Today in the Saintly Smackdown©, Martin de Porres faces Dymphna, as we move between 17th century Peru and 7th century Belgium. To get to the Saintly Sixteen, Martin eased past John of Beverley while Dympha defeated Gertrude of Nivelles.
Yesterday, Phocas the Gardener took down Katharina von Bora 60% to 40% to advance to the Elate Eight against Richard Hooker. This marks the second year in a row that a member of the Luther Family will not win the Golden Halo. Last year, Katharina's husband, some guy named Martin, made it to the Faithful Four before running into the Florence Nightingale juggernaut.
It's hard to believe but the last battle of the Saintly Sixteen will take place on Monday as Eglantyne Jebb faces Catherine Winkworth. Then it's on to the Elate Eight! Enjoy today's vote and we'll see you first thing Monday morning.
Martin de Porres
St. Martin de Porres treated all with respect, even when he wasn’t respected in return. He was tireless in his ministry, even when his efforts were questioned and thwarted. He touched many souls, resulting in a long list of patronages in his name.
Born in 1579 and died in 1639, Martin lived entirely in Peru. He was a lay brother of the Dominican Order. It took 198 years for beatification in 1837 and another 125 years for canonization in 1962.
Illegitimate and the son of a freed slave, Martin refused to let obstacles stop him from his social work. He ministered to the sick, whether nobles or slaves, young or old, rich or destitute, educated or illiterate. After being chastised for caring for an old, dirty, ulcerated beggar, Martin remarked, "Compassion, my dear Brother, is preferable to cleanliness."
Another reprimand from the prior happened for ministering to a poor, bleeding Indian. Martin’s retort: "Forgive my error, and please instruct me, for I did not know that the precept of obedience took precedence over that of charity."
A miracle often attributed to Martin occurred during an epidemic. He evidently passed through locked doors to care for the sick in all areas of the facility, with friars suddenly seeing Martin appear next to them. He was also known to offer instant cures to the sick, and to be surrounded by bright light when he prayed.
Martin established orphanages and a hospital for poor children of the slums. He cared for non-humans, too – founding a shelter for stray and sick cats and dogs.
He is known by many names: Martín de Porres Velázquez; St. Martin of Charity; St. Martin the Charitable; the first Black Saint from the Americas; and Saint of the Broom (because no chore, no task, was beneath him).
He hung around with some cool friends who gained fame and notoriety on their own: St. Juan Macías and St. Rose of Lima.
At his viewing, so many sought a relic that his habit was clipped in small pieces, causing three habits to be taken from his body. Reportedly, 25 years after his death, his body was exhumed and was still intact, smelling splendidly.
In artwork, he is often depicted wearing the Dominican lay brother habit with a broom, sometimes with a dog, a cat and a mouse peacefully gathered around the same food dish.
Many people in many places are devoted to St. Martin de Porres. He is the patron saint of African-Americans; barbers; the Roman Catholic Diocese of Biloxi, MS; black people; hair stylists and hairdressers; hotels and innkeepers; lottery winners; Mexico; Mississippi; mixed-race people; Peru; Peruvian Naval Aviators; poor people; public health; public schools; race relations; social justice; state schools; television; Vietnam; all those seeking interracial harmony; and for protection against rats.
Dymphna
Saint Dymphna has been patroness and brought comfort to those who suffer with mental illness for more than a millennium. She remains actively venerated to this day and is perhaps especially appreciated by those who have felt stigmatized by their diseases. From bipolar disorder to anxiety to the trauma of incest, people pray to her and wear her medal in hopes of intercession. As a renowned beauty, she is a favorite subject of artists.
Princess and daughter to a petty Irish king, Dymphna was baptized along with her mother and dedicated herself as a bride of Christ at the age of fourteen. When her mother died shortly after, her father Damon suffered a mental decline. He sent his servants to find someone as beautiful to replace his wife, but no one could be found.
Accounts are unclear about what caused King Damon to set his sights on marrying his daughter. Some traditions suggest he was advised by evil counselors, others that he confused Dymphna with her mother, and still others that he was unable to resist strange thoughts that entered his head.
Dymphna fled his incestuous plans with her priest, two servants, and the fool from her father’s court. The party took refuge in Geel, Belgium. Several religious hermits lived in the village at that time. Using her father’s money, Dymphna founded a hospital for those who, like him, suffered from mental illness. This action illuminates her compassion both for her distraught father and for those who, like her, had experienced the trauma or grief of a loved one’s mental decline.
Tragically, it was through the expenditure of his money that King Damon was able to trace his daughter to Geel. When she refused to marry him, he murdered her priest, then decapitated her. After she was martyred, her remains were buried in a cave near Geel. Later they were moved to a silver reliquary, however the Church of St. Dymphna still stands on her original burial site. Her relics are associated with the healing of both epilepsy and mental illness. Some of her remains can also be found at the Shrine to Saint Dymphna in the United States (Ohio).
However, Dymphna’s greatest legacy remains the tradition in Geel of compassion to those who suffer from mental illness. Born of her own suffering, her seventh century act of mercy created this culture of care. As pilgrims seeking healing flocked to the town in the middle ages, the Church of St. Dymphna overflowed. So following her example, the townspeople welcomed the afflicted into their own homes, treating them not as patients but family. To this day, the citizens of Geel still do so, opening their homes for weeks or months at a time. Some visitors take refuge in Geel as Dymphna once did and stay their entire lives, finding acceptance and peace thanks to her holy witness.
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125 comments on “Martin de Porres vs. Dymphna”
A tough one.. So much to live about both these saints! I went with St. Martin because he's the patron saint of public schools, and because one of my best bosses ever was from Peru!
Why does autocorrect keep changing love to live??
I was leaning toward St. Martin, and then realized that Dymphna also spoke truth to power, by standing up t someone who was incredibly ill, and I voted for her. My question is often why do the mentally ill have so much power over us—in family, politics, society. Ministering to them is not the question, we need to love and serve them as brothers and sisters. But then comes the enabling, and I sigh as I pray. God help us all.
“Standing up to someone”
Much as I admire Dymphna's work with the mentally ill, I'm going with the guy who used sarcasm against his superior.
The choice was so difficult today that I had to read the biographies twice. As an abuse survivor, my heart was touched by Dympha's compassion for her father. Now I'm off to the internet to find a Dympha medal.
This ranks right up there on the difficulty meter in making a choice. I loved Martin's snark, but I voted for Dymphna because of her work with the mentally ill. I'll be satisfied with either of them advancing on to the next round.
Both saints are Halo-worthy but Dymphna has been my comfort for 20 years now, as I am the survivor of a multigenerational pattern of trauma. She is a good patron saint for #MeToo. Whoever wins, I'm glad that her story is being more widely shared.
Very difficult choice but I chose Dymphna because her influence in Geel continues still as they open their doors to the mentally ill, a group that many of us find off-putting at least if not frightening.
Martin seems to have had a quick wit, which appeals to me. The story of Dymphna remains fantastical to me.
Despite a long public health career, I didn't know 'til today that we have a patron saint. It's Martin for me!
Most difficult decision yet!! As I read the biographies I free associate and Martin's story had me thinking of another disobedient Martin; Martin Luther King Jr. He too chose (civil) disobedience in the name of justice and love for all. We need more creative and loving nonviolence in this dark age in which we are living. Let's bring Dympna back next year.
I have blogged about Dymphna. Her legacy lives today in a revolutionary treatment for mental illness, a whole community that offers loving care in their own homes instead of jails, with hospitals used as short term backup.
Ugh, do I vote for the protector of mixed-race people because of my kids or do I vote for the protector of those with mental illness for my own sake?
Casting my vote for Martin. "Forgive my error, and please instruct me, for I did not know that the precept of obedience took precedence over that of charity." Gotta love that.
I appreciated learning more about why exactly Dymphna is associated with care for the mentally ill.
I voted for Martin, though it was a difficult choice. We so need his example and steadfastness in our chaotic world today.
Martin had me at Public Schools.
What a tough choice!! Both are worthy, but since this is the quirks and quotes round Martín de Porres won on both fronts: “I did not know that the precept of obedience took precedence over precept of charity” and that twenty five year old splendid smelling corpse! And who can resist the Saint protector against rats??? (Maybe that’s why it smelled so splendid, the rats left it alone. And he was after all into cleanliness).
Just waiting for the broom in the Kitsch Round.
This one is a toss-up. Among the saints we have been following, both are top seeds who ideally should have met in the final four. I can only vote for one and it is St Martin by a hair, as barbers often do. Why? He stood up to ecclesiastical hypocrisy. But in some ways Dymphna has more to show. She has a 14 century legacy of fighting for the stigmatized. She should not lose at this stage.
I have not commented so far. I'm really struggling with this one! I think I want reassurance that whichever saint gets voted off the island will appear again next year!
I think those who do not move to the next bracket must wait out a couple of years. I wait in hope for the next time my man JW rejoins the bracket.
As many have suggested, this is the most difficult choice I've encountered in the bracket thus far. Alas, there can be only one winner, one Golden Halo. As either saint might have done, I went with supporting the perceived underdog in this contest.
Can you please explain to me why people vote for "the underdog"? Why is that a desirable action? And what does it accomplish?
For me, when I find both saints admirable and I am pretty well convinced that one will win, I may vote for the "underdog" just to make the statement: this person is also worthy of a vote. I know my vote won't prevent the front runner from winning, so it doesn't "hurt" anything. But sometimes it just feels good to support the one who's going to lose. Does that make sense?
Thank you. It does make sense. But "voting for the underdog" makes no good sense, to me. I like/need reasons.
Kathy in Nicaragua pretty much hit the points as they apply here, and to me! I suppose it's worth highlighting the parallel to sports fandom -- where "rooting for the underdog" can have a lot going for it. Let's take basketball (the "patron bracket" of the madness we currently enjoy) -- a team may have one dominant, superhuman scorer that makes it difficult for the opposing team to actually win the game, even if they have great players, team chemistry, play well, all that fun stuff. But I may prefer to root for those qualities over the one dominant player, maybe in part because I feel like their virtues are overshadowed.
Also, if your "dark horse" (i.e. the underdog) DOES triumph, then celebrating the win is that much more satisfying. Bigger risk -> bigger reward. That parallel doesn't carry over to Lent Madness quite as well, but it's part of the dynamics of underdog support.
I guess I'll have to take your word for it. Voting for some one or thing just because they are behind does not compute as the saying goes. There must be a better reason.
Maybe voting for the underdog means that the runner-up wasn't all that bad, and one doesn't want to hurt his/her feelings.
Martin for me because of his tireless work with the poor and the ill and his founding of "orphanages and a hospital for poor children of the slums. He cared for non-humans, too – founding a shelter for stray and sick cats and dogs."
So many great saints in this year’s LM. I said it before & I’ll say it again, Martin all the way to the GH.
I must echo all the others who have opined about this difficult choice. St. Martin was wonderful in so many ways, but St. Dymphna had such a profound effect on the people of Geel that they still provide care for the mentally ill over a thousand years later ! The mentally ill deserve extra help because most are unable to advocate for themselves. St. Dymphna has my vote.
Martin, for creating a shelter for cats and dogs.
I have to remind myself that these forced choices don't mean one saint is more important than the other; it's simply a device so that I can learn more about them and think about the qualities that make them the most meaningful for me at this time. However, all too often, both have wonderful characteristics and demonstrations of God's work through their willing hands and hearts. I am glad I found out more about both these saints. These has been my Lenten discipline!
What a wise and thoughtful post. It’s all too easy to get caught up in the fun and competition of Lent Madness when, in fact, it’s true purpose is to deepen our Lenten discipline and spiritual practices. Thank you for the thoughtful reminder!
Dymphna for the Halo!
Another very difficult decision. So tempted to vote for Martin, who in addition to his many admirable qualities adds sarcasm and a sanctuary for dogs and cats into the mix; but following a conversation this morning about the way in which people with mental illness are marginalised and judged, I vote for Dymphna, and give great thanks for the continuing witness of the people of Geel.
I worked for over thirty years in psychiatric hospitals, and saw a lot of the sufferings of those with mental illness. I recall that when I first began working, there was a film shown to us to give a sense of the thrust of rehabilitation of the mentally ill. It was the story of Gheel (Geel) and began with the legend of Dymphna. According to the film, Her father was overcome with mental illness, which was why he wanted to marry her. According to that version of the legend, after he had done his dreadful deed, he was miraculously completely healed of his mental illness (although it would be quite a burden to carry the realization of what he had done through the rest of his life). I'll always have a special place in my heart for this saint, but in comparing the two, I felt that Saint Martin De Porres was the more remarkable. It is fascinating that he came from such a modest beginning, but his story would be no less amazing had he come from a life of entitlement and riches. He strived to help the unfortunates among the poor, and it surely must have been a horribly overwhelming and thankless job, much like putting your fingers in holes in the dike. When one thinks how difficult it can be today trying to give help to never ending need, what we experience is just a tiny molecule of a drop in the bucket compared to what Martin dealt with -- every single day. Nevertheless, he persisted. He pressed on.
Much as I love the legend of Dymphna, I had to go with Saint Martin de Porres. I wonder if this could be the one who wins the GH of 2018...
Why isn't Dymphna the matron saint of Lent Madness?
LOL. That’s brilliant!
This is difficult. However, Martin got my vote because of the way he tended to all, rich or poor and especially that he opened a sanctuary for stray animals. I am sure that was rare in his day.
What a tough choice. However, I was amazed by Dymphna's forgiveness of her father and inspired by her compassion for those with mental illness. Both Martin and Dymphna acted with courage and love in a climate of fear. I chose to vote for Dymphna.