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The St. Dymphna legend/myth was presumably based upon a 7th century girl from Ireland whose father was a pagan king and whose mother became a Christian. When the mother died, the father wanted to take his daughter as his new wife. She found out about his plans and ran away with a priest. They were discovered and, when she refused his plan, the priest was killed and the girl's father beheaded her. Se is supposed to be the saint for runaways, incest, mental issues. There was NO historical record for such a person but that didn't stop her legend from being spread, a feast day set for her, and the obligatory “miracles” attributed to her. Not sure why “she” was invoked in this case, but, like Latin phrases and prayers, they are waved about as talismans scaring the riffraff away. Are you spooked yet???