7th Century Martyr
Dympna is an interesting saint whose cult dates back to very early days and under whose patronage much good work for the poor and suffering is still carried on even today. Historically little is known about her, but folklore based on the saint abound.
According to legend, Dympna was the daughter of a Celtic or British king and a Christian princess who died very young, but had her daughter baptized. As the child grew up she looked very like her mother, and her father fell in love with her. To escape from him she fled to Antwerp with her confessor, St. Gerebernus, and the court jester and his wife, and they settled near Antwerp at Gheel, living a solitary life. Dympna's father discovered her whereabouts through spies, tracing the fugitives because they were using foreign coins. Although she had only been in Gheel for a few months, Dympna was already well known for her work among the poor and mentally ill.
When Dympna's father could not persuade her to return, he ordered his men to kill the whole party, which they did - except for Dympna. The king, however, had no scruples and he himself struck off her head and left all the bodies lying on the ground. They were later buried on the actual spot where they were killed. Dympna died c. 650.
The story of these happenings spread through the region, the more so because it was reported that lunatics were cured at her grave. For this reason Dympna became known as the patroness of the mentally ill and, inspired by her compassion, the inhabitants of Gheel continued to care for those suffering from mental illness in a time when they were usually neglected or treated with hostility. Today the town is to the forefront in the treatment of mental illness and in modern times promoted the re-introduction of patients into homes in the community.