Saint Dymphna Patron of those with a Mental Illness

Feast Day - May 30 Official/May 15 Traditional 

Saint Dymphna is well known as a patron of people living with mental illness. She was a 7th century Irish princess who fled from her father, who seems to have had a mental illness, and she settled in Geel, Belgium, where she cared for people with mental illnesses. Because she lived so long ago, much of her story is shrouded in the mist of legend, so it is difficult to know with certainty much about Dymphna herself.

However, what is known with certainly is that Saint Dymphna’s legacy inspired the people of Geel to show compassion for people who live with mental illness. Over the centuries the people of Geel invited people with a mental illness to live and work in their community without any stigma or discrimination. Throughout the Middle Ages and even today the town of Geel is known as a model for community acceptance of people who live with a mental illness. 

From 'Some Saints lived with mental illness’ - Vatican News, November 3, 2021

Traditional St. Dymphna Prayer

Novena from the Archdicoese of Toronto  (Adapted from the St. Dymphna Novena - Archdiocese of Los Angeles)

Hope and Healing St Dymphna Novena - Based on the Statement on Mental Health from the California Conference of Bishops - Diocse of Orange, CA

Prayer to St Dymphna - Diocese of DesMoines, IA

Novena Booklet used at the National Shrine of St. Dymphna, Massillon, Ohio

Crazy About Dymphna:  The St Dymphna altarpiece painted around 1505 by Goossen Van der Weyden 

YouTube video - In 2016, the Phoebus Foundation in Belgium undertook a large-scale restoration project focusing on an altarpiece triptych in their collection by Goossen van der Weyden (1455-1543). 

Ste. Dimpre, vierge et martyre (St. Dymphna, Virgin and Martyr) - New York Metropolitan Museum of Art

Martyrdom of St Dymphna and St Gerebernus by Jacques de l'Ange

The Beheading of Saint Dymphna by Godfried Maes