聖迪芙 (貞女、殉道)
聖迪芙約於七世紀生於愛爾蘭，但日期不詳。她在比利時的蓋業，為其父所殺而殉道。當時，教會官方未有訂立正式宣聖程序，只用以前習慣的方式，即天主子民的贊同，將聖迪芙宣聖。
聖迪芙的父親為愛爾蘭異教部落酋長，母親是一位漂亮虔誠的基督徒。她母親真正的名字也沒有流傳下來。
聖迪芙還是少女時，她母親過世。她父親到處尋找一位可以取代亡妻的女人，卻找不著可令他喜歡的。他受大臣的慫恿，戀上自己的女兒聖迪芙，因這女兒與他亡妻極相似，且要進一步擁有她，娶她為妻。
聖迪芙逃到比利時，與親友投靠一位年長的神父濟瑞柏。她父親追到比利時，找到他們，即將濟瑞柏神父斬首，強迫她女兒(聖迪芙)就範，卻遭到拒絕，憤怒之下，她父親便把她殺掉。
聖迪芙殉道地點以奇蹟著名，治癒了許多瘋癲和附魔者。聖迪芙是夢遊患者、精神病患者、亂倫受害者、失去雙親者、殉道者、照顧精神病患者、精神科專家、精神病院、附魔者、強暴受害者、遭拒絕者、離家出走者和治療師的主保聖人。
祈禱
全能的天主，你賜聖廸芙持守貞潔，不畏殉道，求你藉她的祈禱和榜樣，醫治世人的身心靈，使能以聖潔的生活事奉你。因你的聖子、我們的主耶穌基督，他和你及聖神，是唯一天主，永生永王。亞孟。
Saint Dymphna, Virgin and Martyr
St. Dymphna was born in around the seventh century in Ireland. She was martyred by her father in the seventh century at Gheel, Belgium. She was canonized by acclamation of the people of God (i.e., prior to the formal canonization process).
Daughter of a pagan Irish chieftain and a beautiful devoted Christian woman whose real name has not come down to us.
Her mother died when she was a teenager. Her father searched for a woman to replace his wife, but found none pleasing to him. He fell in love with her, his own daughter and made advances on her.
She fled to Belgium with St. Gerebernus, an elderly priest and family friend. Her father searched for them, and his search led to Belgium.
When he found them in Gheel, he beheaded Gerebernus, and demanded that Dymphna surrender to him. She refused, and he killed her in a rage.
The site where she died is known for its miraculous healings of the insane and possessed. There is now a well-known institution on the site, and her relics are reported to cure insanity and epilepsy.
St. Dymphna is the patron saint of epilepsy, insanity, mental disorders, mental illness, epileptics, incest victims, loss of parents, mental asylums, mental health caregivers, mental health professionals, mental hospitals, mentally ill people, nervous disorders, neurological disorders, possessed people, psychiatrists, rape victims, the rejected, runaways, sleepwalkers and therapists.
Prayer
Almighty God, you have given Saint Dymphna
the grace of chastity and martyrdom.
Through her prayers and example,
heal the body, mind, and spirit of humankind,
that we may serve you in holiness of life.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
資料來源 References