What is Saint Dymphna the Patron Saint Of?

Saint Dymphna

Saint Dymphna is the patron saint of mental health, anxiety, and depression. She is quickly increasing in popularity as the world has become more and more aware of mental health and its drastic effects on our day to day lives.

According to a scientific study, the COVID-19 pandemic drastically increased the presence of anxiety symptoms changing from 8.9% to an alarming 22.6%.[1]  It makes sense that St Dymphna is becoming more and more well known among the Catholic community.

You may be wondering how someone gets the title of Patron Saint of Anxiety, Depression, and Mental Illness. St Dymphna definitely had her fair share of reasons to be anxious.

 

 

The Saint Dymphna Story:

St Dymphna was the daughter of a divided household in 7th century Ireland – a Pagan father (who was a king) and a Christian mother. Her mother shared her devout Christian faith with Dymphna, and at a mere 14 years of age, Dymphna consecrated herself to Christ and took a vow of chastity.

Unfortunately, Dymphna’s mother died around this time and sent King Damon (her husband) into an emotional spiral. Damon was completely lost without his wife, so his advisors suggested he remarry. Damon agreed to take a new wife only if they could find someone as beautiful as his wife was. The king’s men searched and could find no one as beautiful as his wife… except his own daughter, Dymphna. Don’t ask me why, but apparently these men urged Damon to take Dymphna as his wife. Damon, completely deranged at this point, agreed and told Dymphna of his plan.

The details of the rest of her story vary among sources, but the bottom line remains the same. Dymphna, mortified, fled the country with her trusted priest and confessor (Gereban), the court jester, and a couple others. They traveled to Gheel, Belgium to hide from Damon and his court.

 

 

How Did Saint Dymphna Die?

King Damon eventually found where Dymphna and her supporters were hiding, and he was absolutely infuriated with them. Gereban, the priest, remained a loyal protector of Dymphna and rebuked Damon for his evil plan… this got Gereban beheaded by Damon and his men. Damon continued to try to convince Dymphna to marry him, but his efforts were in vain (obviously). He decided that the only course of action was to behead his own daughter (who was 15 years old). Dymphna and Gereban both died martyrs and a church was erected where their bodies were initially buried.

As people started visiting the shrine, applying Dymphna’s relic to sick patients, and praying novenas, miracles started to occur. Gheel quickly gained a world-famed reputation for its care of mentally ill and insane patients.[2]

Like most saints, Dymphna had a difficult life, but her unwavering faith in God eternally remains as an example for all of us to follow and learn from. Reflecting on Dymphna’s life, she experienced a lot of trauma. She had to process her mother’s death, interact with and protect herself from her mentally ill father, and learn to forgive and trust others when her life experience would have told her to do the exact opposite. Let’s also keep in mind the fact that she was only 15 years old and her brain was not even fully developed yet. Talk about incredible strength, detachment, emotional maturity, and immense faith. God gave her His strength and wisdom just as He wants to give to us if we allow Him to (like Dymphna did).

 

When is Saint Dymphna's Feast Day?

Saint Dymphna's feast day is on May 15th.

 

Dymphna Pronunciation:

dimf·nuh

 

St Dymphna Prayer:

Saint Dymphna, you are honored as the patron saint of stress, anxiety, depression, and mental health. I humbly ask for your intercession that God may alleviate me from this heavy burden. Please pray that the Holy Spirit may give me the grace to trust in what God has planned for me without worrying about the things I do not know and can not control. O Saint Dymphna, your life was full of uncertainty and distress, yet you remained faithful in the Lord. I implore that you help me heal, in Jesus' name, in this trying and difficult time. Amen.

 

 

St Dymphna Necklace, Symbols, and More:

If you would like to browse our line of Saint Dymphna products, visit our website. We are a one stop Catholic Shop that delivers quickly and world wide (U.S.A. based).

 

If you click the image or description of the product you are interested in, it will take you straight to the product page on our website.

Saint Dymphna Necklace on Aluminum Ball Chain 24" Saint Dymphna Pocket Token

 

Saint Dymphna Prayer Card and Pewter Necklace Saint Dymphna 1" Medal

Sources:

[1] Schafer, Katherine Musacchio et al. “Prevalence rates of anxiety, depressive, and eating pathology symptoms between the pre- and peri-COVID-19 eras: A meta-analysis.” Journal of affective disorders vol. 298,Pt A (2022): 364-372. doi:10.1016/j.jad.2021.10.115

[2]B Benedictine Convent Sisters. “History—National Shrine of St. Dymphna.” National Shrine of Saint Dymphna, Clyde, May 1946, natlshrinestdymphna.org/site/?page_id=11.