Dear Frederick,
Sending You information on St. Dymphna as well as the Saint's existence at
'Casa de Almeidas' Assolna.
Kindly do the needful.
Zoya
St. Dymphna was born in the 7th century in Ireland. Her father King Daman was
a pagan whereas her mother, a descendant of a noble family, was a devout
Christian, who was remarkable both for her piety and her great beauty.
Dymphna resembled her mother and a lot of affection and attention was
lavished upon her right from birth. She was a very intelligent girl blessed
with wisdom and grace. Dymphna lost her mother when she was fourteen years old
. Many were the secret tears she shed over this bereavement, but at the same
time she found great comfort in the Divine Faith, though she was still of a
tender age.
Dymphna's father, too, greatly mourned for his deceased wife and for a long
time continued prostrate with grief. So he was persuaded by his counselors to
seek solace in a second marriage. He commissioned certain ones of his court to
seek out for him a lady who would be like his first spouse in beauty and
character. After visiting many countries in vain, the messengers returned
saying that they could find none so charming and amiable as his own lovely
daughter, Dymphna. The king conceived the evil design of marrying Dymphna.She
was greatly horrified at the suggestion, and asked for a period of forty days
to consider the proposal. She immediately met Father Gerebran, who advised
her to flee from her native country without further delay. She
set out for the continent, accompanied by Father Gerebran, the court jester
and his wife and settled at Gheel.
King Damon immediately set out with his followers in search of them. He tried
to persuade her to return with him, but Father Gerebran sternly rebuked him for
his wicked intentions, whereupon he gave orders that Father Gerebran should be
put to death. Without delay, his wicked retainers laid violent hands upon the
priest and struck him on the neck with a sword.
Further attempts on the part of Dymphna's father to induce her to return with
him proved futile. With undaunted courage she spurned his enticing promises and
scorned his cruel threats. Infuriated by her resistance, her father drew a
dagger from his belt and he himself struck off the head of his child. The
corpses were put in sarcophagi and entombed in a cave where they were found
later. The body of St. Dymphna was buried in the church of Gheel.. .
St. Dymphna is depicted with a sword in her hand and a fettered devil at her
feet and her feast is celebrated on 15th May. She is the patron saint for
family happiness,
loss of parents , nervous disorders/ neurological disorders . The glorious
crown of martyrdom was accorded to her in the fifteenth year of her age, on
the fifteenth day of May, between 620 and 640. The day of her death has been
assigned as her feastday.
In the ancestral chapel of the ‘ Casa de Almeidas’ at Bainfol , Assolna in
Goa existed amongst other images of saints , the image of ‘St. Dymphna’ .
This year Lida João and family will be dedicating the 15 th of May to the
devotion of this saint at their ancestral house at ‘ Casa de Almeidas’
Bainfol, Assolna. The image of the saint will be kept open to friends ,
relatives and persons who wish to have a glimpse of the Saint and offer their
prayers .
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