by Kat Apf

Created on: September 02, 2011   Last Updated: January 05, 2012

Saint Dymphna is the patron saint of those with mental illness, sexual abuse victims, epilepsy and runaways.   For anyone who either experiences these issues or loves someone who does, saying a novena to Saint Dymphna will certainly help and comfort them. 

Saint Dymphna had a terrible life.  Her mother was a Christian and she became a devout follower of Jesus as a child.  Her mother died when she was about 14 years old and because she looked so much like her mother, her father decided to marry her, even though they were father and daughter.

When she found out what her father was plotting, she ran away with her Confessor, Saint Gerebran.  Eventually, her father found them and beheaded both of them.  At the site where they were buried, several people who were said to be mentally ill, slept at the site where Dymphna and Saint Gerebran were killed and woke up cured.

During the 13th century, a grave was dug up that was thought to be the remains of  Dymphna and Gerebran and a brick was unearthed at the site that said Dymphna on it.   The remains were moved to Gheel (Geel)  and amazing healing and miracles among the mentally ill began happening.  People were no longer afflicted with mental problems. There was a hospital built there and today, a psychiatric center, OPZ, a leader in humane treatment of the mentally ill is there. 

Saint Dymphna is the perfect saint to turn to for those who suffer from mental health issue, sexual abuse victims and runaways.  Because she lived through her father's mental problems, possibly sexually abuse by him and running away, she understands how those who have these problems and those who love those who have these problems feel.  Praying with her will really help people find peace and calm in their lives.

A novena is a prayer that is said nine times a day for nine days.  There are usually many novenas for any saint and Saint Dymphna is no exception.

On Fisheaters.com, there's a novena for Saint Dymphna that has a different prayer every day.  But you can say the same prayer each day for all nine days.  You can also find a novena to Saint Dymphna on the website Catholic Truth, which also has a different prayer for each day of the novena.

Another prayer, found in the book, Novena, by Barbara Calamari and Sandra Dipasqua, is as follows-

"Oh, God, we humbly beseech you
through your servant, Saint Dymphna,
who sealed with her blood the love
she bore

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