Mary Oliver, photographed by her partner Molly Malone Cook. “Helping the traveler, 1965”

Entry from Molly’s diary.

 St. Dymphna, patron saint of the nervous, emotionally disturbed, mentally ill, and those who suffer neurological disorders

I turn to you, dear virgin and martyr, confident of your power with God and of your willingness to take my cause into your hands. I praise and bless the Lord for giving you to us as a patron of the nervous and emotionally disturbed. I firmly hope that through your kind intercession He will restore my lost serenity and peace of mind. May He speak to my heart and reassure me: “My peace I give you. Let not your heart be troubled nor let it be afraid.” Pray for me, dear St. Dymphna, that my nervous and emotional turmoil may cease, and that I may again know serenity and personal peace.