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Narrative: According to Irish lore, St. Dymphna was the daughter of a pagan Celtic chieftain and a Christian mother. Dymphna, also a Christian, was only fourteen years old when her mother died. Following her mother's death, her grieving father became mentally afflicted and formed an immoral passion for Dymphna, who closely resembled her beautiful mother. Appalled by her father's advances, Dymphna fled from her home in Ireland to the village of Geel near Antwerp in Belgium. There she devoted herself to caring for the poor and the sick. But her troubled father soon followed and, again unsuccessful in gaining the affections of his daughter, he drew his sword and struck off her head.
In the centuries since her martyrdom, Dymphna has become lovingly known as the patron of those living with mental and nervous disorders. Many attribute miracles to the intercession of St. Dymphna and pilgrims regularly visit the shrine which houses her tomb in Geel.
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Icon © Kathrin Burleson
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