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”
Having a daughter with epilepsy, I must vote for Dymphna.
What an impossible choice. As a hairstylist with an ethnically diverse family, including those with mental illness and I'm a me too survivor. Both these saints touch me to the core. What to do?
Flip a coin? Draw lots? Ask yourself WWJD? Or you could do what I did and vote for the one with the least votes because you'll likely have a chance to vote for the other in the Elate Eight round next week.
An interesting approach!
I like it! Problem solved. Thank you.
Dymphna—for Geel, for #metoo, for just me
Hard one, Martin stole my heart with being real to others. I myself got my wrist slap for doing good once. Now it is part of the story of our parish.
Wow, another really tough one.
While I am very, very impressed with Martin (and his witty retorts!), Dymphna cared for people who were even more mistreated and despised than the poor. The poor were ignored; epileptics were believed to be possessed by the evil spirits (and treated accordingly). Also, she not only gave up a lifestyle of wealth and position, she gave up her actual life, as well.
What really convinced me to vote for her, though, is that her legacy is still alive and well in Geel where her influence and example continue to thrive through the behavior of the local populace many centuries later. That is truly impressive and inspiring.
I am so impressed with Dymphna that I’m hoping she makes it to the Golden Halo!
Go, Dymphna!
Sigh. One of the toughest choices I've faced this Lent. After due consideration, I went with Martin because his connection to the Americas was so multiform and so strong. That said, I will probably work to see that our treatment of the mentally ill will include foundations like those of St. Dymphna in Geel. And I will treasure and use my holy cards for both in my prayer life.
Anothe extremely difficult choice to make today. As I watched students at one of our local high schools this morning deal with two suicides of fellow students this week, I couldn't help but think of the importance the work of Dymphna was in helping the mentally ill, and wondering if we haven't fallen down somewhere in our modern society. But Martin stole my heart many years ago with his kindness and charity to all of God's living creatures. In reflection, it also makes me realize how far we have come and how far we have to go. When I look at this country today, I also think we're backsliding in what Martin aimed to do for all people. In the end, when I had to choose, I couldn't vote against the patron saint of public school, which seem to be under fire from so many different segments of society, including occupant of The White House and his minions.
The reminder to treat all with respect and compassion came at a personally relevant time. I pray for the faith and goodness of St. Martin De Porres to keep me focused on our lessons from Christ.
Martin of Torres reminds me somewhat of my "favorite" saint of all time, Francis of Assissi. Each had his own calling, his own way of fulfilling it, but both were so filled with love of God that it spilled over to all of God's creatures. I just have to vote for Martin today.
With the continued neglect and stigma attached to mental illnesses, at least in this country, Dymphna stands as an example and hopefully a beacon of hope for many.
Martin got me for ministering to sick cats and dogs. That, and his selflessness in general.
Margie always thinking of you. Wish you could have known about St. Dymphna,
maybe you do now. R.I.P. Bug. I love You.
I voted for St Dymphna because she had compassion on people not very well understood or cared for in society. We can learn much from her and the inclusiveness of her efforts. God's love is all encompassing. It is not just for those who are well.
The Mission to mental illness needs to be lifted up. The poor and the animals have many saintly prayers.
As many have written, today's choice was a tough one, one of the most difficult in a while. Although the vote looks quite uneven, based on the comments it is a closer race. Perhaps consider reviving Dymphna in a future Lent Madness?
I voted for both of these wonderful people previously, but this line won me over today:
“Forgive my error, and please instruct me, for I did not know that the precept of obedience took precedence over that of charity.”
Martin for the win!
I voted for Martin; I've admired him since I was a kid. It's great to learn he had such a snarky wit! But the vote was tough. I'd love to see Dymphna back in a future edition. Thank you, Amber Belldene, for the additional details. Somebody seriously needs to write a historically informed novel about this young woman.
An impossible choice! I went with Dymphna only because I have a family member who deals with depression and anxiety. Both saints are truly inspiring, and St. Martin's representation of Black, mixed-race and Mexican people is so important now when forces are at work in our society trying to take race relations back in time and strengthen white supremacy. We are all God's children, period.
Dymphna for me, my mother suffered from mental illness and my daughter had battled it. We need more understanding for mental illness it is a disease like any other.
Tough one today. Hard to vote against an Irish lass on the eve of St. Patrick's day but St. Martin's charity that extended to animals one me over.
We should vote for anyone who helped people with mental illness. Her efforts still are making an impact in a tangible way today. How many saints can you say that about?
Two very worthy saints. I voted for St Martin, but hope we again see Dymphna and her ministry to those with mental illness. A ministry we all should share.
Such a hard choice today. While I find both stories incredibly inspiring, their current relevance also saddens me, because we still have so many issues with race, gender, class, and species-based prejudices; not to mention, mental illness and sexual assault. If we could somehow combine Martin and Dymphna, they would be unstoppable, and each would probably be more than happy to share their halo with the other.
Martin de Pores for me: he could be called the patron saint of snark.
Yeay SNARK!
Considering what's going on in our country right now, our next mission trips should be to Geel. Those people have overcome their fears and know how to welcome strangers. Even, and especially, the crazy ones. Sometimes I think we are a pathetic lot. I voted for Dymphna.
Always I KNOW we are a pathetic lot.
Hum, I thought I voted this morning but that was pre-coffee and the option to vote is still here, and I did check the results this morning while reading the comments so maybe that's why after reading the comments at the time so may have thought I voted. Anyhoo, it was pre-coffee. So I'm going to vote.
As the mother of a daughter with mental illness, I was drawn to vote for Dymphna. Tough one today
Part of the reason I voted for St. Dymphna in the last round was that she's the patron saint of people with neurological disorders. When I read in today's write-up that St. Martin de Porres is the patron saint of MS, I got all excited and figured I'd found my champion. Then I looked into it a little more and learned that Martin is the patron saint of Mississippi. Oh well. But I'm still voting for him.
This one was hard!
Voting late here ... Martin it is, for his beautiful compassion!