feast: May 15
Died: 650 Saint Dymphna was born in Ireland in the 7th century. When Dymphna was 14 years old, her mother died. Damon, Dymphna's father, loved his wife deeply and did not do well after she died. He felt he needed to find a woman that resembled his deceased wife and sent his soldiers to find her anywhere in the kingdom. Unfortunately, no woman could be found, so he started to desire Dymphna because of how much she looked and acted like her mother. When Dymphna found out her father's sick plan she was afraid and asked for help. Saint Gerebernus told her she should leave and he helped Dympna leave home. They and two others took a ship to Antwerp. They walked through the forested country until they reached a small chapel dedicated to Saint Martin which is now known as Gheel. They had traveled 25 miles. They settled there to live a very simple life. For several months they lived quietly and Dympna became known for her kindness. Dympna's father would not forget her and sent his troops out to find her. They found her because she was using coins from her kingdom and they traced them to Antwerp. When they found her they brought the King to her and he told her she had to return and be his wife. When she said no the king ordered that she and Gerebernus are killed. The king's men killed the priest and the other people refused to kill Dympna. So the angry and insane the king struck off her head with his own sword. She was only 16 years old. After her death she and her friends were buried near where they died. She became of interest to people after epileptics, insane peoples and people they felt were under evil influences who had visited their grave were cured. In the 13th century, a bishop of Cambrai, had her biography written by a man named Pierre. This has helped make her the patroness of the mentally ill. The city of Gheel has been known for caring for people that are mentally ill. They had a special place built in the 13th century and it has become one of the best hospitals in the world for mentally sick patients. The patients are taught to live good lives and work with farmer and other people of the city to share a regular family life. Saint Dympna is the patron saint for mental illness of all types, asylums for the mentally ill, nurses of the mentally ill, sleepwalking, epilepsy, and demoniac possession. Her feast day is kept in Ireland and Gheel. In the United States, her shrine in Massillon, Ohio, is next to one of the most modern hospitals in the world. The Franciscan Mission Associates in America conduct a world-wide correspondence in her name to fund their activities for the poor and suffering, especially in Central America. The body of Dympna is preserved in a silver reliquary in the church named after her. Three churches in Belgium have altars dedicated to her.

SOURCE: http://www.saintpatrickdc.org/ss/0515.shtml