Our next Novena: St. Dymphna

St. Dymphna

We don’t know very much about Saint Dymphna. A lot of the history that we do know comes from oral tradition and written stories. But what we do know is that she was born in the 7th century in Ireland to a beautiful devout Christian mother, and to a pagan father who was also an Irish Chief.

When her mother died, her father became immensely depressed, and Saint Dymphna also suffered during that time. Her father looked for a replacement wife, and he was told by his advisors to pursue his daughter as his new wife.

Driven mad by his depression, he made advances on his daughter. Saint Dymphna fled to Belgium with her confessor and took refuge in a Chapel near the present day site of Gheel. Her father’s spies, however, tracked her down and her father found begged Dymphna to return to Ireland with him.

Dymphna refused, and her father decapitated her. At the time, she was only 15 years old.  I chose her in this time of coronavirus in honor of all the children being abused due to the lockdown.

For mental illness caused by the lockdown, let us pray this Novena April 29-May 7 at 3pm, after a Chaplet of Divine Mercy.  I will return to my “2 days per day” posting for the next 9 days.

St. Dymphna Novena Prayers

St. Dymphna Novena - Day 1

For Faith

O God, Source of our salvation, in the midst of a pagan people, Thou didst enlighten St. Dymphna by the light of the true faith, which she professed under the guidance of her holy confessor, Gerebran, with such constance that she suffered martyrdom. Through the intercession of these two saints, we beg Thee to strengthen the faith which Thou hast given us, so that by wisely subjecting our souls to Thy Supreme Authority, and by faithfully conforming our lives according to our faith, we may honor Thee with our whole heart and soul until the hour of our death. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Pray the Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be five times

St. Dymphna Novena - Day 2

For Hope

Almighty and infinitely good God, Thou hast promised eternal salvation to those who obey Thy commandments and make zealous use of Thy graces. Through the intercession of St. Dymphna, who fled from the danger of sin by leaving the palace of her father, and who, eager to gain eternal salvation, fled to Belgium to live in poverty, we beg Thee to grant that we also, who are striving for eternal happiness, may overcome all obstacles in the way of virtue and may attain eternal salvation. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Pray the Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be five times