There were others who were tortured, refusing to be released so that they might gain an even better resurrection. Hebrews 11:35
First of all, I apologize this isn’t the post I promised on PSA. It’s coming but I’m still in the working through process.
So here goes a little interlude while we wait.
Saints. The old ones. If you have been following these posts I have been exploring aspects of church history and how they are reshaping my faith. Up today, saints.
If you have a similar background to mine, you know I wasn’t introduced to this in my community. I heard things like, “We are all saints” or “We don’t follow men, we follow Christ.” That’s true, but even Saint Paul said, “Imitate me as I imitate Christ” (1 Cor 11:1). If someone can help us on our journey to know Christ better, it has great value.
With that, I have a story of a young sainted girl I can’t get off my mind.
We have to travel back to 7th century Ireland where we find a pagan King Damon and his Christian wife, Odilla. King Damon ruled the region of Oriel, a small tribal kingdom in Northern Ireland that existed from 331-1585.
Odilla followed Christ and secretly raised their daughter, Dymphna, to be a Christian. With the help of her priest, Father Gerebern, Odilla had Dymphna baptized unbeknownst to the king. In her early teens Dymphna made a vow of chastity for Christ. Sadly, shorty after her dear mother died.
Grief sent King Damon into a spiral of sorrow that evolved into madness. Finally one of his advisors admonished him to remarry. He agreed under the condition that he could find a wife as lovely as Odilla.
When no suitable replacement could be found, the King set his sights on marrying the only one whose beauty rivaled his wife’s- her daughter. This repulsed Dymphna who refused to break her vow of chastity, especially with her father. Dymphna conspired with Father Gerebern to flee Ireland with two of her maidens.
Taking a portion of her wealth with her, Dymphna and her companions set sail and eventually landed in Belgium. They settled inland in the village of Gheel.
The group quickly became integrated into their new community and began serving the under privileged, especially those with mental illness and intellectual disabilities. Those in need were brought into the community. They worked alongside the villagers in the fields. They found a home and help.
Their work became so well-known that eventually news traveled back to King Damon. The king tracked them using the coins Dymphna brought with her from Ireland. When he found Father Gerebern he immediately beheaded him.
When he found Dymphna he gave her an ultimatum. She refused to break her vow or leave the people of Gheel. In turn she was also beheaded.
The village mourned the loss. They properly buried both Father Gerebern and Dymphna. The remarkable thing is that the village continued the work of serving those with mental handicaps. When the home Dymphna built ran out of beds, the people opened their homes. They didn’t refer to their guests as patients, but rather boarders.
Gheel has earned the name, The Merciful City. And the work of Dymphna continues today.
In 2016 NPR featured the village in a piece For Centuries, A Small Town Has Embraced Strangers With Mental Illness
Dymphna is venerated in both the East and the West as the patron said of mental illness. She reminds me that no matter what we miracles we perform or service we provide, the greatest legacy we can leave is love.
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. 1 Cor. 13:13
