46. Saint Dymphna & the Town that Welcomes Outsiders

Church history isn't always as, well, historically reliable as we wish it was. Sometimes the stories of saints and heroes tend to blur the lines between fact and fiction. 

That would be the case of Saint Dymphna, an Irish-Catholic runaway who sought refuge from her violent father in a small town in Belgium. What's interesting though, is that whether or not her story is more than folklore, this European community is still honoring the legacy of her story: for hundreds of years, its residents have opened their homes to outsiders suffering from mental and cognitive disabilities. 

Join John and Tom as we talk through the story of Saint Dymphna and the town of Geel, Belgium. Also Tom humblebrags about graduating seminary. What a nerd. 

IG: @churchhistory4chumps 

Buy us a coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/chumphistory