Dymphna
Dymphna | |
|---|---|
The beheading of Saint Dymphna by Godfried Maes | |
| Virgin Martyr | |
| Born | 7th century Ireland |
| Died | 30 May, 7th century Geel, Belgium |
| Venerated in | |
| Canonized | 620 |
| Feast |
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| Attributes | Lamp, Sword (with which she was beheaded), Lilies |
| Patronage | Mental health professionals, those suffering from mental illnesses |
Dymphna (also Dimpna, Dymfna, Dimfna, Dympna and Dympha, Irish also Damhnait or Davnet) is a Christian saint honoured in Catholic and Eastern Orthodox traditions. According to tradition, she lived in the 7th century and was martyred by her father.
The story of Dymphna was first recorded in the 13th century by a canon of the Church of Aubert of Avranches at Cambrai, France. It was commissioned by Guiard of Laon, the Bishop of Cambrai (1238–1248).
According to oral tradition, the bones of St. Dymphna were discovered and produced a miracle: a dead man was revived after being beaten with her bones. This event was regarded as proof of the miraculous power of her relics. This story could go back to a variation of the Bible story from 2 Kings 13:21, in which a dead man was brought back to life through contact with the bones of the Prophet Elisha.
The author of the 13th century account expressly stated that his work was based upon a long-standing oral tradition as well as a persuasive history of miraculous healings of the mentally ill.