To understand the people of Gheel, one must first be introduced to a magnificent Saint by the name of Dymphna. She was born in Northern Ireland in the seventh century to a pagan chieftain. Her beautiful mother was a Christian and legend has it that Dymphna was secretly baptized.
Her mother died when Dymphna was young. When Dymphna became a maiden herself of fourteen or fifteen, her father, driven mad by his grief, sought to replace his wife. He sent his men far and wide in search of a woman that could compare to his dear departed wife. No woman was found that could satisfy his longing. He then turned to his daughter to have as his bride. His daughter, of course, refused. To escape her father's continuing advances, Dymphna fled with the assistance of St. Gerebermus (or Gerebran) and possibly the court jester and his wife. The four settled in Gheel, Belgium where they lived as hermits near the chapel of St. Martin of Tours.
Her father tracked her down and once again made advances. When she refused, he beheaded her. He had already beheaded the priest who was harboring her.
Over the years, it was discovered that invocation to the St. often resulted in the healing of epileptics, and the mentally ill who began to make pilgrimages to her shrine.
And Gheel...another miracle...an entire village dedicated to the healing and the aid of the mentally ill. In the states, we have a hard time even getting a residential care facility positioned in a given neighborhood. The attitude, all too often is "That's fine, but not in my neighborhood.". In Gheel, a hospital for the mentally disordered was founded in the thirteenth century. The hospital overflowed and the people of the village opened their hearts and their homes to the mentally ill. They were accepted as family members and given everyday tasks and helped on their way to becoming whole. This practice continues today.
The following is an excerpt from the Guidelines for State or Agency Sponsored
Family Care (C1252) This is a three hour course being offered in the state of
New York and can be found at http://www.omr.state.ny.us/wp/wp_catalogc1252.jsp:
"The Family Care Program, developed in 1931 at Newark State School, now Finger
Lakes DDSO, is the Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities
oldest community based residential option modeled after the original Family
Care Program in Gheel, Belgium...The trainers will focus attention on community
inclusion activities, day activities, choices and the integration of the individual
into the life of the family."
Truly this is a most humane and successful method although in the states we are only attempting to mimic what to the people of Gheel comes naturally. They truly care for these people and they ARE members of the family. They are absorbed into the people's homes and their community. Many are employed either in the town, on farms, or in homes. They are encouraged not just in their "family" but in the community at large. How can this be? How can an entire community be so dedicated to the same cause - and more than a cause - to special, hurting people that need familial love as do we all? I believe (as do Catholics and Orthodox Christians alike and no doubt anyone that has seen it in action) that it is only through the intercessions of this beneficent Saint and the grace of God that it is so. It is truly miraculous. Gheel continues to lead the way with it's devotion to the healing of these hurting people as its people follow their faith in God and look to St. Dymphna for intercession on their behalf.
Copyright April 1, 2003 Ann Wilkes