Divine Physician

The most serious medical problem facing our nation is that presented by nervous and mental diseases. About eight million persons are thus afflicted. More than half the patients who visit their family doctor for some physical ailment are really suffering from some type of emotional disorder. Nervous and mental disease takes a larger toll than do cancer, infantile paralysis, and tuberculosis combined. More than half of all the hospital beds in this country are occupied by mental patients.

- Father Lawrence G Lovasik

Forward to St. Dymphna: Patron of the Nervous and Emotionally Disturbed

The startling facts presented above would upset and disturb anyone who might read them. Though around 555,000 Americans will die from cancer (1) and with the advent of AIDS tuberculosis rates are on the rise to 776 (2), mental illness is sweeping our nation in greater vim and vigor. [Ed. Note: No one, it turns out, is dying from infantile paralysis (aka polio) any more, but there were 2 reported cases in the Dominican Republic and 7 in Haiti (3). So I figure you could add at least 10 more people to your theoretical "crazy" count.] Given these upsetting statistics, it is hard to believe that few people have realized how serious and far reaching the problem of mental illness is. It's almost as hard to believe as the amazing statistical coincidence that both half the number of people visiting doctors and half the patients occupying beds in hospitals are actually just mentally ill. Unlike Tom Cruise, Father Lovasik does not think this problem can just be solved with vitamins and exercise. No, what the nervous and disturbed really need is someone they can pray to.

Which is where Saint Dymphna comes in. Patron Saint Dymphna (pronounced dimf-na) is one of the lesser known saints. So much so that many people in the United States have not even heard of her. The handy pamphlet detailing her life and works that I bought a few months back in a Catholic memorabilia store on east Passyunk aims however, to remedy that situation. When buying it I resisted the "do it yourself" rhythm method book, complete with red stickers with tiny babies embossed on them to put on the calendar for "off limits" days. I figured if I bought both the store owner would just know I was going to use them for the purposes of mockery. This way I figured he'd just assume I needed mental help. That or one reading at a time, provide solace to those suffering from nervous prostration.

The details of Dymphna's life are spotty at best. Little is known about her short, though pious life. Born in the 7th century in Ireland, Dymphna was brought up by a reasonably well-landed pagan despite the country's almost universal devotion to Catholicism. Though it is said her mother was of noble descent, exceptionally beautiful and a pious and devout Christian, believing in Catholicism and the teachings of Cathol, it is also said her mother died while the girl was still in early adolescence, leaving her in the care of her lusty, power hungry, not mention ugly, father. Why a devout and chaste 7th century Catholic noble would marry said pagan in the first place doesn't make a lot of sense to me, but I suppose it's best not to dwell on such matters.

In any event, Dymphna was left at 14 in the wake of her mother's death. Her father, struck by grief, apparently went mad and the girl was entrusted to the care of a local priest who taught her to read and write and consecrate her virginity to God. So things it seemed were all well and good until the depression and nervous anxiety brought on by his wife's death forced Dymphna's father to try and fill his void of longing. Which apparently entails trying to sleep with his daughter since she looked reasonably like her mother.

It's important to note her that the text specifies that it was only "under the stress of mental illness and passion" that the pagan king was willing to follow this scandalous proposal. That and his refusal to believe in the Catholic deity. Dymphna, resistant to the grip of mental disease and nervous prostration, due to her pious nature and upbringing seemed not to be persuaded by her father's proposal. And despite her disgust at his advances, would not have engaged with a man towards marriage as she'd already had set on becoming a nun anyway.

Conundrum indeed.

So Dymphna poses the matter to Father Gerebran and the two decide they will run away together along with two family friends, the court jester and the jester's wife. Naturally. The rag tag crew rows their way from Ireland to Belgium (well done indeed!) and settled in what is now modern day Gheel where Dymphna began to pass her days caring for the sick and nervously afflicted.

And so things went until the father, sick with desire, finds the company and cuts off Father Gerebran's head. Apparently, he didn't like the middle aged priest shacking up with his now 15 year old daughter as that was his job. Dymphna had the nerve to tell him as much. A poor choice given that once the resemblance to his wife stopped calming the ills of his disease ravaged mind since she didn't want to take on the role directly, he just called it a day and cut off her head as well. Though minus a head, the whole bloody scenario did land Dymphna the official title of martyr. Reward I suppose for saving her virginity from her "violently insane" father.

The villagers of Gheel noting her divine love for her parent, despite his illness and nervous prostration, (and cutting off her head) erected a shrine to Dymphna. Shortly thereafter the townsfolk began to bring their mentally ill there as a last resort before being sent away to asylums. Amazingly, more than one vehemently disturbed person was "instantly cured" upon praying to Dymphna's relics. Dymphna was declared an official saint in 1431 and to this day it is said that the town of Gheel (pop. 18,000 people) is a haven for treatment of such persons. This means that of the 18K that reside in Gheel, three thousand are currently considered "mentally unstable." This is due in part to the fashionable nature of housing the afflicted in one's personal home. Wanderers from areas remote can come to Gheel and ask to be "treated" by families looking to take in a few extra people. In fact since the Middle Ages it was taken as a sign of good family standing to have at least two or three nervous or emotionally disturbed persons residing in one's home.

So there you have it. If you are mentally deranged you now know where to head. Gheel may be a long way off, but think of it this way, at least you don't have to row there.

Also, In case you were wondering, you can receive a catalog of Father Lovasik's publications by writing to the following address:

Father Lawrence G Lovasik
211 W 7th Ave
Tarentum PA, 15084

I don't really know who will answer your letter given that according to the back panel, Father Lovasik himself shuffled off this mortal coil some twenty years ago, but I'm sure whoever is in charge of his estate would be happy to send you some more "enlightening" information. The back of my booklet also says that you can order meditations both written and read by the late padre on either vinyl or cassette tape.

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(1) Cancer Stats from American Cancer Society
(2) TB and AIDS from about.com
(3) Polio Stats from NCHS