Choate Medical Center Feast of St. Dymphna, May 15
St. Dymphna's story is a compelling one. She was the daughter of a pagan Irish king and a Christian mother. After her mother died, her father began a search for a woman who looked like his dead wife. He decided on - his daughter, Dymphna. She ran away and hid, but daddy dearest tracked her down in Belgium. When she refused his advances he cut off her head.
Remarkably, (from Wikipedia):
In 1349 a church honoring her was built in Gheel. By 1480, so many pilgrims were coming from all over Europe, seeking treatment for the mentally ill, that the church housing for them was expanded. Soon the sanctuary for the mad was again full to overflowing, and the townspeople began taking them into their own homes. Thus began a tradition for the ongoing care of the mentally ill that has endured for over 700 years and is still studied and envied today. Patients were, and still are, taken into the inhabitants of Gheel's homes. Never called patients, they are called boarders, and are treated as ordinary and useful members of the town.They are treated as members of the host family. They work, most often in menial labor, and in return,they become part of the community.Some stay a few months, some decades, some for their entire lives. At its peak in the 1930s, over 4,000 'boarders' were housed with the town's inhabitants, comprising a legacy of community based care for the mentally ill that that we need to learn from and utilize today.
Notice the green outfit in the drawing:
Veronica Luekin, a modern American housewife once thought to have experienced apparitions of the Virgin and Saints, claimed to have seen Saint Dymhna appear as a young girl in green and white satin. Many modern holy cards now portray Dymhna in green and white, holding a book and white lilies, even though the visions of Luekin were officially judged by Bishop Mugavero of Brooklyn ( in 1986 ) to have no credibility.
Remarkably, (from Wikipedia):
In 1349 a church honoring her was built in Gheel. By 1480, so many pilgrims were coming from all over Europe, seeking treatment for the mentally ill, that the church housing for them was expanded. Soon the sanctuary for the mad was again full to overflowing, and the townspeople began taking them into their own homes. Thus began a tradition for the ongoing care of the mentally ill that has endured for over 700 years and is still studied and envied today. Patients were, and still are, taken into the inhabitants of Gheel's homes. Never called patients, they are called boarders, and are treated as ordinary and useful members of the town.They are treated as members of the host family. They work, most often in menial labor, and in return,they become part of the community.Some stay a few months, some decades, some for their entire lives. At its peak in the 1930s, over 4,000 'boarders' were housed with the town's inhabitants, comprising a legacy of community based care for the mentally ill that that we need to learn from and utilize today.
Notice the green outfit in the drawing:
Veronica Luekin, a modern American housewife once thought to have experienced apparitions of the Virgin and Saints, claimed to have seen Saint Dymhna appear as a young girl in green and white satin. Many modern holy cards now portray Dymhna in green and white, holding a book and white lilies, even though the visions of Luekin were officially judged by Bishop Mugavero of Brooklyn ( in 1986 ) to have no credibility.
WHO?
Veronica Lueken was from Bayside, Queens who claimed to see Mary, St. Therese of Lisieux, St. Joseph., St. Paul, St. Robert Bellarmine, St. John the Evangelist, St. Theresa of Avila, St. Thomas Aquinas, and St. Bernadette. Oh, and Archangels Michael and Gabriel.
In 1986, Bishop Mugavero of Brooklyn investigated and declared the whole thing, and I quote, 'BOoOoOoOogus!"
She also saw St. Dymphna - wearing a green dress. And that became the standard (See drawing at the top).
Labels: Feast Days, saints
posted by jope @ May 15, 2014
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