From: rich <
richarra@gmail.com>
May 15th =E2=80=93 St. Dympna of Gheel, Virgin, Martyr
[Dymphna]
The Belgian town of Gheel is 25 miles from Antwerp. 700 years ago the
remains were rediscovered there, in two ancient sarcophagi, of the
martyrs St. Dympna and St. Gerebernus. A strange phenomenon is said to
have occurred after the finding of the tombs. A number of epileptics,
insane people, and those under diabolical influence were cured in
connection with the relics of Dympna.
Ever since, she has been invoked on behalf of such persons. Gheel
itself subsequently built an infirmary for the mentally ill, and today
it boasts a state mental sanitarium that practices advanced types of
care for its patients. Most of them are able to board with
neighborhood farmers. Practically members of these =E2=80=9Cfoster families= =E2=80=9D,
they help with the chores to the extent of their ability.
Much more is known of Dympna in her heavenly career than in her
earthly one. Her legend, probably based on folklore, asserts that she
was the daughter of a Celtic pagan king, whether from Ireland or Great
Britain or Brittany. When her Christian mother died, her father became inordinately attached to his own daughter, and desirous of marrying
her. Dympna's confessor, Father Gerebernus, advised the troubled
princess to take flight from this unnatural proposal. Accompanied,
therefore, by the priest and the court jester and his wife, she
crossed to Belgium. The four then went from Antwerp to the site of the
present Gheel, planning to set up as hermits at a little nearby
chapel.
Meanwhile, however, the royal father had discovered the departure of
the fugitives and set out after them. Spies helped him locate them at
their hermitage. The king first tried to persuade his daughter with
sweet talk to return with him. She refused, and Gerebernus supported
her. The tyrannical king therefore ordered his companions to kill both
of them. The companions had no scruple about assassinating St.
Gerebernus, but boggled at laying hands on Princess Dympna. The king
therefore took matters into his own hands, and beheaded his daughter
with his own sword. The bodies were left unburied, but they were later
laid to rest at the site of their death.
The body of St. Dympna is preserved in a silver reliquary in the Gheel
church named in her honor. Only the head of St. Gerebernus is
enshrined at Gheel, the rest of his relics having been moved to the
town of Sonsbeck in the German diocese of Muenster. Both were true
martyrs in that they died in defense of the Christian virtue of
purity.
On St. Dympna's annual feastday hundreds of pilgrims, those in good
health as well as those suffering mental maladies, come to the tomb of
St. Dympna as pilgrims. Veneration of the princess has spread to other countries, too, especially in connection with the care of the mentally disturbed. Thus, the state mental hospital at Massillon in Ohio, is
the site of the American national shrine of St. Dympna as heavenly
intercessor on behalf of the victims of mental or nervous ailments.
Devotion to the little virgin martyr is a reminder that God loves the
mentally diseased as much as those who are sound in body and mind.
Maybe He loves them even more.
Patronage
Agricultural workers, death of children, farm workers, farmers, field
hands, for rain, husbandmen, laborers, livestock, Madrid Spain,
ranchers, rural communities, United States National Rural Life
Conference
Saint Quote:
At Judgment Time have pity upon every man, Lord, in that hour when he
has finished his task and stands before Thee like a child, whose hands
are being examined. - Amen.
--Paul Claudel
Bible Quote
Who is a wise man, and endued with knowledge among you? Let him shew,
by a good conversation, his work in the meekness of wisdom.=C2 (James
3:13)
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Prayer to St. Dymphna - Chastity
Most pure virgin, St. Dymphna, we live at a time when many
are intent on satisfying every carnal appetite. Your single-
minded dedication to Christ alone is providential and
inspiring. Please help us by your power with God to see life in
proportion as you did. With your aid we propose to perform all
our actions for a pure motive, and promptly to resist all our
evil inclinations. Amen.
--- NewsGate v1.0 gamma 2
* Origin: News Gate @ Net396 -Huntsville, AL - USA (1:396/4)