St. Dymphna, Intercessor

Paul, over at Sober Catholic, has pointed out a beautiful article on one man's encounter with St. Dymphna.  Both he and his son struggle with mental illness, and he gets his strength from St. Dymphna. He started saying a novena to her, and admits he was not very enthusiastic at first.

 "...but I was determined to simply open myself up and plead for her intercession. In the process of doing that, I finally ‘got it'. I knew that there was someone in heaven pleading my case and my son's. I probably entered the novena in bad faith. I was unhappy and doubting. In the end, I felt like I had a new friend. That was an immense comfort, and I can't see any way that comfort could have come to me except by her intercession."

The end result, Mark admits, was not a "cure" but a strength given to he and his son to carry on and improve their lives.

Another fascinating result of devotion to St. Dymphna mentioned in the article is the miracles associated with the Shrine of St. Dymphna in Gheel, Belgium where Dymphna fled from her father's advances. So many who suffered from mental illness flocked to the town, that the Sisters of St. Augustine built an infirmary for them and the townspeople took many into their home. The forward thinking model of getting patients out of hospitals and into the community was many hundreds of years ahead of its time.

Novena to St. Dymphna--day nine

NINTH DAY

INTENTION: Peace in Our Days

THOUGHT: For God is not the God of disorder but of peace.
1 Corinthians 14:33

PRAYER OF PREPARATION

It is You, great and all-powerful God, whom we worship in paying veneration to Your saints. Our many sins and failings keep us ever conscious of our need for the help of the Blessed in heaven. Their earthly lives give us reason to hope more firmly, to imitate their example more closely, and to seek their aid more confidently in our present trials. We ask the favor of Your grace, most loving Father, in this novena of prayer in honor of St. Dymphna. Through Christ, our Lord. Amen.

NOVENA PRAYER TO ST. DYMPHNA

Dear St. Dymphna, I come to you daily during this novena to expose my wants and troubles. I firmly believe that your delicate charity will hear my plea for help.
You know the temporal and spiritual favors I need at this time. Look down graciously upon me and obtain these favors for me from God, the infinitely kind Giver of all good things.
O blessed St. Dymphna, I trust in your protection to be preserved from all bodily and spiritual perils. May I be just and prudent, patient and strong, gentle and kind. From you I await inspiration and encouragement to pursue my vocation, to give glory to my Creator, and to win eternal salvation.
Be mindful of me especially in the dangers and needs of the present hour. Assist me during life and at the hour of death, that it may be well with me for everlasting years. Amen.

PRAYER: Dear St. Dymphna, the blessed days of "peace on earth" still elude us. God's children cannot get along together, and the world's game of guilt and blood continues. Justice, good will, and peace on an international scale are still lacking among men and nations.
There is much talk of peace. All peoples desire it. Millions endure agonies of body or spirit because of the effects of war. When will the world know unity, concord, and fraternal harmony?
Dear St. Dymphna, pray that we may do the works of peace. May our times of space exploration and lunar landings usher in an era of universal harmony and the peaceful development of peoples.
Pray with us all, dear martyr, that God may lead the world out of darkness into the bright light of peace. This I ask in the name of the Prince of Peace. Amen.

PRACTICE: Our best contribution to peace is to cultivate it first in our own hearts, our own homes, and to be peacemakers at our place of work, and in our own parish.

Novena to St. Dymphna--day eight

EIGHTH DAY

INTENTION: The Grace of Gratitude

THOUGHT: Give thanks to Yahweh, for He is good. Psalm 118:1

PRAYER OF PREPARATION

It is You, great and all-powerful God, whom we worship in paying veneration to Your saints. Our many sins and failings keep us ever conscious of our need for the help of the Blessed in heaven. Their earthly lives give us reason to hope more firmly, to imitate their example more closely, and to seek their aid more confidently in our present trials. We ask the favor of Your grace, most loving Father, in this novena of prayer in honor of St. Dymphna. Through Christ, our Lord. Amen.

NOVENA PRAYER TO ST. DYMPHNA

Dear St. Dymphna, I come to you daily during this novena to expose my wants and troubles. I firmly believe that your delicate charity will hear my plea for help.
You know the temporal and spiritual favors I need at this time. Look down graciously upon me and obtain these favors for me from God, the infinitely kind Giver of all good things.
O blessed St. Dymphna, I trust in your protection to be preserved from all bodily and spiritual perils. May I be just and prudent, patient and strong, gentle and kind. From you I await inspiration and encouragement to pursue my vocation, to give glory to my Creator, and to win eternal salvation.
Be mindful of me especially in the dangers and needs of the present hour. Assist me during life and at the hour of death, that it may be well with me for everlasting years. Amen.

PRAYER: Dear St. Dymphna, I'm one of those who don't know how to say thanks to God. It's easy for me to recite my "gimme" prayers; but I am tongue-tied when the time comes to express my gratitude.
I take God's gifts for granted - when I should take them with gratitude! I hang on to the gifts and forget the giver. Yet gratitude should be a way of life for me. When will the remembrance of His goodness and mercy make my lips quick to praise?
Dear St. Dymphna, pray that I may remedy my lack of gratitude. Remind me to count my blessings. Let sincere appreciation be my special trait from this day forward.
Teach me to bless the Lord for the bitter and the sweet, for failure and success, for every material and spiritual good. Help me to make every day a time of glad and humble thanksgiving. May I rejoice in His gifts and use them for His glory. Amen.

PRACTICE: The word "Eucharist" means thanksgiving. It is always good to give thanks to the Lord, and to all those through whom He helps us.

Novena to St. Dymphna--day seven

SEVENTH DAY

INTENTION: Those Who Have Injured Us

THOUGHT: Love your enemies. Matthew 5:44

PRAYER OF PREPARATION

It is You, great and all-powerful God, whom we worship in paying veneration to Your saints. Our many sins and failings keep us ever conscious of our need for the help of the Blessed in heaven. Their earthly lives give us reason to hope more firmly, to imitate their example more closely, and to seek their aid more confidently in our present trials. We ask the favor of Your grace, most loving Father, in this novena of prayer in honor of St. Dymphna. Through Christ, our Lord. Amen.

NOVENA PRAYER TO ST. DYMPHNA

Dear St. Dymphna, I come to you daily during this novena to expose my wants and troubles. I firmly believe that your delicate charity will hear my plea for help.
You know the temporal and spiritual favors I need at this time. Look down graciously upon me and obtain these favors for me from God, the infinitely kind Giver of all good things.
O blessed St. Dymphna, I trust in your protection to be preserved from all bodily and spiritual perils. May I be just and prudent, patient and strong, gentle and kind. From you I await inspiration and encouragement to pursue my vocation, to give glory to my Creator, and to win eternal salvation.
Be mindful of me especially in the dangers and needs of the present hour. Assist me during life and at the hour of death, that it may be well with me for everlasting years. Amen.

PRAYER: Dear St. Dymphna, our Blessed Savior wants us to love our enemies, to do good to those who hate us, to pray for those who persecute us.
So far, the successes I have scored in these respects have been rather slight. Spiteful, unforgiving thoughts still come so easily to my mind. Sometimes I get grouchy and assume a cold air toward those who have been unkind to me. Airing my grievances is a habit with me.
You know, dear Saint, how far from perfect my conduct is. Please help me to improve, and remove resentment from my heart.
May the Lord bless those who have injured me, and direct them in the paths of holiness. May He hear your prayers for them, and bestow upon us all the graces we need.
This I ask for the honor of Christ, who forgave His enemies on the Cross. Amen.

PRACTICE: If we love only our friends, how are we any better than the heathens for even they do that? We prove our love for Christ by loving our enemies and doing good to them.

Novena to St. Dymphna--day six

SIXTH DAY

INTENTION: Relatives and Friends

THOUGHT: In life he has had the joy of his company. Sirach 30:5

PRAYER OF PREPARATION

It is You, great and all-powerful God, whom we worship in paying veneration to Your saints. Our many sins and failings keep us ever conscious of our need for the help of the Blessed in heaven. Their earthly lives give us reason to hope more firmly, to imitate their example more closely, and to seek their aid more confidently in our present trials. We ask the favor of Your grace, most loving Father, in this novena of prayer in honor of St. Dymphna. Through Christ, our Lord. Amen.

NOVENA PRAYER TO ST. DYMPHNA

Dear St. Dymphna, I come to you daily during this novena to expose my wants and troubles. I firmly believe that your delicate charity will hear my plea for help.
You know the temporal and spiritual favors I need at this time. Look down graciously upon me and obtain these favors for me from God, the infinitely kind Giver of all good things.
O blessed St. Dymphna, I trust in your protection to be preserved from all bodily and spiritual perils. May I be just and prudent, patient and strong, gentle and kind. From you I await inspiration and encouragement to pursue my vocation, to give glory to my Creator, and to win eternal salvation.
Be mindful of me especially in the dangers and needs of the present hour. Assist me during life and at the hour of death, that it may be well with me for everlasting years. Amen.

PRAYER: Dear St. Dymphna, once more I greet you and thank you for your constant help. Today I should like to pray especially for my relatives and friends.
With all my faults and weak points, they must sometimes find it hard to be patient with me, to bear with my mannerisms and whatever else in me that may irritate them. Now, if only I were more lovable, my changed disposition would bring more sunshine into their lives.
God grant that this may be. It's urgent that I amend my faults that get on others' nerves.
Dear St. Dymphna, please pray to the Lord for my relatives and friends. Implore for them all the blessings they need. Keep a watchful eye on them during their earthly pilgrimage. With your constant aid they will have a safe journey through life, a blessed death in the Lord, and eternal joy with Him in the kingdom of heaven. Amen.

PRACTICE: Be careful always to show your relatives and friends frequent evidence of your regard. Look for an opportunity to pay them honor, extol their virtues, and thank them.

Novena to St. Dymphna--day five

FIFTH DAY

INTENTION: Courage in Trials

THOUGHT: Courage! Do not be afraid. Isaiah 35:4

PRAYER OF PREPARATION

It is You, great and all-powerful God, whom we worship in paying veneration to Your saints. Our many sins and failings keep us ever conscious of our need for the help of the Blessed in heaven. Their earthly lives give us reason to hope more firmly, to imitate their example more closely, and to seek their aid more confidently in our present trials. We ask the favor of Your grace, most loving Father, in this novena of prayer in honor of St. Dymphna. Through Christ, our Lord. Amen.

NOVENA PRAYER TO ST. DYMPHNA

Dear St. Dymphna, I come to you daily during this novena to expose my wants and troubles. I firmly believe that your delicate charity will hear my plea for help.
You know the temporal and spiritual favors I need at this time. Look down graciously upon me and obtain these favors for me from God, the infinitely kind Giver of all good things.
O blessed St. Dymphna, I trust in your protection to be preserved from all bodily and spiritual perils. May I be just and prudent, patient and strong, gentle and kind. From you I await inspiration and encouragement to pursue my vocation, to give glory to my Creator, and to win eternal salvation.
Be mindful of me especially in the dangers and needs of the present hour. Assist me during life and at the hour of death, that it may be well with me for everlasting years. Amen.

PRAYER: Dear St. Dymphna, I plead with you today to share your courage with me.
You endured martyrdom in your early teens with courage that makes me blush when I recall my own cowardice. You never asked that life's pathway be made smooth. You walked forward bravely, your hand in God's hand.
I admit I've never quite managed to imitate you. When trouble hits, I look for a shoulder to cry on. I, who admire heroes, play the coward too often.
You, dear St. Dymphna, were made of sterner stuff. Your heroic example shows me how to say "yes" to God, no matter what He asks. When I compare my life to yours, the difference shames me deeply. When will I conduct myself with the fortitude so becoming in a follower of Christ?
Pray for me that it may be so. Your intercession will help me to meet every crisis with courage like yours. Then I shall show myself a true disciple of the Lord. Amen.

PRACTICE: Let not our Lord ever have to say to you, as He did to the Apostles, "Oh, you of little faith, why did you doubt?"

Novena to St. Dymphna--day four

FOURTH DAY

INTENTION: Strong and Mature Faith

THOUGHT: Hold firmly on to what you already have. Rev. 2:25

PRAYER OF PREPARATION

It is You, great and all-powerful God, whom we worship in paying veneration to Your saints. Our many sins and failings keep us ever conscious of our need for the help of the Blessed in heaven. Their earthly lives give us reason to hope more firmly, to imitate their example more closely, and to seek their aid more confidently in our present trials. We ask the favor of Your grace, most loving Father, in this novena of prayer in honor of St. Dymphna. Through Christ, our Lord. Amen.

NOVENA PRAYER TO ST. DYMPHNA

Dear St. Dymphna, I come to you daily during this novena to expose my wants and troubles. I firmly believe that your delicate charity will hear my plea for help.
You know the temporal and spiritual favors I need at this time. Look down graciously upon me and obtain these favors for me from God, the infinitely kind Giver of all good things.
O blessed St. Dymphna, I trust in your protection to be preserved from all bodily and spiritual perils. May I be just and prudent, patient and strong, gentle and kind. From you I await inspiration and encouragement to pursue my vocation, to give glory to my Creator, and to win eternal salvation.
Be mindful of me especially in the dangers and needs of the present hour. Assist me during life and at the hour of death, that it may be well with me for everlasting years. Amen.

PRAYER: Here I am again, dear St. Dymphna, to present my needs to you. High on the list, as you know, is a strong and mature faith.
Ours are hectic times when confusion seems to be the normal thing. The faith of many is wavering and a loud chorus proclaims: "Eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die and there is nothing beyond the grave."
Many are dismayed by the changes in the Church, the liturgy, and the presentation of religious truths. Some are afraid their faith may totally collapse.
My own faith should have greater strength and maturity. I need a powerful faith to carry me through the dark nights that hold no promise of a sunrise. A strong and adult faith will guide me like a beacon to a blessed eternity.
Intercede for me, dear St. Dymphna, that my faith may be firm. Then I shall take God at His word. I shall look to Him for guidance, and give less attention to noisy prophets of the day. May your faith be my inspiration, your prayers my constant source of help. Amen.

PRACTICE: All created things may fail us, those we trusted most may turn against us, but God is faithful. He will be your mainstay, your rock, your refuge in toil and trouble.

Novena to St. Dymphna--day three

Note: This gorgeous watercolor of Saint Dymphna is by Taylor Greenfield.

THIRD DAY

INTENTION: Acceptance of God's Will
THOUGHT: Do not let your heart be troubled. John 14:27

PRAYER OF PREPARATION

It is You, great and all-powerful God, whom we worship in paying veneration to Your saints. Our many sins and failings keep us ever conscious of our need for the help of the Blessed in heaven. Their earthly lives give us reason to hope more firmly, to imitate their example more closely, and to seek their aid more confidently in our present trials. We ask the favor of Your grace, most loving Father, in this novena of prayer in honor of St. Dymphna. Through Christ, our Lord. Amen.

NOVENA PRAYER TO ST. DYMPHNA

Dear St. Dymphna, I come to you daily during this novena to expose my wants and troubles. I firmly believe that your delicate charity will hear my plea for help.
You know the temporal and spiritual favors I need at this time. Look down graciously upon me and obtain these favors for me from God, the infinitely kind Giver of all good things.
O blessed St. Dymphna, I trust in your protection to be preserved from all bodily and spiritual perils. May I be just and prudent, patient and strong, gentle and kind. From you I await inspiration and encouragement to pursue my vocation, to give glory to my Creator, and to win eternal salvation.
Be mindful of me especially in the dangers and needs of the present hour. Assist me during life and at the hour of death, that it may be well with me for everlasting years. Amen.

PRAYER: Dear St. Dymphna, I firmly believe that God holds our destinies in His hands. He arranges everything for our good here or hereafter. He presides at the sparrow's fall and over everything that happens to us.
And yet, I find it hard at times to accept His doings. When I face pain or sorrow, I'm inclined to question His will. I feel He ought to deal with me differently.
May I appeal to you, then, for help in accepting His will as a true Christian should? Teach me to welcome my Father's visitations no matter what the manner of His coming to me.
Show me how all the bits of life's jigsaw puzzle have God's signature on them, and how each falls into place. With your gracious help I shall give my Lord a free hand to arrange for my life's joyful and sorrowful mysteries. Then, after earth's exile, may I receive the reward promised those who do His holy will. Amen.

PRACTICE: God's will may sometimes strike us as harsh or puzzling. Accept His will as our peace. He who sees all knows what is best for us. Trust Him.

Novena to St. Dymphna

Today is 9 days before St. Dymphna's Feast day on May 15th.  I'm going to post a novena each day to her.

FIRST DAY

INTENTION: Holiness of Life

THOUGHT: Be filled with the Spirit. Ephesians 5:18

PRAYER OF PREPARATION

It is You, great and all-powerful God, whom we worship in paying veneration to Your saints. Our many sins and failings keep us ever conscious of our need for the help of the Blessed in heaven. Their earthly lives give us reason to hope more firmly, to imitate their example more closely, and to seek their aid more confidently in our present trials. We ask the favor of Your grace, most loving Father, in this novena of prayer in honor of St. Dymphna. Through Christ, our Lord. Amen.

NOVENA PRAYER TO ST. DYMPHNA

Dear St. Dymphna, I come to you daily during this novena to expose my wants and troubles. I firmly believe that your delicate charity will hear my plea for help.
You know the temporal and spiritual favors I need at this time. Look down graciously upon me and obtain these favors for me from God, the infinitely kind Giver of all good things.
O blessed St. Dymphna, I trust in your protection to be preserved from all bodily and spiritual perils. May I be just and prudent, patient and strong, gentle and kind. From you I await inspiration and encouragement to pursue my vocation, to give glory to my Creator, and to win eternal salvation.
Be mindful of me especially in the dangers and needs of the present hour. Assist me during life and at the hour of death, that it may be well with me for everlasting years. Amen.

PRAYER: Dear St. Dymphna, I can't really say I want the title, "Saint," before my name. It will be enough if I get a toehold in heaven.
Yet, almighty God calls me to holiness. This is His will for me, that I become a saint. I'm ashamed to admit that I've given this too little serious thought. I've been content with half-measures.
But thanks be to God, there is yet time. My Maker still preserves the breath of life within me. Every heartbeat is a sign that He still wishes I shall become holy.
Remind me, dear Saint, that holiness is an inside thing: my soul's progress in Christ-likeness. Remind me that holiness calls for teamwork; God wants me to work together with Him. Finally, may I remember always that holiness is positive: to focus more on doing good than on not-doing evil.
Pray for me that I may be numbered among the Lord's saints forever. Amen.

PRACTICE: With God's grace and St. Dymphna's aid, try to do well some routine tasks of your place in life, especially some you may find particularly distasteful.


Hat tip to Paul at Sober Catholic. 

The Wearin' of the Green

I thought I'd give us a change of background in honor of St. Patrick's Day. We're back to the Celtic crosses and green, of course!

Saint Patrick's Day is well worth celebrating here because our blog's patroness, Saint Dymphna, was Irish. She was born in Ireland and her father was a pagan Irish king. Dymphna was secretly baptized a Christian. After the death of her mother, her father wanted her as his wife. She fled from him, but he eventually found her and had her killed when she continued to refuse his wishes.

Saint Dymphna is the patron saint of those who suffer from mental illnesses and their caregivers, mental health professionals, incest victims, loss of parents, and runaways.

Here are some links to learn more about Saint Dymphna.

Catholic Encylopedia on Saint Dymphna

The National Shrine of Saint Dymphna

Saint Charles Borromeo Church--Prayers to Saint Dymphna

How to say the Chaplet of Saint Dymphna

An interesting story of a non-believer who took comfort in St. Dymphna while struggling to find help for his mental illness.

St. Dymphna, Pray for us!

Today is the feast of Saint Dymphna. Her mother died when Dymphna was a teenager. Her father, Damon, wanted her to marry him. She refused and fled to Belgium. He pursued her and killed the elderly priest she was traveling with. When she still refused his advances, he killed her as well.

She is the patron saint of those with mental illness as well as mental health caregivers and mental health professionals.

There is a beautiful full page of prayers to Saint Dymphna on the 2 Hearts Network. Below are 2 of them.

Prayer to Saint Dymphna

O God, we humbly beseech You through Your servant, St. Dymphna, who sealed with her blood the love she bore You, to grant relief to those who suffer from mental afflictions and nervous disorders, especially (Name).
St. Dymphna, helper of the mentally afflicted, pray for us.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be. World without end.
~Amen.

For Those Who Suffer with Alzheimer's Disease

We turn to you, dear St. Dymphna, in confident hope that you will remember our special intention in the Presence of the Lord our God. To your caring intercession, we entrust those who suffer from Alzheimer's disease, their families and friends, and all others who are seriously concerned about this disabling sickness so widespread in our time.

As patron of the nervous and emotionally disturbed, you are graciously channeling God's healing power even to the seemingly hopeless cases. We believe that you will show the same compassion to persons afflicted with Alzheimer's disease. Please pray with us that the medical teams involved in research may soon discover its cause and cure.

Dear St. Dymphna, now in heaven with God where there is "...no more death, no more grief or crying or pain.." (Rev. 21:4), you are our sign and beacon of hope. Be our direct channel to Jesus, the Divine Physician, and Healer of the Sick. With you, His faithful follower, we give thanks for all those who will regain health and wholeness in body, mind, and spirit.
~Amen.

Happy Feast Day!

Thanks to Deo gratias for reminding me, via a reply to my Mother's Day post, that today is our patron saint's feast day!

Dymphna was the daughter of a pagan Irish chieftain named Damon and a Christian mother, who raised her in the faith. When she was 14, her mother died. Both Dymphna and Damon mourned their loss. Damon was so torn by grief that his advisors recommended he find another wife to replace the one who had died.

When he realized that none could be found who were as beautiful except his own daughter, he decided to marry her. She was horrified and refused, fleeing with her confessor to Belgium. Her father found her in Gheel and in his rage, he beheaded her.

Dymphna died defending her Christian beliefs in purity. She is the patron saint of mental illness, nervous diseases, incest victims, and runaways. The spot where she was killed became a shrine where her heavenly reputation for curing those with mental illness became quickly known.

Prayer to St. Dymphna
I humbly request you, dear virgin and martyr Dymphna,
to take under your protection
all who are bound to me by ties of blood or friendship.
May all the lives which touch mine
experience the blessings God is pleased to grant
through your intercession.
I now commend to your prayers
all the intentions of my relatives and friends.
Remember also those persons who have asked me to pray for them.
Pray especially for the lonely and forsaken
who have no one to pray for them.

Thank you, dear St. Dymphna, for remembering us all
before our God and Savior.
~Amen~

St. Dymphna

Why, you may or may not ask, is this blog called Dymphna's Well? St. Dymphna is the patron saint of those with mental illnesses and nerve disorders and is a saint close to my heart. I run a Catholic forum called St. Dymphna's Well on Delphiforums. It is a place for support for those of us who suffer, or who have a family member who suffers from any form of mental illness. We discuss anything and everything from paranoia to ADD. So many people leave the Church because of their acute suffering, when there is so much comfort to be had from Catholicism.