St Dymphna Novena and Prayers

St. Dymphna has gained great popularity as the patroness of those who suffer with mental or emotional problems. Ancient traditions state that when Dymphna was a teenager her mother died, and her father, a petty king of Oriel wanted to remarry a woman as beautiful as his wife who had just died. He slipped into mental illness and desired to marry his daughter. Dymphna was advised to flee the country which she did along with the priest who had instructed her for baptism, Fr. Gerebran, and two servants. Her father, who pursued her, killed her in a fit of rage. Dymphna and Fr. Gerebran were buried in a cave. Years later when the villagers decided to move the bodies for a more suitable burial they found in the cave two beautiful tombs, whiter than snow. Soon miraculous cures began to occur. St. Dymphna's fame as patroness of those who suffer with mental and emotional problems spread widely and people came to her shrine on pilgrijmage.