Dympna's chapel,
residing
in the City of Gheel.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v5
Dympna's church is very finely executed.
one side, and St.
John the Baptist on the op- There is a figure of the crucifixion over a posite margin.
The whole group consists of front entablature, near the centre of the carved figures.
—
334
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May 15.
tants of the city resolved on selling part of the silver treasures belonging to St. Dympna's church. After having been concealed in several places, these valuables were found buried at Lierre, about this time. Thence they were conveyed to Antwerp, where 159 marcs and one ounce of pure silver were sold for 2,765 florins and 13 sous. The corporation acknowledged the receipt of this amount from St. Dympna's church, and promised to restore it. In the year 1585, the chapter of canons was obliged to carry on a lawsuit with the corporation, on account of their too frequent exactions. The chapter was at length declared exempt from future impositions, on agreeing to pay 100 florins tothecommune. Theseconditionswereaccepted,withconsentoftheBishop of Bois-le-Duc, by an instrument, dated February 21st, a. d. 1586. Sometime afterwards, a report having spread, that the troops of the United Provinces were approaching Gheel, the chapter of canons deemed it necessary to conceal their precious ornaments, and for this purpose, the archives, sacerdotal vest- ments, etc. , were removed to the abbey of Tongerloo.
On the 27th day of September, a. d. 1623, the relics of St. Dympna were visited by Nicholas Zoesius, bishop of Bois-le-Duc. Again, on the 29th of September, a. d. 1627, his successor, Michael Ophovius, made a visitation, in presence of Henry vanden Leemputte, licentiate of sacred theology, and of Ludwig Smeyers, licentiate of civil and canon law; while the canons of the cathedral church of Bois le Due, the canons of the church of St. Dympna, and the common councilmen of the city of Gheel, were also in attendance. When the sacred bones had been removed from their wooden covering, and had been closely examined, they were transferred to a new and precious case, fastened with three keys, each fashioned like the other. One of these was kept for use of the chapter of canons ; one for the ^diles, or masters of the church fabric; and the third for the municipal representatives of Gheel.
During tlie time of the French Revolution, the shrines, reliquaries and ornaments of St. Dympna's church were concealed or buried in the earth, until it was deemed safe to replace them. Soon after this period, the church and its property were confiscated by the Revolutionists. A sale having been effected, all the revenues necessary for supporting the collegiate members dis- appeared. The church itself, however, was secured for its legitimate purposes of Divine worship.
The celebrated Hadscot Hospital or Infirmary of St. Elizabeth, at Gheel, was founded by Henry Berthold. Letters of William, Bishop of Cambray, were extant. s' and bearing fcr date, the month of April, a. d. 1286, in which approbation is given to this foundation. Formerly, religious brothers, living in community, had charge of this institution. Then, it fell under charge of Franciscans of the Third Order; afterwards, Augustinian nuns, brought from Mechlin, were substituted. Near the church of Gheel, a place is pointed out, where her impious and unnatural parent struck oft" the head of his youthful daughter, the holy martyr, St. Dympna. To celebrate her virtues, the place of her sepulture, and where iier relics were preserved, Baron John Merode liberally endowed the large, beautifully designed and magnificent church, to which he attached a vicarial college. Pope Paul III. furnished letters, bear- ing date a. d. 1537, in approval of this foundation. s^ Maximilian a Bergis,
S' In the time of Grammay.
S' In the middle of the choir of St. Dympna's church at Gheel, a splendid monu- ment, and second to nootherin the province, aswearetold, mightbeseen inthetimeof Grammay, and it is still in a fine state of pre- servation. It bears the following inscription,
under the heads of the Count and of his lady. It faces towards the nave of St. Dympna's Church, and it formsa prominent object of at- traction, for all visitors admitted to the interior, D. O. M. S.
Inclyto Baroni D. Joanni ditionum de Merode, Perwys Duffel Leefdael, VValem,
May is. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
335
Bishop of Cambray, a. d. 1562, gave permission to Baron Henry, successor to the former baron, to convert this ecclesiastical estabUshment into a chapter of canons. As persons afflicted with phrenesis, possessed persons, or those otherwise suffering from a variety of distempers, had frequently experienced the miraculous interposition of St. Dympna, when resorting to her shrine, a hospital for their reception, liberally endowed by this John and his prede- cessors, was maintained near the church. Lest servants or those in very humble circumstances might be deprived of such supernatural benefits, Baron John, who died a. d. 1497, and who was buried before the altar of the Blessed Virgin, left in his will an annual provision of more than seven hundred florins, as alms, for distribution at Gheel and at Westerloo. ss
The convent of Augustinian nuns embraces a large quadrangular court- yard, with dwellings, out-offices, and an enclosed garden, attached. The latter is neatly laid out with gravel walks and grass-plots intersecting it, whilst flowers, vegetables, shrubs, and fruit trees, diversify its extent, and render it exceedingly valuable as a recreation ground, and as a means of support for the community of sisters, who have charge of poor, old and infirm persons, living beneath the same roof with themselves. A small and neat chapel presents its choir-end to the principal crossing street ; while one side of that building formspartoftheboundarytoanarrowbacklaneinGheel. 54 Nearthischapel and facing the public street, there is a recess under the wall ; and within this alcove a group of two stone figures may be seen. One of these represents the father of St. Dympna drawing a sword to cut ofl" the head of his daughter, who appears kneeling, with her face averted. A demon is seen crouching beneath her feet and immediately behind the saint. A wrought iron cross rises in the background. ss This group and niche—on the premises of the Augustinian nuns—are separated from the main street by an iron railing. According to popular tradition, the martyrdom of St. Dympna took place on this spot, which lies at no great distance from her magnificent church.
Besides the wonderful cures wrought in the earlier ages, several more re- cent depositions of miracles, performed by the Almighty, through the advo- cacy and merits of this saint, are extracted by Henschenius, out of books belong- ing to the Church of Gheel. 5*5 First in order, we read, that the Burgomasters?
Geel, & VVesteilo domino, viro heroicis a cushion. A dog and lion rest at their feet,
plane virtutibus et mirifica pietate insigni, nimirum qui cum in coeteros omnes tam maxime erga suos domesticos et officiarios, imprimis autem ergo Christi egenos tanta fuit beneficentia, ut hos quidem in cuncta mobilia sua bona testamentaria dispositione haeredes instituerit, illis vero singulis juxta cujusque meritum de vitali pensione be- nigne providerit : executores ultimse ejus voluntatis perpetua ejus memoriae ergo fieri curarum. Vixit ann. 53, menses novem, dies 14, decessit 18 Janu. Anno. 1550. Praenobili item Matronae D. Annse de Gis- telles suavissimae tanti herois conjugi pari pietatis munere decoratas. Vixit Annos fere 30, obiit 27 Martii, Anno 1533. See "Ant- verpiae Antiquitates," cap. x. , p. 144. The Merode tomb of different coloured marbles, with heraldic designs painted along the sides, is surrounded with iron and grilled railings. The Count, in full armour, and his wife, in the robed costume of the period, are represented in a recumbent position, over the tomb, with their heads resting on
Four men-at-arms with bannerets in their hands, at the angles of the tomb, sustain its upper entablature. A faithful and an ele- gant engraving represents this tomb, with the heraldic shields, in the larger work of the Rev. Mr. Kuyl, p. 136. A minute de- scription of this monument is also given,
ss See Grammay's " Antverpise Antiquita- tes," cap. x. , pp. 142 to 144.
S4 During the period of his brief stay in this city, the writer was invited to visit the Augustinian convent, and he had an oppor- tunity of inspecting its interior arrange- ments, as also of observing the neatness and order, reigning throughout this religious Flemish establishment. _ The venerable and aged superioress, then in an infirm state of health, asalsoherpiouscommunity, expressed the gratification afforded to receive an Irish priest, v/ho had come so far to visit the shrine of St. Dympna.
=5 Awell-executedandcorrectengraving of this group forms the frontispiece, to the Rev. Mr. Kuyl's larger work, "Gheel ver-
336
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May 15.
and Assessors s^ of the municipality in Gheel, as an undoubted fact, certified that Tilmanin Bernarts, otherwise Craens, a citizen of Maaseyck, appeared before them, and deposed on oath, in the presence of witnesses, that de- ponent, with liis son James Bernarts, about fourteen years of age, on the 3rd of June, in the year 1604, came through devotion, and confidence in her inter- cession, to the infirmary of St. Dympna, in the city of Gheel, because his aforesaid son was altogether mute, lame, deaf, and blind. He followed the regimen and mode of treatment there observed, according to z. fonmila of the said holy virgin, martyr and patroness. On the eighth day, after observing that regulation, namely, on the loth of June following, about the hour for dinner, through the goodness and bounty of God, that boy was released from all his diseases, and he was no longer mute, deaf, lame or blind. The Bur- gomaster and Assessors testify, that on the same day, they witnessed this miracle, and spoke to that youth. S9
We find several similar succeeding attestations of miracles, attributed to St. Dympna's intercession, and taken from the same books. But, to contract such notices and yet to retain their substance, it will be expedient to divest them of legal technicalities and repetitions, found in the original depositions. James AVouters, who was born in the town of Goch, and who lived near Rheinberg, appeared before the Dean and Chapter of St. Dympna, in presence of Cor- nelius Van Couwegom, prefect of the municipality and district of Ghele. ^ His constitution and frame seemed to be quite reduced, and he declared it to be a certain fact, that for seven continuous years he had been possessed by wickedspirits. Hesoughttheministryofvariousexorcists,indifferentplaces, and with some degree of benefit. At length, this energumenus visited Ghele, whither he was brought in a little cart, and placed in the infirmary of St. Dympna, where he remained some days. When he had followed the accus-
maerd door den, eerdienst der Heilige Dimphna," etc.
5° From these records, we have the affidavits of various persons rendered into Latin.
singham, who flourished A. D. 1296, writes, " Majores Flandris, qui Scabini dicunlur in villis. " We find, they had civic jurisdiction in the trial of cases. In the French language, they were termed Escheviiis. " Cujus qui- dem vocis etymon a Theutonico arcessunt viri docti, ex Glossario Theotisco Lipsii : Scepeno, judex. Hodie, inquit idem Lip- sius : Scepenen, Scabini dicuntur. Kilianus : Schepen, Judex, Senator, Decurio, Juratus, \-ulgo Scabinus. Amerbachius a Schaffer, Scaflfen, vel Scaper, Germanico deducit. " —Sub-voce. Ibid.
57 In Latin, we find the term Drossardus
used by the Bollandist editor. Drossardus
or Drossatus means the prefect of a province
or district. In the Teutonic language, the
word is written Drossaet and Drossaert, in
the Saxon, lirostc. " Drossatus regni, apud
Ericum in Hist. Suecorum, lib. 3, pag. 81.
Idem, lib. 4, pag. 121 : Dapifer vel Drossa-
tus regni Mathias, etc. Gubernator Regni,
pag. 122. Princeps Senatus exponitur Jo.
Loccenio. Quern vide, lib. 2. Antiq. things now said, we, the Burgomaster and Sueco-Gothic. cap. 18, ut et Schefferum in
Upsalia, cap. 16. [* * Ihrium in Glossar. Suio-Gothic. zvce Drott, torn, i. , col. 386. "] Sub-voce. —" Glossarium Mediae et Infimoe Lalinitatis," conditum a Carolo Dufresne Domino Du Cangecumsupplementis integris Monachorum Ordinis S. Benedicti D. P. Carpenterii Adelungii, aliorum, suisque di- gessit G. A. L. Hcnschel. Parisiis, 1840, etseq. , 410.
5^ The Bollandist editor employs the word Scabini lo designate these officials. Scabini, Scabinii or Scabinei, were the terms for- merly employed to distinguish tlie Assessors of Judges or of Courts. The Scabini dis- charged judicial functions. Thomas Wal-
Assessors of the municipality of Gheel, affix this common seal of our council, and have taken care that it be countersigned by our sworn secretary, this 12th day of June, t604.
59 This deposition concludes, in these terms : "In testimony to the truth of those
" Signed,
Locus »|< Sigilli.
The seal itself is impressed on green wax, but faded from its original colour.
^ The notary, Ooms, and the following witnesse>, were present, viz. , Henry Kerck- hofs and Amandus Mens, sacristans of the church of . St. Dympn. i, Judocus Mertens, Anne Vande Wyer, and Maria Breugelmans, Infirmarians of St. Dympna's hospital.
"Cauwers. "
the church of St. Dympna, on the 19th day of December, A. D. 1619.
'"^ To the foregoing deposition, we find ap- pended : "Item prsedictus Jacobus Wouters, hodie viii. Junii anni mdcxx. rursus com- paruit in ecclesia S. Dympnre, et in gratia- rum actionem prsedicta liberationis ab omni malignorum spirituum vexatione, visitavit Reliquias prsedictas, et liberaledonariumob- tulit in pr^esentia D. Arnold! Bloem Coad- jutoris,3edilium ecclesiae et multorum alio-
found attested and signed by W. Ooms, no- rary, in the presence of the notary of St.
Dympna's chapel, residing in the City of Gheel. The Rev. Ilerr Arnold Bloem, coadjutor of the Dean, Bartholemew vander Nieuwenhuisen, and many others, were also present in the choir of St. Dympna's church. This miracle, being deemed worthy of re- cord and preservation, was committed to writing in a public deed, on the 8th of July, 1620.
*•* Houtenesse is now a village of Holland, near the bank of the West Scheldt, and about seven miles north of Hulst, within the province of Zealand.
*s Also, through the direction of John van Hove, prefect, and of John Smolderen, at the instance and requisition of John Aerts and of Matthew Lanen, sacristans connected with St. Dympna's church, in the city of Gheel.
^^ His deposition was also embodied in the shape of a public deed, on the 22nd of May, A. D. 1626.
Y
rum, et me ut Notario ad id requisito. " the foregoing is added these words :
„^ , ^ J, Quod attestor Ooms.
To
*3 In confirmation of this deposition, Amandus Mens, caretaker of the church of St. Dympna, Arnold Goos, John Jansen and John Gilis, dwelling near the same church, affirmed that, to the best of their belief, Pe- tronella vander Hagen had been many and various times seen miserably possessed and harassed with a malignant spirit, and that she had been liberated after the Feast of
—
May 15. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
tomed modeof treatment, and when a solemn exorcism had taken place, with the usual ceremonies, Wouters found these evil spirits departed from him, on the ninth day. ^' Afterwards, he appeared to enjoy the full use of his facul- ties and to recover his powers of intellect. ^^
A respectable girl, named Petronella vander Hagen, about twenty-one years of age, was a native and resident of Antwerp. Being afflicted in like manner for three years, she visited St. Dympna's relics, at Gheel. By miracle, she was delivered from every trace of demoniac influences, a short time after the Feast of Pentecost, a. d. 1619, as she aftirmed. ^3 Thenceforward, being fully and perfectly relieved from all her previous disagreeable sensations, she no longer experienced a feeling of evil possession. A man, named Paul Ver- cuilen, the son of Hubert, and about thirty years of age, declared upon oath, that he resided in the parish of Houtenesse,^'^ formerly within the district and jurisdiction of Hulst city in Flanders. Paul Vercuilen certified, that in the year 1624, about the feast of St. Mark, he was afflicted with epilepsy, frenzy, and vexation, caused by an evil spirit, so that it was found necessary to bind him hand and foot witli strong and firm cords. But, notwithstanding these precautions, such were his violent efforts, that a preternatural energy, arising from insanity, frenzy, and the persecution of a malignant spirit, urged him to break those bandages, whilst his hands and arms bore the evidences of his exertions and violence. After the end of a three months' agony, by persua- sion of his parish pastor, and of his friends, ^5 it was thought advisable to bring him to the city of Gheel, that by the grace of God and through the interces- sion of the holy virgin and martyr, St. Dympna, he might there find deliver- ance from his miseries. In this city, he remained for three weeks ; and, during that time, he asserted, no words could express what vexation and persecution, what ravings and excruciating tortures, were endured from peculiar malignant influences. At length, he was entirely liberated from this misery and restored to health ; so that he no longer experienced any traces of his malady, nor any return to his harassing and disquieted state. He obtained the perfect use ofhis senses and memory. ^^
*' The witnesses, who were present, Pentecost, A. D. 1619. This affirmation, wit- allowed the notary to insert testimony to the nesses declared they were ready to substan- foregoing effect, on the public records, in tiate on oath. All of which evidence is
337
33^ LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May 15.
John Boem, residing in the village of Waterloo, had been a person of weak mind, with disordered senses. Being induced by his friends to visit St. Dympna's church, in the municipality of Gheel, a. d. 1637, he there offered uphisprayersdevoutlyandreceivedHolyCommunion. 'J'hroughtheinter- cession of the holy virgin and martyr, he was restored. ^?
On the 26th of May, 1638, Dympna van Opstal, widow, dwelling within the seignory of Ulimmeren, declared in honour of God and of His holy virgin and martyr, that for the space of three years, her brain and mind being affected, caused her husband to bring her to the church of St. Dympna. After the ordinary ceremonies used in the church, she was brought to the saint's infirmary, where she recovered the proper use of her mind and senses, through the intercession of the holy patroness. Her health was then perfectly restored. To commemorate the event, and as a mark of gratitude, Dympna van Opstal declared herself ready to certify her statement on oath. ^^
Maria Peeters, thirty-six years of age, a native of the village of Sem,^9 de- clared 7° she had been attacked with epilepsy, had lost her senses, and had become frantic to such a degree, that it was found necessary to bind her hands with cords. Having been brought to the city of Gheel, she dwelt in the house of a citizen named John van Passel, for the space of twelve days. On
performing the rites prescribed in honour of St. Dympna, this woman was en- tirely freed from her epilepsy, through the intercession of the holy virgin and martyr. 7'
Gerard Peter Reynders van Nunnen deposed, on the 26th of May, 1640, that he left the infirmary of St. Dympna, fully restored to the use of his men- tal faculties and to his bodily senses. On the eve of St. Dympna's festival, he had been brought to that infirmary, tied hand and foot, because he suffered from epilepsy and madness. But, through the mercy of God and the merits of His martyr and virgin, Dympna, this man felt relieved from his
malady. 7^
On the 26th of May, 1640, Maria Geerts appeared, and certified, that
from the preceding feast of All Saints, she had been afflicted with a disease, which attacked her head, disordered her mind, and affected her heart, with otherpartsofherbody. AboutthemiddleofLentfollowing,shewasseized with madness, which obliged her friends to bind her hand and foot. For many days, she remained under the treatment of a surgeon. But, her insanity continuing, she was bound at Bergen-op-Zoom, on the Sunday, Laetare, and brought to St. Dympna's infirmary, a. d. 1640. After a few days' sojourn, in thisasylum,shewasrestoredtothefulluseofhermindandsenses. Inthis happy condition, she returned to Bergen-op-Zoom. She had told the governor,
*7 He confirmed that statement with his sign manual, in the presence of Walter van Wyer, locum toiens of Gheel city, and of Wilhelm van Namen, who were called as witnesses. This deposition bears date May 25th, 1638, and its truth was further con- firmed by the solemn asseveration of Michael Boem, his brother.
*^ The witnesses present were Wilhelm Kerckhofs and Martin van Noort, also Amandus van Tungerloo and Nicholas Meer, caretakers of the church of St. Dympna, and G. Verbraeken. DympnavanOpstal'ssig- nature is also appended to the instrument, testifying these her public statements.
^ "Tcrritorii Silv;educensis. " Now Bois Ic due, at the confluence of the Ley and Aa
rivers, in the province of North Brabant,
^° The witnesses present were her father, Francis Peeters, her husband, John v. -in Pas- sel. Waller vande Wyer, locum tenens,
Amandus Lans, and G. Verbraecken.
'" Arnold van Tungerloo and Nicholas Meer, caretakers of St. Dympna's church, in- duced Maria Peeters to appear before the no- tary public, Cauwegom, who received her
deposition, on the 26th of May, 1638.
t' This statement he declared himself always ready to prove on oath, and affi. xed
his mark to a document, signed with his own name, in the presence of Reyner Peeters and Lambert van Dungcn. In 1646, when re- turning to thank the Almighty, at Gheel, he confirmed this deposition in the presence of
May 15. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
339
Roel van Ost, her destination was Gheel, when first leaving that city. 73 The same Maria Geerts returned to give thanks, and to venerate the holy relics of St. Dympna, in her church, during the time of Pentecost, a. d. 1642. On the 28th of May, the Feast of Pentecost, a. d. 1643, she declared herself to have been in the enjoyment of excellent health. 74
Andrew Van Erum, an inhabitant of Solderem village,75 remained in the hospital of St. Dympna, and afflicted with madness, for the space of twenty days; but, on the 23rd of May, a. d. 1640, he was fully restored to health. 76
A woman named Elizabeth Hubrechts, who was debilitated and insane, lay nine days in St. Dympna's infirmary. On the 18th day of September, 1640, she was discharged from the hospital fully restored to health. 77
Cornelia Jansens, wife of Antony Adrians ^n, of Oosterhout village, two leagues distant from the city of Breda, about the Feast of our Lord's Ascen- sion, A. D. 1 64 1, at eight o'clock in the morning, was seized with such dread- ful ravings and madness, that it was found necessary to bind her hand and foot. In this wretched state, her husband and his brother, her own sister, Joanna Jansens, and Nicholas, a schoolmaster of Oosterhout, brought her in a vehicle to the city of Gheel. On the 20th of May, she was placed in the infirmary of St. Dympna. When the customary ceremonies had been per- formed, she departed, the 31st of May, fully restored to the use of her facul- ties. 7^ The foregoing are remarkable and apparently well authenticated in- stances,regardingthegreatefficacyofSt. Dympna'sintercession. Theylike- wise furnish indubitable proofs of a devotion to her memory and merits, widely extended beyond the limits of that city, which specially honours her as its tutelar saint.
The following cases of miraculous cures, wrought on behalf of different persons, are also recorded by Henschenius. They are particularly remarkable, as well, from the nature of these various maladies, and from the occasions which brought miserable sufferers to pray before the shrine of St. Dympna, at Gheel, as from the number, credibility and respectability of witnesses, bearing evidence to facts, which came immediately within the scope of their own observation. These statements are placed, according to that sequence, in which the BoUandist editor of our saint's acts has recorded them, and as they were found in original and authentic documents.
On the 1 2th of May, Sunday before the Feast of Pentecost, a. d. 1641, a certain man, named John Christiaens, from the village of Zeeland, in the dis- trictofRavenstein,79wasbroughttoGheel. Aboutfifty-sevenyearsofage, enfeebled in his hands, feet, and all his members, he could neither walk, stand, or turn in any way, but he was obliged to lie immovable, with his whole body covered. Besides, he was altogether dumb, and perfectly incompetent to exercise mental faculties or act as a free agent. According to ancient cus-
D. Cauwegom, Dean, Father Henry Rem- mens and others.
" This affirmation has appended the fol- fowing signatures, viz. , Maria Geerts, with the witnesses, Lambert van Dungen and Wilhehn van Namen.
74 The foregoing statement is attested by Cauwegom.
« There is a village named Solder, in the province of Limburg, about seventeen Eng- lish miles distant from Gheel. This is probably the place to which allusion is made.
7* This deposition is also duly attested by
P. Vercuylen.
" Her own signature and the signatures
of witnesses are found appended to this de- claration.
? ^ These statements were testified on the 5thofJune. ThesameCorneliaJansensrc- visited Gheel, to return thanks before the altar of Dympna, on the day of our saint's festival, 15th of May, a. d. 1643. According to the statement of Couwegom, Cornelia
Jansens was then in the enjoyment of perfect health,
" In the province of North Brabant, Hol- land.
340
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May 15.
tonis, used in similar cases, he was placed in the infirmary, with a hope of recovering his former state of health, by favour and grace of the Almighty, and through the intercession of St. Dympna, Virgin, Martyr, and Patroness of the Church of Gheel. He remained in continued prayer, while completing a double novena, or series of devotions, for the duration of eighteen days. Not being able to walk, he was brought by other persons, to visit St. Dympna's relics, during the solemnity of Pentecost, and on the feast of that holy patroness. Within the period already mentioned, his lameness gradually diminished, and he walked to the house of Gerard Steffers, which was not far removed from the church. His lameness at last insensibly disappeared, so that he was able to walk on foot to St. Dympna's Church, there offering his prayers devoutly to God. At length, on the 2nd day of July, which is the Visitation Feast of the Blessed Virgin Mary, whilst engaged assisting at the holy sacrifice of Mass, in the same church, about eleven o'clock, John Chris- tiaens received the full use of speech, of which he had been heretofore deprived. ^° In presence of several persons, this man was seen, and he was heard speaking publicly ; he also accurately answered various questions pro- posed to him. Then, in a clear voice, he acknowledged, that having lost two of his daughters by the plague, about four years previously, he was greatly afflicted with grief, and he fell into a confirmed disease. From this, he con- tracted a lameness, not only in his feet, but in other members of his body, so that he became completely paralysed, and thenceforward, could neither move, nor put his feet under him. After sufifeiing from such affliction for three years and six months, he became paralysed in the tongue, and he con- tinued entirely mute, for nearly four years. At intervals, he was afflicted with a certain wandering of mind, and madness of the brain. ^' As already related, on the day when his speech was restored, through the mercy of God, after assisting at High Mass, and at another Mass which followed it, and which had been celebrated by Herr Ludwig van Couwegom, Christiaens addressed this priest, when descending from the altar, in these familiar words : " Good day, Herr Ludwig, give me permission to kiss the holy cross of the high altar. "^^ That priest, having known all the foregoing particulars, in great amazement brought this man to the altar, and presented him with the cruci- fix, to be kissed. Christiaens then commenced speaking with the greatest fluency. ^3 in confirmation of the preceding account, on the 2nd of July,
^° When this miracle became known, the church bells rang out a joyous peal, and a thanksgiving was offered to God, in St. Dympna's Church, to celebrate the grace and mercy vouchsafed to this man by the Almighty.
^' In the meantime, all possible natural re- medies were sought from medical or surgical proficients, and spiritual aid was afTurded, through the ministry of religious men and exorcists, to obtain relief from these diseases. Endeavouring to effect the same object, he had undertaken various pilgrimages to places, celeljrated for miracles being wrought, through the intercession of the Blessed Vir- gin Mary, such as Duffel, Gemert, . Stiphout, and other localities ; but, he declared, tliat in no place had he experienced any relief, except in the city of Gheel, and in the church
*' Maria Meus was present within the church, and to her great surprise heard the first words pronounced by John Christiaens and addressed to Herr Ludwig van Couwe- gom, on that particular day, when the afflic- ted man recovered. Others, who were pre- sent, also witnessed that transaction, and bore testimony to its occurrence, without any fraud or evasion.
^^ Witnesses for truth of the foregoing state- ment are, Arnold Bloem, Nicholas Segcrs, Ludwig van Couwegom, Gerard Gossens, Peter Vcrcuylen, Willebrord Veriessen, Peter van Dungen and James Verschuiren, respectively Dean and Canons of the Colle- giate Church of St. Dympna, in the city of Gheel. Also, Burgomaster Couwegom, and the Councillors John van Hove, John Ven- nekens, Gerard Goos, Peter van Brocck-
of St. Dympna, whither he had been hoven, John Lauwen, and Wilhelm Bertals, jjrought, by advice and direction of the of Gheel municipality. FatherGuardianVellepens. '*' Hewasmute,lame,andcrooked,hold-
May 15. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
341
1641, Anna vanden W3'er, who had charge of all the pilgrims and diseased persons brought to the hospital, Gerard Steffers, and Maria Mens, his wife, gave unanimous testimony, and deposed on solemn oath, for a certain truth, that John Christiaens, already mentioned, lay for eighteen days in the infirmary, and that the usual ceremonies of exorcism were used in his regard. ^4 To strengthen this conclusive evidence, the Dean and Canons of his chapter, the Burgomaster and Counsellors of Gheel, caused their several seals to be affixed to an instrument, which was countersigned by their sworn secretary, on the 2nd of July, a. d. 1641. The deed was subsigned with Van Gerven's name, two seals having been attached. One of these was proper to the chapter, the other was an official municipal seal. ^s Moreover, we find it re- corded, that John Christians, before he was afflicted with so many miseries, had been a worthy man, a pious, upright Catholic, of good name and repute. He was born of excellent and honest Catholic parents, in the village of Zee- land, where he had many respectable Catholic friends. With these credible
persons, deponents certified, that John Christians fell into a grievous illness, and during six months he was afflicted with it, so that from its commence- ment until near its departure, he grew daily worse, for a continuance of about four years. Having tried various remedies in vain, deponents had consulted the Father Guardian Vellepens, living near the city of Grave, who persuaded them, that John Christians should be brought to the city of Gheel. They were advised to leave him there, with good and respectable inhabitants, who were entrusted to assist the miserable man, by taking charge of him, and by furnishing necessary sustenance. These deponents promised to defray all his expenses at Gheel, trusting that his former strength should be entirely re- stored. In testimony of the foregoing statement, the officials of Uden, Zee-
land and Boekel,^^ affixed their common seals, on the loth of May, 1641. Dean Couwegom again testified that John Christians, on the eve of Pente- cost, A. D. 1642, returned to give thanks in St. Dympna's church. Then, he was in the full enjoyment of health, which he preserved after the former dis- ease had departed. This visit Christians afterwards repeated, on the 14th of August, 1650, as a grateful mark of devout recognition for his miraculous recovery. ^7
ing his head curved downwards tohis thighs,
whether sitting or resting, when he came to
Gheel. Hence, his attendants were obliged
to carry him into the church, as also before
and under the reliquary case of the Virgin,
Martyr, and Patroness, St. Dympna. The Henricus Raeymaecker et Lambeitus van
witnesses added, that Christiaens lay for a
space of eighteen days, without once open-
ing his eyes, or manifesting the slightest
wish to have anything brought to him. He
seemed to them like a simple child, having
no intellectual capacity. They affirmed, tion, in the following words : " Nos simul
moreover, that his lameness gradually di- minished, within those eighteen days.
regentes pagi Seelant in ditione Ravestenia, sub foro judiciario loci Udem, atque impri- mis D. Joannes van Geniert Pastor in See-
^5 In addition to the foregoing, we find
the following deposition: "Ego Joannes lant, Jacobus Rutten, nuntius judicialis,
Christiaens, jetatis circiter quinquaginta sep- tem annorum, hactenusresidensin pago See- lant, ditionis Ravestenire, hoc die secundo Julii anno MDCXLI. , in festo Visitationis B. Marire, profiteor in ecclesia S. Dympnce, sub juramento, me liberatum esse ab omni muti- tione et amentia, quibus vitiis correptus fui a triennio et medio aut quadriennio circiter : et affirmo omnia esse vera, sicut habetur in
Arnoldus Aerts, et Joannes Joannis_ Aerts Scabini, Henricus Lienverts et Nicolaus Dircx Consules, Joannes Wilms et Petrus Dircx /Ediles, Joannes Driess, et Joannes Diercx Eleemosynarii, cum omni submis- sione inJicanuis omnibus hanc attestationem lecturis aut audituris, et sub juramento sub acceptatione nostri officii preestito declara- mus," etc.
attestatione facta, tarn apud Scabinos pagi nostri quam apud Drossardum et Scabinos municipii GcIk, paratus idem omni tempore sub juramento declarare : et subsignavit Joannes Christians, et testes Joannes Aerts,
Dungen : ea subscripsit Couwegom. "
^'^ These three villages are situated in the
province of North Brabant, Holland,
'^^ Henschenius gives the names of wit- nesses, and begins the form of their deposi-
342 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
—
334
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May 15.
tants of the city resolved on selling part of the silver treasures belonging to St. Dympna's church. After having been concealed in several places, these valuables were found buried at Lierre, about this time. Thence they were conveyed to Antwerp, where 159 marcs and one ounce of pure silver were sold for 2,765 florins and 13 sous. The corporation acknowledged the receipt of this amount from St. Dympna's church, and promised to restore it. In the year 1585, the chapter of canons was obliged to carry on a lawsuit with the corporation, on account of their too frequent exactions. The chapter was at length declared exempt from future impositions, on agreeing to pay 100 florins tothecommune. Theseconditionswereaccepted,withconsentoftheBishop of Bois-le-Duc, by an instrument, dated February 21st, a. d. 1586. Sometime afterwards, a report having spread, that the troops of the United Provinces were approaching Gheel, the chapter of canons deemed it necessary to conceal their precious ornaments, and for this purpose, the archives, sacerdotal vest- ments, etc. , were removed to the abbey of Tongerloo.
On the 27th day of September, a. d. 1623, the relics of St. Dympna were visited by Nicholas Zoesius, bishop of Bois-le-Duc. Again, on the 29th of September, a. d. 1627, his successor, Michael Ophovius, made a visitation, in presence of Henry vanden Leemputte, licentiate of sacred theology, and of Ludwig Smeyers, licentiate of civil and canon law; while the canons of the cathedral church of Bois le Due, the canons of the church of St. Dympna, and the common councilmen of the city of Gheel, were also in attendance. When the sacred bones had been removed from their wooden covering, and had been closely examined, they were transferred to a new and precious case, fastened with three keys, each fashioned like the other. One of these was kept for use of the chapter of canons ; one for the ^diles, or masters of the church fabric; and the third for the municipal representatives of Gheel.
During tlie time of the French Revolution, the shrines, reliquaries and ornaments of St. Dympna's church were concealed or buried in the earth, until it was deemed safe to replace them. Soon after this period, the church and its property were confiscated by the Revolutionists. A sale having been effected, all the revenues necessary for supporting the collegiate members dis- appeared. The church itself, however, was secured for its legitimate purposes of Divine worship.
The celebrated Hadscot Hospital or Infirmary of St. Elizabeth, at Gheel, was founded by Henry Berthold. Letters of William, Bishop of Cambray, were extant. s' and bearing fcr date, the month of April, a. d. 1286, in which approbation is given to this foundation. Formerly, religious brothers, living in community, had charge of this institution. Then, it fell under charge of Franciscans of the Third Order; afterwards, Augustinian nuns, brought from Mechlin, were substituted. Near the church of Gheel, a place is pointed out, where her impious and unnatural parent struck oft" the head of his youthful daughter, the holy martyr, St. Dympna. To celebrate her virtues, the place of her sepulture, and where iier relics were preserved, Baron John Merode liberally endowed the large, beautifully designed and magnificent church, to which he attached a vicarial college. Pope Paul III. furnished letters, bear- ing date a. d. 1537, in approval of this foundation. s^ Maximilian a Bergis,
S' In the time of Grammay.
S' In the middle of the choir of St. Dympna's church at Gheel, a splendid monu- ment, and second to nootherin the province, aswearetold, mightbeseen inthetimeof Grammay, and it is still in a fine state of pre- servation. It bears the following inscription,
under the heads of the Count and of his lady. It faces towards the nave of St. Dympna's Church, and it formsa prominent object of at- traction, for all visitors admitted to the interior, D. O. M. S.
Inclyto Baroni D. Joanni ditionum de Merode, Perwys Duffel Leefdael, VValem,
May is. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
335
Bishop of Cambray, a. d. 1562, gave permission to Baron Henry, successor to the former baron, to convert this ecclesiastical estabUshment into a chapter of canons. As persons afflicted with phrenesis, possessed persons, or those otherwise suffering from a variety of distempers, had frequently experienced the miraculous interposition of St. Dympna, when resorting to her shrine, a hospital for their reception, liberally endowed by this John and his prede- cessors, was maintained near the church. Lest servants or those in very humble circumstances might be deprived of such supernatural benefits, Baron John, who died a. d. 1497, and who was buried before the altar of the Blessed Virgin, left in his will an annual provision of more than seven hundred florins, as alms, for distribution at Gheel and at Westerloo. ss
The convent of Augustinian nuns embraces a large quadrangular court- yard, with dwellings, out-offices, and an enclosed garden, attached. The latter is neatly laid out with gravel walks and grass-plots intersecting it, whilst flowers, vegetables, shrubs, and fruit trees, diversify its extent, and render it exceedingly valuable as a recreation ground, and as a means of support for the community of sisters, who have charge of poor, old and infirm persons, living beneath the same roof with themselves. A small and neat chapel presents its choir-end to the principal crossing street ; while one side of that building formspartoftheboundarytoanarrowbacklaneinGheel. 54 Nearthischapel and facing the public street, there is a recess under the wall ; and within this alcove a group of two stone figures may be seen. One of these represents the father of St. Dympna drawing a sword to cut ofl" the head of his daughter, who appears kneeling, with her face averted. A demon is seen crouching beneath her feet and immediately behind the saint. A wrought iron cross rises in the background. ss This group and niche—on the premises of the Augustinian nuns—are separated from the main street by an iron railing. According to popular tradition, the martyrdom of St. Dympna took place on this spot, which lies at no great distance from her magnificent church.
Besides the wonderful cures wrought in the earlier ages, several more re- cent depositions of miracles, performed by the Almighty, through the advo- cacy and merits of this saint, are extracted by Henschenius, out of books belong- ing to the Church of Gheel. 5*5 First in order, we read, that the Burgomasters?
Geel, & VVesteilo domino, viro heroicis a cushion. A dog and lion rest at their feet,
plane virtutibus et mirifica pietate insigni, nimirum qui cum in coeteros omnes tam maxime erga suos domesticos et officiarios, imprimis autem ergo Christi egenos tanta fuit beneficentia, ut hos quidem in cuncta mobilia sua bona testamentaria dispositione haeredes instituerit, illis vero singulis juxta cujusque meritum de vitali pensione be- nigne providerit : executores ultimse ejus voluntatis perpetua ejus memoriae ergo fieri curarum. Vixit ann. 53, menses novem, dies 14, decessit 18 Janu. Anno. 1550. Praenobili item Matronae D. Annse de Gis- telles suavissimae tanti herois conjugi pari pietatis munere decoratas. Vixit Annos fere 30, obiit 27 Martii, Anno 1533. See "Ant- verpiae Antiquitates," cap. x. , p. 144. The Merode tomb of different coloured marbles, with heraldic designs painted along the sides, is surrounded with iron and grilled railings. The Count, in full armour, and his wife, in the robed costume of the period, are represented in a recumbent position, over the tomb, with their heads resting on
Four men-at-arms with bannerets in their hands, at the angles of the tomb, sustain its upper entablature. A faithful and an ele- gant engraving represents this tomb, with the heraldic shields, in the larger work of the Rev. Mr. Kuyl, p. 136. A minute de- scription of this monument is also given,
ss See Grammay's " Antverpise Antiquita- tes," cap. x. , pp. 142 to 144.
S4 During the period of his brief stay in this city, the writer was invited to visit the Augustinian convent, and he had an oppor- tunity of inspecting its interior arrange- ments, as also of observing the neatness and order, reigning throughout this religious Flemish establishment. _ The venerable and aged superioress, then in an infirm state of health, asalsoherpiouscommunity, expressed the gratification afforded to receive an Irish priest, v/ho had come so far to visit the shrine of St. Dympna.
=5 Awell-executedandcorrectengraving of this group forms the frontispiece, to the Rev. Mr. Kuyl's larger work, "Gheel ver-
336
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May 15.
and Assessors s^ of the municipality in Gheel, as an undoubted fact, certified that Tilmanin Bernarts, otherwise Craens, a citizen of Maaseyck, appeared before them, and deposed on oath, in the presence of witnesses, that de- ponent, with liis son James Bernarts, about fourteen years of age, on the 3rd of June, in the year 1604, came through devotion, and confidence in her inter- cession, to the infirmary of St. Dympna, in the city of Gheel, because his aforesaid son was altogether mute, lame, deaf, and blind. He followed the regimen and mode of treatment there observed, according to z. fonmila of the said holy virgin, martyr and patroness. On the eighth day, after observing that regulation, namely, on the loth of June following, about the hour for dinner, through the goodness and bounty of God, that boy was released from all his diseases, and he was no longer mute, deaf, lame or blind. The Bur- gomaster and Assessors testify, that on the same day, they witnessed this miracle, and spoke to that youth. S9
We find several similar succeeding attestations of miracles, attributed to St. Dympna's intercession, and taken from the same books. But, to contract such notices and yet to retain their substance, it will be expedient to divest them of legal technicalities and repetitions, found in the original depositions. James AVouters, who was born in the town of Goch, and who lived near Rheinberg, appeared before the Dean and Chapter of St. Dympna, in presence of Cor- nelius Van Couwegom, prefect of the municipality and district of Ghele. ^ His constitution and frame seemed to be quite reduced, and he declared it to be a certain fact, that for seven continuous years he had been possessed by wickedspirits. Hesoughttheministryofvariousexorcists,indifferentplaces, and with some degree of benefit. At length, this energumenus visited Ghele, whither he was brought in a little cart, and placed in the infirmary of St. Dympna, where he remained some days. When he had followed the accus-
maerd door den, eerdienst der Heilige Dimphna," etc.
5° From these records, we have the affidavits of various persons rendered into Latin.
singham, who flourished A. D. 1296, writes, " Majores Flandris, qui Scabini dicunlur in villis. " We find, they had civic jurisdiction in the trial of cases. In the French language, they were termed Escheviiis. " Cujus qui- dem vocis etymon a Theutonico arcessunt viri docti, ex Glossario Theotisco Lipsii : Scepeno, judex. Hodie, inquit idem Lip- sius : Scepenen, Scabini dicuntur. Kilianus : Schepen, Judex, Senator, Decurio, Juratus, \-ulgo Scabinus. Amerbachius a Schaffer, Scaflfen, vel Scaper, Germanico deducit. " —Sub-voce. Ibid.
57 In Latin, we find the term Drossardus
used by the Bollandist editor. Drossardus
or Drossatus means the prefect of a province
or district. In the Teutonic language, the
word is written Drossaet and Drossaert, in
the Saxon, lirostc. " Drossatus regni, apud
Ericum in Hist. Suecorum, lib. 3, pag. 81.
Idem, lib. 4, pag. 121 : Dapifer vel Drossa-
tus regni Mathias, etc. Gubernator Regni,
pag. 122. Princeps Senatus exponitur Jo.
Loccenio. Quern vide, lib. 2. Antiq. things now said, we, the Burgomaster and Sueco-Gothic. cap. 18, ut et Schefferum in
Upsalia, cap. 16. [* * Ihrium in Glossar. Suio-Gothic. zvce Drott, torn, i. , col. 386. "] Sub-voce. —" Glossarium Mediae et Infimoe Lalinitatis," conditum a Carolo Dufresne Domino Du Cangecumsupplementis integris Monachorum Ordinis S. Benedicti D. P. Carpenterii Adelungii, aliorum, suisque di- gessit G. A. L. Hcnschel. Parisiis, 1840, etseq. , 410.
5^ The Bollandist editor employs the word Scabini lo designate these officials. Scabini, Scabinii or Scabinei, were the terms for- merly employed to distinguish tlie Assessors of Judges or of Courts. The Scabini dis- charged judicial functions. Thomas Wal-
Assessors of the municipality of Gheel, affix this common seal of our council, and have taken care that it be countersigned by our sworn secretary, this 12th day of June, t604.
59 This deposition concludes, in these terms : "In testimony to the truth of those
" Signed,
Locus »|< Sigilli.
The seal itself is impressed on green wax, but faded from its original colour.
^ The notary, Ooms, and the following witnesse>, were present, viz. , Henry Kerck- hofs and Amandus Mens, sacristans of the church of . St. Dympn. i, Judocus Mertens, Anne Vande Wyer, and Maria Breugelmans, Infirmarians of St. Dympna's hospital.
"Cauwers. "
the church of St. Dympna, on the 19th day of December, A. D. 1619.
'"^ To the foregoing deposition, we find ap- pended : "Item prsedictus Jacobus Wouters, hodie viii. Junii anni mdcxx. rursus com- paruit in ecclesia S. Dympnre, et in gratia- rum actionem prsedicta liberationis ab omni malignorum spirituum vexatione, visitavit Reliquias prsedictas, et liberaledonariumob- tulit in pr^esentia D. Arnold! Bloem Coad- jutoris,3edilium ecclesiae et multorum alio-
found attested and signed by W. Ooms, no- rary, in the presence of the notary of St.
Dympna's chapel, residing in the City of Gheel. The Rev. Ilerr Arnold Bloem, coadjutor of the Dean, Bartholemew vander Nieuwenhuisen, and many others, were also present in the choir of St. Dympna's church. This miracle, being deemed worthy of re- cord and preservation, was committed to writing in a public deed, on the 8th of July, 1620.
*•* Houtenesse is now a village of Holland, near the bank of the West Scheldt, and about seven miles north of Hulst, within the province of Zealand.
*s Also, through the direction of John van Hove, prefect, and of John Smolderen, at the instance and requisition of John Aerts and of Matthew Lanen, sacristans connected with St. Dympna's church, in the city of Gheel.
^^ His deposition was also embodied in the shape of a public deed, on the 22nd of May, A. D. 1626.
Y
rum, et me ut Notario ad id requisito. " the foregoing is added these words :
„^ , ^ J, Quod attestor Ooms.
To
*3 In confirmation of this deposition, Amandus Mens, caretaker of the church of St. Dympna, Arnold Goos, John Jansen and John Gilis, dwelling near the same church, affirmed that, to the best of their belief, Pe- tronella vander Hagen had been many and various times seen miserably possessed and harassed with a malignant spirit, and that she had been liberated after the Feast of
—
May 15. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
tomed modeof treatment, and when a solemn exorcism had taken place, with the usual ceremonies, Wouters found these evil spirits departed from him, on the ninth day. ^' Afterwards, he appeared to enjoy the full use of his facul- ties and to recover his powers of intellect. ^^
A respectable girl, named Petronella vander Hagen, about twenty-one years of age, was a native and resident of Antwerp. Being afflicted in like manner for three years, she visited St. Dympna's relics, at Gheel. By miracle, she was delivered from every trace of demoniac influences, a short time after the Feast of Pentecost, a. d. 1619, as she aftirmed. ^3 Thenceforward, being fully and perfectly relieved from all her previous disagreeable sensations, she no longer experienced a feeling of evil possession. A man, named Paul Ver- cuilen, the son of Hubert, and about thirty years of age, declared upon oath, that he resided in the parish of Houtenesse,^'^ formerly within the district and jurisdiction of Hulst city in Flanders. Paul Vercuilen certified, that in the year 1624, about the feast of St. Mark, he was afflicted with epilepsy, frenzy, and vexation, caused by an evil spirit, so that it was found necessary to bind him hand and foot witli strong and firm cords. But, notwithstanding these precautions, such were his violent efforts, that a preternatural energy, arising from insanity, frenzy, and the persecution of a malignant spirit, urged him to break those bandages, whilst his hands and arms bore the evidences of his exertions and violence. After the end of a three months' agony, by persua- sion of his parish pastor, and of his friends, ^5 it was thought advisable to bring him to the city of Gheel, that by the grace of God and through the interces- sion of the holy virgin and martyr, St. Dympna, he might there find deliver- ance from his miseries. In this city, he remained for three weeks ; and, during that time, he asserted, no words could express what vexation and persecution, what ravings and excruciating tortures, were endured from peculiar malignant influences. At length, he was entirely liberated from this misery and restored to health ; so that he no longer experienced any traces of his malady, nor any return to his harassing and disquieted state. He obtained the perfect use ofhis senses and memory. ^^
*' The witnesses, who were present, Pentecost, A. D. 1619. This affirmation, wit- allowed the notary to insert testimony to the nesses declared they were ready to substan- foregoing effect, on the public records, in tiate on oath. All of which evidence is
337
33^ LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May 15.
John Boem, residing in the village of Waterloo, had been a person of weak mind, with disordered senses. Being induced by his friends to visit St. Dympna's church, in the municipality of Gheel, a. d. 1637, he there offered uphisprayersdevoutlyandreceivedHolyCommunion. 'J'hroughtheinter- cession of the holy virgin and martyr, he was restored. ^?
On the 26th of May, 1638, Dympna van Opstal, widow, dwelling within the seignory of Ulimmeren, declared in honour of God and of His holy virgin and martyr, that for the space of three years, her brain and mind being affected, caused her husband to bring her to the church of St. Dympna. After the ordinary ceremonies used in the church, she was brought to the saint's infirmary, where she recovered the proper use of her mind and senses, through the intercession of the holy patroness. Her health was then perfectly restored. To commemorate the event, and as a mark of gratitude, Dympna van Opstal declared herself ready to certify her statement on oath. ^^
Maria Peeters, thirty-six years of age, a native of the village of Sem,^9 de- clared 7° she had been attacked with epilepsy, had lost her senses, and had become frantic to such a degree, that it was found necessary to bind her hands with cords. Having been brought to the city of Gheel, she dwelt in the house of a citizen named John van Passel, for the space of twelve days. On
performing the rites prescribed in honour of St. Dympna, this woman was en- tirely freed from her epilepsy, through the intercession of the holy virgin and martyr. 7'
Gerard Peter Reynders van Nunnen deposed, on the 26th of May, 1640, that he left the infirmary of St. Dympna, fully restored to the use of his men- tal faculties and to his bodily senses. On the eve of St. Dympna's festival, he had been brought to that infirmary, tied hand and foot, because he suffered from epilepsy and madness. But, through the mercy of God and the merits of His martyr and virgin, Dympna, this man felt relieved from his
malady. 7^
On the 26th of May, 1640, Maria Geerts appeared, and certified, that
from the preceding feast of All Saints, she had been afflicted with a disease, which attacked her head, disordered her mind, and affected her heart, with otherpartsofherbody. AboutthemiddleofLentfollowing,shewasseized with madness, which obliged her friends to bind her hand and foot. For many days, she remained under the treatment of a surgeon. But, her insanity continuing, she was bound at Bergen-op-Zoom, on the Sunday, Laetare, and brought to St. Dympna's infirmary, a. d. 1640. After a few days' sojourn, in thisasylum,shewasrestoredtothefulluseofhermindandsenses. Inthis happy condition, she returned to Bergen-op-Zoom. She had told the governor,
*7 He confirmed that statement with his sign manual, in the presence of Walter van Wyer, locum toiens of Gheel city, and of Wilhelm van Namen, who were called as witnesses. This deposition bears date May 25th, 1638, and its truth was further con- firmed by the solemn asseveration of Michael Boem, his brother.
*^ The witnesses present were Wilhelm Kerckhofs and Martin van Noort, also Amandus van Tungerloo and Nicholas Meer, caretakers of the church of St. Dympna, and G. Verbraeken. DympnavanOpstal'ssig- nature is also appended to the instrument, testifying these her public statements.
^ "Tcrritorii Silv;educensis. " Now Bois Ic due, at the confluence of the Ley and Aa
rivers, in the province of North Brabant,
^° The witnesses present were her father, Francis Peeters, her husband, John v. -in Pas- sel. Waller vande Wyer, locum tenens,
Amandus Lans, and G. Verbraecken.
'" Arnold van Tungerloo and Nicholas Meer, caretakers of St. Dympna's church, in- duced Maria Peeters to appear before the no- tary public, Cauwegom, who received her
deposition, on the 26th of May, 1638.
t' This statement he declared himself always ready to prove on oath, and affi. xed
his mark to a document, signed with his own name, in the presence of Reyner Peeters and Lambert van Dungcn. In 1646, when re- turning to thank the Almighty, at Gheel, he confirmed this deposition in the presence of
May 15. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
339
Roel van Ost, her destination was Gheel, when first leaving that city. 73 The same Maria Geerts returned to give thanks, and to venerate the holy relics of St. Dympna, in her church, during the time of Pentecost, a. d. 1642. On the 28th of May, the Feast of Pentecost, a. d. 1643, she declared herself to have been in the enjoyment of excellent health. 74
Andrew Van Erum, an inhabitant of Solderem village,75 remained in the hospital of St. Dympna, and afflicted with madness, for the space of twenty days; but, on the 23rd of May, a. d. 1640, he was fully restored to health. 76
A woman named Elizabeth Hubrechts, who was debilitated and insane, lay nine days in St. Dympna's infirmary. On the 18th day of September, 1640, she was discharged from the hospital fully restored to health. 77
Cornelia Jansens, wife of Antony Adrians ^n, of Oosterhout village, two leagues distant from the city of Breda, about the Feast of our Lord's Ascen- sion, A. D. 1 64 1, at eight o'clock in the morning, was seized with such dread- ful ravings and madness, that it was found necessary to bind her hand and foot. In this wretched state, her husband and his brother, her own sister, Joanna Jansens, and Nicholas, a schoolmaster of Oosterhout, brought her in a vehicle to the city of Gheel. On the 20th of May, she was placed in the infirmary of St. Dympna. When the customary ceremonies had been per- formed, she departed, the 31st of May, fully restored to the use of her facul- ties. 7^ The foregoing are remarkable and apparently well authenticated in- stances,regardingthegreatefficacyofSt. Dympna'sintercession. Theylike- wise furnish indubitable proofs of a devotion to her memory and merits, widely extended beyond the limits of that city, which specially honours her as its tutelar saint.
The following cases of miraculous cures, wrought on behalf of different persons, are also recorded by Henschenius. They are particularly remarkable, as well, from the nature of these various maladies, and from the occasions which brought miserable sufferers to pray before the shrine of St. Dympna, at Gheel, as from the number, credibility and respectability of witnesses, bearing evidence to facts, which came immediately within the scope of their own observation. These statements are placed, according to that sequence, in which the BoUandist editor of our saint's acts has recorded them, and as they were found in original and authentic documents.
On the 1 2th of May, Sunday before the Feast of Pentecost, a. d. 1641, a certain man, named John Christiaens, from the village of Zeeland, in the dis- trictofRavenstein,79wasbroughttoGheel. Aboutfifty-sevenyearsofage, enfeebled in his hands, feet, and all his members, he could neither walk, stand, or turn in any way, but he was obliged to lie immovable, with his whole body covered. Besides, he was altogether dumb, and perfectly incompetent to exercise mental faculties or act as a free agent. According to ancient cus-
D. Cauwegom, Dean, Father Henry Rem- mens and others.
" This affirmation has appended the fol- fowing signatures, viz. , Maria Geerts, with the witnesses, Lambert van Dungen and Wilhehn van Namen.
74 The foregoing statement is attested by Cauwegom.
« There is a village named Solder, in the province of Limburg, about seventeen Eng- lish miles distant from Gheel. This is probably the place to which allusion is made.
7* This deposition is also duly attested by
P. Vercuylen.
" Her own signature and the signatures
of witnesses are found appended to this de- claration.
? ^ These statements were testified on the 5thofJune. ThesameCorneliaJansensrc- visited Gheel, to return thanks before the altar of Dympna, on the day of our saint's festival, 15th of May, a. d. 1643. According to the statement of Couwegom, Cornelia
Jansens was then in the enjoyment of perfect health,
" In the province of North Brabant, Hol- land.
340
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May 15.
tonis, used in similar cases, he was placed in the infirmary, with a hope of recovering his former state of health, by favour and grace of the Almighty, and through the intercession of St. Dympna, Virgin, Martyr, and Patroness of the Church of Gheel. He remained in continued prayer, while completing a double novena, or series of devotions, for the duration of eighteen days. Not being able to walk, he was brought by other persons, to visit St. Dympna's relics, during the solemnity of Pentecost, and on the feast of that holy patroness. Within the period already mentioned, his lameness gradually diminished, and he walked to the house of Gerard Steffers, which was not far removed from the church. His lameness at last insensibly disappeared, so that he was able to walk on foot to St. Dympna's Church, there offering his prayers devoutly to God. At length, on the 2nd day of July, which is the Visitation Feast of the Blessed Virgin Mary, whilst engaged assisting at the holy sacrifice of Mass, in the same church, about eleven o'clock, John Chris- tiaens received the full use of speech, of which he had been heretofore deprived. ^° In presence of several persons, this man was seen, and he was heard speaking publicly ; he also accurately answered various questions pro- posed to him. Then, in a clear voice, he acknowledged, that having lost two of his daughters by the plague, about four years previously, he was greatly afflicted with grief, and he fell into a confirmed disease. From this, he con- tracted a lameness, not only in his feet, but in other members of his body, so that he became completely paralysed, and thenceforward, could neither move, nor put his feet under him. After sufifeiing from such affliction for three years and six months, he became paralysed in the tongue, and he con- tinued entirely mute, for nearly four years. At intervals, he was afflicted with a certain wandering of mind, and madness of the brain. ^' As already related, on the day when his speech was restored, through the mercy of God, after assisting at High Mass, and at another Mass which followed it, and which had been celebrated by Herr Ludwig van Couwegom, Christiaens addressed this priest, when descending from the altar, in these familiar words : " Good day, Herr Ludwig, give me permission to kiss the holy cross of the high altar. "^^ That priest, having known all the foregoing particulars, in great amazement brought this man to the altar, and presented him with the cruci- fix, to be kissed. Christiaens then commenced speaking with the greatest fluency. ^3 in confirmation of the preceding account, on the 2nd of July,
^° When this miracle became known, the church bells rang out a joyous peal, and a thanksgiving was offered to God, in St. Dympna's Church, to celebrate the grace and mercy vouchsafed to this man by the Almighty.
^' In the meantime, all possible natural re- medies were sought from medical or surgical proficients, and spiritual aid was afTurded, through the ministry of religious men and exorcists, to obtain relief from these diseases. Endeavouring to effect the same object, he had undertaken various pilgrimages to places, celeljrated for miracles being wrought, through the intercession of the Blessed Vir- gin Mary, such as Duffel, Gemert, . Stiphout, and other localities ; but, he declared, tliat in no place had he experienced any relief, except in the city of Gheel, and in the church
*' Maria Meus was present within the church, and to her great surprise heard the first words pronounced by John Christiaens and addressed to Herr Ludwig van Couwe- gom, on that particular day, when the afflic- ted man recovered. Others, who were pre- sent, also witnessed that transaction, and bore testimony to its occurrence, without any fraud or evasion.
^^ Witnesses for truth of the foregoing state- ment are, Arnold Bloem, Nicholas Segcrs, Ludwig van Couwegom, Gerard Gossens, Peter Vcrcuylen, Willebrord Veriessen, Peter van Dungen and James Verschuiren, respectively Dean and Canons of the Colle- giate Church of St. Dympna, in the city of Gheel. Also, Burgomaster Couwegom, and the Councillors John van Hove, John Ven- nekens, Gerard Goos, Peter van Brocck-
of St. Dympna, whither he had been hoven, John Lauwen, and Wilhelm Bertals, jjrought, by advice and direction of the of Gheel municipality. FatherGuardianVellepens. '*' Hewasmute,lame,andcrooked,hold-
May 15. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
341
1641, Anna vanden W3'er, who had charge of all the pilgrims and diseased persons brought to the hospital, Gerard Steffers, and Maria Mens, his wife, gave unanimous testimony, and deposed on solemn oath, for a certain truth, that John Christiaens, already mentioned, lay for eighteen days in the infirmary, and that the usual ceremonies of exorcism were used in his regard. ^4 To strengthen this conclusive evidence, the Dean and Canons of his chapter, the Burgomaster and Counsellors of Gheel, caused their several seals to be affixed to an instrument, which was countersigned by their sworn secretary, on the 2nd of July, a. d. 1641. The deed was subsigned with Van Gerven's name, two seals having been attached. One of these was proper to the chapter, the other was an official municipal seal. ^s Moreover, we find it re- corded, that John Christians, before he was afflicted with so many miseries, had been a worthy man, a pious, upright Catholic, of good name and repute. He was born of excellent and honest Catholic parents, in the village of Zee- land, where he had many respectable Catholic friends. With these credible
persons, deponents certified, that John Christians fell into a grievous illness, and during six months he was afflicted with it, so that from its commence- ment until near its departure, he grew daily worse, for a continuance of about four years. Having tried various remedies in vain, deponents had consulted the Father Guardian Vellepens, living near the city of Grave, who persuaded them, that John Christians should be brought to the city of Gheel. They were advised to leave him there, with good and respectable inhabitants, who were entrusted to assist the miserable man, by taking charge of him, and by furnishing necessary sustenance. These deponents promised to defray all his expenses at Gheel, trusting that his former strength should be entirely re- stored. In testimony of the foregoing statement, the officials of Uden, Zee-
land and Boekel,^^ affixed their common seals, on the loth of May, 1641. Dean Couwegom again testified that John Christians, on the eve of Pente- cost, A. D. 1642, returned to give thanks in St. Dympna's church. Then, he was in the full enjoyment of health, which he preserved after the former dis- ease had departed. This visit Christians afterwards repeated, on the 14th of August, 1650, as a grateful mark of devout recognition for his miraculous recovery. ^7
ing his head curved downwards tohis thighs,
whether sitting or resting, when he came to
Gheel. Hence, his attendants were obliged
to carry him into the church, as also before
and under the reliquary case of the Virgin,
Martyr, and Patroness, St. Dympna. The Henricus Raeymaecker et Lambeitus van
witnesses added, that Christiaens lay for a
space of eighteen days, without once open-
ing his eyes, or manifesting the slightest
wish to have anything brought to him. He
seemed to them like a simple child, having
no intellectual capacity. They affirmed, tion, in the following words : " Nos simul
moreover, that his lameness gradually di- minished, within those eighteen days.
regentes pagi Seelant in ditione Ravestenia, sub foro judiciario loci Udem, atque impri- mis D. Joannes van Geniert Pastor in See-
^5 In addition to the foregoing, we find
the following deposition: "Ego Joannes lant, Jacobus Rutten, nuntius judicialis,
Christiaens, jetatis circiter quinquaginta sep- tem annorum, hactenusresidensin pago See- lant, ditionis Ravestenire, hoc die secundo Julii anno MDCXLI. , in festo Visitationis B. Marire, profiteor in ecclesia S. Dympnce, sub juramento, me liberatum esse ab omni muti- tione et amentia, quibus vitiis correptus fui a triennio et medio aut quadriennio circiter : et affirmo omnia esse vera, sicut habetur in
Arnoldus Aerts, et Joannes Joannis_ Aerts Scabini, Henricus Lienverts et Nicolaus Dircx Consules, Joannes Wilms et Petrus Dircx /Ediles, Joannes Driess, et Joannes Diercx Eleemosynarii, cum omni submis- sione inJicanuis omnibus hanc attestationem lecturis aut audituris, et sub juramento sub acceptatione nostri officii preestito declara- mus," etc.
attestatione facta, tarn apud Scabinos pagi nostri quam apud Drossardum et Scabinos municipii GcIk, paratus idem omni tempore sub juramento declarare : et subsignavit Joannes Christians, et testes Joannes Aerts,
Dungen : ea subscripsit Couwegom. "
^'^ These three villages are situated in the
province of North Brabant, Holland,
'^^ Henschenius gives the names of wit- nesses, and begins the form of their deposi-
342 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
