Dymphna, the pretty royal maiden,
Born of Christian queen and pagan king,
Forced to flee her native Ireland.
Mother dying, father grieving,
An unnatural lust for his daughter bore.
Carnal burning, Dymphna flying,
Unto Gheel in Belgium with a priest,
Gerebern, true father and protector
For the virgin princess, bride of Christ.
The raving king searched, and found them,
Commanded Father Gerebern be slain
For daring to rebuke him,
And severed his own daughter’s head
When she refused his incestuous advances.
* * *
The life of these saints – an image of the West!
Pagan Europe was married to Christ
Near two thousand years ago,
But her faith grew weak and died,
And the West in her widowhood
Conceived again the desire for old, abandoned evils.
. . .
The rest is at https://www.newenglishreview.org/articles/post-christian/.
***
For further reading on Sts Dymphna and Gerebern:
https://oodegr.com/english/biographies/arxaioi/Dymphna_martyr.htm
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Holy Ælfred the Great, King of England, South Patron, pray for us sinners at the Souð, unworthy though we are!
Anathema to the Union!
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