St. Laurence O'Toole

St. Lorcán Ua Tuathail, or Laurence O'Toole, was born the youngest son of a king in County Kildare around 1128. At the age of 10, Laurence was sent as a hostage to another king in South Leinster. For two years he was imprisoned and given little food. During this time, Laurence began desiring to enter into religious life.

The abbot of the monastery in Glenalough helped restore relations between the two kings. Laurence was released, and he went to Glenalough. By the time he was 26, he become the abbot of the monastery. He desired to strengthen the bonds between Irish Catholicism and Rome, combining the best of the Gaelic and Frankish-European movements. He invited Augustinian canons from France to help reform Glenalough and wound up joining the Augustinian order himself.

In 1162, and the age of just 32, Laurence became bishop of Dublin. He was elected unanimously at the Synod of Clane. He continued his work of reform, repaired several church buildings, and promoted the use of Gregorian chant. He invited the Augustinians to the cathedral in order to assist in spiritual formation for the diocesan priests. He was also known for helping the poor, offering daily food and establishing orphanages in Dublin.

In 1166, Dublin was besieged by Anglo-Normans. King Diarmait Mac Murchada (Laurence’s brother-in-law) had been exiled, and he collected a group of Norman, Flemish, and Welsh men to help him regain his kingdom. Citizens of the city begged Laurence to save them and make peace. So he went out to speak to the attackers. While he was gone, a group of Normans breached the city walls, burning houses and killing innocent citizens. When he heard the noise, Laurence rushed back into the city and stopped the slaughter.

Ultimately King Diarmait was successful and restored as king. Laurence was remembered as a mediator and champion for peace. He served that role twice more when the city was besieged in subsequent attacks. In 1171, King Henry II of England arrived in Dublin and became Lord of Ireland. One of his goals in conquering Ireland was to bring the Irish Church under the rule of Canterbury and get in line with practices as observed in his other territories of England and France. Again, Laurence was a negotiator. He was trusted on all sides, from Gaels and Normans to Anglos and Norse. Laurence was able to get Henry to acknowledge Ua Conchobair's right to the kingship of Ireland and his lands. However, Lorcán had to cede Ua Conchobair's tribute to Henry. Some posit that Laurence’s skill and influence made Henry fear that the archbishop might become another St. Thomas Becket.

It was at St. Thomas Becket’s tomb in Canterbury Cathedral where Laurence was praying during negotiations when he was attacked, struck on the head with a club by a madman who wanted to make him a martyr. However, Laurence stood up and finished the Mass. Some suspected that King Henry was really behind the attack, but it was never proven.

In 1179 Laurence attended the Third Lateran Council in Rome. Upon his return to Ireland, he continued his reform work, dismissing priests for various abuses. He also lived austerely himself: he wore a hair shirt, never ate meat, and fasted every Friday on bread and water. Each Lent he returned to Glendalough to make a forty days' retreat in St. Kevin's Cave.

In 1180, he was tasked with taking one of Ua Conchobair's to King Henry as a hostage, much as he had been as a child. He planned to admonish the king for breaking his treaty and acting this way. But before he got to King Henry, he fell ill in Normandy. He died at the Abbey of St. Victor at Eu, Normandy on Nov. 14, 1180.

St. Laurence O'Toole’s feast day is Nov. 14. He is the patron saint of Dublin and of head injuries.

Just last month, on St. Laurence O'Toole’s feast day, Dublin once again had a designated Catholic cathedral, after more than 500 years. Dublin’s first cathedral, Christ Church Cathedral, was designated as such upon Laurence’s visit to Rome in 1179. However, in 1539, following King Henry VIII’s break with Rome, all Irish Catholic churches were handed over to the Church of Ireland (Anglican). In 1825, St. Mary’s Church was dedicated on St. Laurence’s feast day; it was tucked away in a north part of town, as Catholicism still couldn’t be openly practiced, officially. It was four more years before Catholic emancipation was granted in 1829. St. Mary’s became the de facto head church of the Catholics of Dublin. This year, to mark the church’s bicentennial, the bishop of Dublin received a papal decree, formally elevating to cathedral status.