Novena to St. Dymphna, Patroness of Those Afflicted with Nervous and Mental Disorders

Saint Dymphna is the patron saint of those with mental illness, sexual abuse victims, epilepsy , Patron of emotional and mental disorders, runaways, domestic violence, child abuse, sexual abuse, and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Feast: 15 May

These prayers in the form of a novena were approved by Pope Urban VIII in 1635.

Lord, God Who has graciously chosen St. Dymphna to be the patroness of those afflicted with mental and nervous disorders, and has caused her to be an inspiration and a symbol of charity to the thousands who invoke her intercession, grant, through the prayers of this pure, youthful martyr, relief and consolation to all who suffer from these disturbances, and especially to those for whom we pray. 

(Here mention those for whom you wish to pray)

We beg You to accept and to satisfy the prayers of St. Dymphna on our behalf. Grant to those we have particularly recommended patience in their sufferings and resignation to Your divine will. Fill them with hope and, if it be in accord with Your divine plan, bestow upon them the cure they so earnestly desire. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

First Day: Intention–FAITH

O God, Source of our salvation, who in the midst of a pagan people didst enlighten St. Dymphna by the true faith, which she professed under the guidance of her holy confessor, Gereberne, with such constancy that she suffered martydom, we beseech Thee through the intercession of these two saints that Thou wouldst deign to strengthen our faith which Thou hast given to us so that by wisely subjecting our souls to Thy supreme authority, and by faithfully regulating our lives by our faith we may honor Thee with our whole heart and soul until the hour of our death, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Five times: Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be

Second Day: Intention–HOPE

O almighty and infinitely good God, who hast promised eternal salvation to those who obey Thy commandments and profit by Thy grace, we beseech Thee, through the intercession of St. Dymphna, who fled from the danger of sin by quitting the palace of her father and, hoping thereby to gain eternal salvation, journeyed to Brabant and took the vow of poverty, grant that we also who are striving for eternal happiness may overcome all obstacles in the pathway of virtue and may attain eternal salvation through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Five times: Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be

Thrid Day: Intention–CHARITY

O God of love, most perfect Being, Creator of all that is good and beautiful, deign to help us by Thy powerful grace through the intercession of St. Dymphna, who in her youth loved Thee above all creatures and who loved her neighbor as herself for Thy sake as the image and likeness of Thee, so we may faithfully adhere to the two commandments of charity not only in word, but in action and in truth, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Five times: Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be

Fourth Day: Intention–PIETY

O God, our Creator and supreme Master, we beseech Thee through the intercession of St. Dymphna, who served Thee with great zeal even in her childhood, hearing Thy word with great delight, assisting at holy Mass with great respect, and receiving Holy Communion from the hand of St. Gereberne with tender devotion that Thou wouldst grant us the same virtue of piety so that having honored Thee during this life as our Creator we may possess Thee hereafter as our final reward through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Five times: Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be

Fifth Day: Intention–PRUDENCE

O God, Ruler of the universe, who allowed St. Dymphna to discover an efficacious means of avoiding the criminal intentions of her father, deign to grant through the merits of Thy holy servant, that we may become simple as doves and wise as serpents so that through prudent advice and sound judgment we may perceive that which is to be avoided and that which is to be followed in order happily to achieve the great work of our salvation through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Five times: Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be

Sixth Day: Intention–JUSTICE

O God, Source of eternal justice, we supplicate Thee through the intercession of St. Dymphna, who in order to render to Thee that which is Thine, fled from her country and her father, that Thou wouldst deign to make us seek after justice so that we may perform rightly our duties toward Thee as we see them, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Five times: Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be

Seventh Day: Intention–FORTITUDE

O God, Rewarder of those who remain firm in their good resolutions, we beseech Thee through the meditation of the merits of St. Dymphna, who through love of virtue had the courage to suffer privation, persecution and even martyrdom, that Thou wouldst grant us fortitude so that we may courageously and perseveringly overcome ourselves and finally conquer the enemy or our salvation through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Five times: Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be

Eighth: Intention–TEMPERANCE

O God, who made St. Dymphna so resplendent in the virtue of temperance that she mastered sensual inclination and tempered the use of earthly goods, uniting with this the beautiful virtues of modesty, docility, and holy humility–which last is called the foundation of all virtue because it banishes from the soul pride, an obstacle to grace–we beseech Thee through the intercession of St. Dymphna that Thou wouldst deign to guide and direct us so that, being preserved from all nervous disorders, we may come to a happy end in the good counsels Thou hast given through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Five times: Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be

Ninth Day: Intention–CHASTITY

O God, Lover of innocent souls, Who gave to St. Dymphna the virtue of angelic purity which rendered her reserved in all her actions, so modest in her dress, so attentive in her conversation, so circumspect in her bearing that she shed her blood to preserve this precious virtue, we beseech Thee that Thou bestow upon us the virtue of chastity so that we may enjoy peace of conscience in this life and the pure eternal joys of heaven hereafter through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

 Five times: Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be