Saint Dymphna
- Feast
- 15 May
- Patron of
- mental illness, anxiety, depression and victims of family abuse
Dymphna is honoured as a young Irish princess of the seventh century. Her story, written down centuries later, says her pagan father sought to marry her after her Christian mother died. She fled to Geel in present-day Belgium with a priest, Gerebernus, but her father found them there and killed them both.
Pilgrims with mental illness came to her shrine at Geel for centuries, and the townspeople began taking them into their homes, a tradition of family care that continues there today. Painters show her as a crowned young woman holding a sword, sometimes with a chained demon at her feet.
A gentle patron for someone carrying anxiety, depression or a hard family history. Dymphna suffered at the hands of the one who should have protected her, and her shrine became a place of welcome for the troubled.
The print of Saint Dymphna
Questions
When is the feast of Saint Dymphna?
The feast of Saint Dymphna is kept on 15 May.
What is Saint Dymphna the patron saint of?
Saint Dymphna is the patron saint of mental illness, anxiety, depression and victims of family abuse.
Is Saint Dymphna a good confirmation saint?
A gentle patron for someone carrying anxiety, depression or a hard family history. Dymphna suffered at the hands of the one who should have protected her, and her shrine became a place of welcome for the troubled.
Is Saint Dymphna the patron saint of people named Dymphna?
Yes. Saint Dymphna is the traditional name saint for anyone called Dymphna, Dympna and Damhnait, and the feast on 15 May is their name day.
Choosing for a confirmation? See Confirmation gifts. Any two Charcoal Saints are 15% off.
Other patron saints
AgnesAnneAnthony of PaduaAugustine of HippoBenedict of NursiaBernadette SoubirousCarlo AcutisCatherine of SienaCeciliaChristopherClare of AssisiDominicFaustina KowalskaFrancis of AssisiFrancis XavierGeorgeGerard MajellaGianna Beretta MollaIgnatius of LoyolaJoan of ArcJohn of the CrossJohn Paul IIJohn the BaptistJosephJosephine BakhitaJuan DiegoJude ThaddeusKateri TekakwithaLucyMartin de PorresMary MagdaleneMaximilian KolbeMichael the ArchangelMonicaNicholasPadre PioPatrickPaulPeregrine LaziosiPeterPier Giorgio FrassatiRita of CasciaSebastianTeresa of ÁvilaTeresa of CalcuttaThérèse of LisieuxThomas AquinasJeromeCatherine of AlexandriaMartin of Tours