Did Saint Dymphna Exist?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Upgrade25
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
U

Upgrade25

Guest
Catholic sources say yes, but others don’t? What’s the scoop? I am thinking about a novena to her, but not if its a Catholic legend.
 
Upgrade25 said:
Catholic sources say yes, but others don’t? What’s the scoop? I am thinking about a novena to her, but not if its a Catholic legend.
Click to expand...
WHICH other sources? What makes you think those other sources are correct? I don’t mean to sound harsh, but Dymphna and I have become acquainted at times due to my depression. Just because someone claims something is “only” a legend or a myth (a failure to understand what either of those words mean, on those making the accusation) doesn’t make it true (or for that fact, untrue). Dympna is a legend, yes. But a legend that happens to have existed.
 
From the following, New Advent, it does seem that there is no hardcore evidence that she existed but that it comes more from oral tradition. So it’s hard to say if she really existed or didn’t. Kind of a grey area.

But she very well could have.

Either way, our prayers, and that includes novenas, are done in faith. If, by chance, she is more legend than not, your novena, said in faith, will not be without merit.

God’s blessings

newadvent.org/cathen/05221b.htm
 
Hi Upgrade,

I’ve never heard of her not existing before.

If you don’t personally feel comfortable with asking for her intercession, you can always pray to St. Anthony of Padua. You can also pray to him for peace of mind, too.

Sts. Rita of Cascia, and St. Jude Thaddeus, are also known as “saints of the impossible.”

I also have a devotion to St. Therese of Lisieux/The Little Flower.

I have prayed to all of these saints when I have had particular needs and when I wanted to ask for their intercession.
 
She is just like St. Philomena, Christopher, Nicholas, Patrick, Valentine, Ursula, Barbara and many more. During Vatican 2 calendar reforms they removed some of these (Exception for Barbara,Nicholas,and Patrick) because there was some doubt over there existence which over all is sad. It is just like saying Venerable Pope Pius XII was Hitlers pope when he save 860,000 Jews and Catholic from Hitler. I will always recognize there existence since A. I have some relics of them (3rd class) and B. For nearly 1,000 years the Church taught they existed.
 
PopePiusXIISupp said:
She is just like St. Philomena, Christopher, Nicholas, Patrick, Valentine, Ursula, Barbara and many more. During Vatican 2 calendar reforms they removed some of these (Exception for Barbara,Nicholas,and Patrick) because there was some doubt over there existence which over all is sad. It is just like saying Venerable Pope Pius XII was Hitlers pope when he save 860,000 Jews and Catholic from Hitler. I will always recognize there existence since A. I have some relics of them (3rd class) and B. For nearly 1,000 years the Church taught they existed.
Click to expand...
When the Church updates the Calendar of Saints, that doesn’t mean they never existed. There are only 365 days a year and the make room for others on the Calendar. Statues and pray cards are still being made of them, for our use. God Bless, Memaw
 
I know that but some questioned there existence in life.
 
I believe that she most definitely did exist.

She is my confirmation saint, and it wasn’t until some years later that I finally understood the Spirit bringing her and I together in the way He did.

There are thousands of saints to assist us in our prayers and needs. If St. Dymphna isn’t right for you, others are glad to intercede as well.

I believe that God brought St. Dymphna into my life long before I realized how much I was going to need her in the future, let alone ‘why’. With her, and through Jesus Christ our Savior, I’ve been provided much peace and grace.

Thank you God, for St. Dymphna, and our entire body of Saints in the Church. We ask for their prayers and intercessions for our deepest spiritual needs.
 
Each and every legend about an early saint’s life may or may not be accurate, but St Dymphna has a “St” before her name, meaning that she is a canonized woman who is infallibly recognized to be in Heaven. So yes, she is a real individual who is alive and praying for us at this instant. Fictional or allegorical characters are not applicable candidates for canonization.
 
PopePiusXIISupp said:
I know that but some questioned there existence in life.
Click to expand...
I don’t believe there has ever been any question whether St. Philomena actually existed: Her relics were discovered in the catacombs. The problem is that no one recorded the details of her martyrdom. All we know about her martyrdom to date comes from 3 different people to whom St. Philomena was purported to have appeared and to whom she had given identical details of her life and martyrdom.

Unfortunately, any time a saint is removed from the Liturgical Calendar they can become neglected/forgotten. It never really causes any increase in devotion to that particular saint

Private devotion to St. Philomena is still permissible, and the Curé of Ars attributed some cures to her which people were trying to attribute to him.
 
TK421 said:
Each and every legend about an early saint’s life may or may not be accurate, but St Dymphna has a “St” before her name, meaning that she is a canonized woman who is infallibly recognized to be in Heaven. So yes, she is a real individual who is alive and praying for us at this instant. Fictional or allegorical characters are not applicable candidates for canonization.
Click to expand...
This is the best answer. 👍
 
On our church newsletter it was mentioned that it is Saint Dymphna’s feast day today.
We have a centre in the diocese that provides a service to those suffering with addictions or mental afflictions, and prayers were requested.
I am praying for them to St Dymphna, and for all who suffer with mental health problems.
 
rose_kelly said:
On our church newsletter it was mentioned that it is Saint Dymphna’s feast day today.
We have a centre in the diocese that provides a service to those suffering with addictions or mental afflictions, and prayers were requested.
I am praying for them to St Dymphna, and for all who suffer with mental health problems.
Click to expand...
Amen!
What a wonderful weekend…Our Lady of Fatima on Friday, Pentecost (with vigil) this weekend, and St. Dymphna today! 🙂 So blessed!
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top