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St Dymphna

This life-size statue is my latest commission

She was a 7th-century Irish martyr saint.

I carved her in tropical cedar. Father Mark O’Donnell commissioned this statue for Saint Joseph’s Catholic Church in New London, Connecticut.

Watch the video

in which I describe the life of the saint and the process of carving the statue

How did this statue of Saint Dymphna come about?

 

Excerpts of a Message to his parishioners from Father Mark O’Donnell,

Pastor of St. Joseph Catholic Church

St. Dymphna, a saint for the ages

When I first arrived at St. Joseph Parish almost 10 years ago, I was approached by three parishioners who asked me, “Father, who is the patron saint for those afflicted with nervous, mental, and emotional illness?” Without pausing, I said, “Saint Dymphna”. After I told them about her story, they said to me that they would love to have a statue of her in the sanctuary because every family has been affected by mental and emotional illness. I said I would try to get a statue of her so that we could pray for her intercession and for healing for all those who suffer.

Well, it is almost 10 years later, and the need for St. Dymphna’s help could not be more urgent in the world we live in. The pandemic with COVID-19 has mentally and emotionally taken a toll on everyone’s health and well-being. It has tragically taken too many lives through the disease itself, and the lives of those who are addicted to drugs, and through some who desperately turned to suicide because they felt isolated and dehumanized.

When Neil Hartung, a wonderful parishioner, died unexpectedly on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception on December 8, 2019, I met his brother, Vonn Hartung, who is a renowned artist in Puerto Rico. Neil always spoke fondly of his brother, with a fraternal love. I spoke with Vonn and proposed that he conduct some research on the history of this great saint. He became enthralled with her courageous life and martyrdom. In every detail, he researched her life, and we agreed that a statue was indeed needed here in New London for everyone to pray for her intercession. I began sharing this news with the people who initially approached me 10 years ago, and they were entirely on board. Slowly, the word has spread that St. Dymphna was being created for St. Joseph Church in the St. Brendan the Navigator Catholic Community.

I commissioned Vonn Hartung to bring this great saint to life artistically.

He began with tropical cedar and glued the wood together to form a solid block. Slowly, he has been carving and creating a five-foot statue of St. Dymphna from a block of wood. We give thanks to God for this wonderful saint, who has been revered for ages, especially on this day. We hope St. Dymphna will arrive by September 1st of this year…Fr. Mark

Buy a giclee print of this statue detail

Who was Saint Dymphna?

“According to Catholic and Orthodox tradition, Dymphna was born in Ireland in the 7th century. Her father Damon was a petty king, her mother a devout Christian.

When Dymphna was 14 years old, she consecrated herself to Christ and took a vow of chastity. Shortly thereafter, her mother died. Damon had loved his wife deeply, and in the aftermath of her death his mental health sharply deteriorated. Eventually the king’s counsellors pressed him to remarry. Damon agreed, but only on the condition that his bride would be as beautiful as his deceased wife. After searching fruitlessly, Damon began to desire his daughter because of her strong resemblance to her mother.

When Dymphna learned of her father’s intentions, she swore to uphold her vows and fled his court along with her confessor Father Gerebernus, two trusted servants, and the king’s fool. Together they sailed towards the continent, eventually landing in what is present-day Belgium, where they took refuge in the town of Geel.

Her father tracks her down!

One tradition states that once settled in Geel, Dymphna built a hospice for the poor and sick of the region. However, it was through her wealth that her father would eventually ascertain her whereabouts, as some of the coins used enabled her father to trace them to Belgium. Damon sent his agents to pursue his daughter and her companions. Upon discovery of their hiding place, he travelled to Geel to recover his daughter. He ordered his soldiers to kill Gerebernus and tried to force Dymphna to return with him to Ireland, but she resisted. Furious, Damon drew his sword and struck off his daughter’s head. She was said to have been 15 years old when she died.

 After Dymphna and Gerebernus died, the residents of Geel buried them in a nearby cave. Years later, they decided to move the remains to a more suitable location. Some of her remains are at the shrine to Dymphna in Massillon, Ohio, United States.

The most outstanding miracle is one that began in the thirteenth century and continues to this day.

 In 1349, a church honoring St. Dymphna was built in Geel. By 1480, so many pilgrims were coming from all over Europe, seeking treatment for psychiatric disorders that the church housing for them was expanded. Soon, the sanctuary for those considered “mad” was again packed to overflowing, and the townspeople began taking them into their own homes.

A 500-year tradition that is studied and admired today

 Thus began a tradition for the ongoing care of those with psychiatric conditions that has endured for over 500 years. Indeed, it is still studied and admired today. Moreover, Geel’s inhabitants have continued to take patients into their homes. In fact, they call them boarders, never patients, and treat them as ordinary and valuable members of the town.  Correspondingly, the hosts treat them as members of their families. They work, most often in menial labor, and in return, they become part of the community. Some stay a few months, some for decades, and others for their entire lives. Eventually, at its peak in the 1930s, the town’s inhabitants housed over 4,000 ‘boarders’.”

St. Dymphna is the patron saint of mental illness and anxiety.

Her Feast Day is May 15

 

Prayer to Saint Dymphna

Lord, our God, you graciously chose St. Dymphna as patroness

of those afflicted with mental and nervous disorders.

She is thus an inspiration and a symbol of charity to the thousands who ask her intercession.
Please grant, Lord, through the prayers of this pure youthful martyr,

relief and consolation to all suffering such trials, and especially those for whom we pray.
  (Mention those for whom you wish to pray).

We beg you, Lord, to hear the prayers of St. Dymphna on our behalf.

Grant all those for whom we pray patience in their sufferings

and resignation to your divine will.

Please fill them with hope and grant them the relief and cure they so much desire.
We ask this through Christ our Lord who suffered agony in the garden. Amen