Patron Saint of Mental Health
Dympna Provides Strength to Sufferers of Mental Health Disorders
The tragic life of Saint Dympna and her deep faith in Christianity led to her eventual death at the hands of her father. Why then is Dympna the Patron Saint of insanity?
Saint Dympna is the Patron Saint of insanity, mental illness, nervous disorders, neurological disorders, depression and epilepsy.
There are many sources of practical help that sufferers of these diseases can get, but once this has been found, the inspiration of a Patron Saint such as Saint Dympna may help provide emotional strength and courage.
Saint Dympna (sometimes spelt Dymphna) had a traumatic life and death, but the place of her death is said to have healed many sufferers of mental disorders and her holy relics are reported to have cured insanity and epilepsy.
Saint Dympna
Saint Dympna was the daughter of a pagan Irish chieftain called Damon and a beautiful Christian woman who died when Dympna was a teenager. Following the death of Dympna's mother, her father searched far and wide for a new wife but none were found to be satisfactory. Driven to distraction by grief, he began to obsess over his daughter and tried to seduce her.
With an elderly priest by her side, Dympna ran away but her father followed, unrelenting in his search for her. The chieftain eventually tracked her down to Gheel in Belgium. It was here that they fought and he killed both Dympna and the elderly priest, now known as Saint Gerebernus. Saint Gerebernus is now the Patron Saint of fever and gout.
Saint Dympna is also the Patron Saint of sleepwalking, family happiness, incest victims, loss of parents, martyrs, princesses, mental institutions and caregivers, psychiatrists, rape victims and runaways.
A Prayer Used to Ask for Help from Saint Dympna
Lord, our God, you graciously chose Saint Dympna 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 Dympna 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.
Other Patron Saints of Mental Illness
- Saint Amabilis, who is also a Patron Saint against fire, poison, snake bites and wild beasts.
- Saint Giles, who is also a Patron Saint of breast feeding, breast cancer, the physically challenged, fear of the night, disability, sterility and the poor.
- Saint Michelina of Pesaro, who is also the Patron Saint of death of children, widows and in-law problems.
- Saint Bibiana, who is also the Patron Saint of headaches and hangovers.
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