St. Lawrence O’Toole
(Lorcan ua Tuathail; also spelled Laurence O’Toole)
Confessor, born about 1128, in the present County Kildare; died 14
November, 1180, at Eu in Normandy; canonized in 1225 by Honorius III.
His father was chief of Hy Murray, and his mother one of the Clan
O’Byrne. At the age of ten he was taken as a hostage by Dermot
McMurrogh, King of Leinster. In 1140 the boy obtained permission to
enter the monastic school of Glendalough; in that valley-sanctuary he
studied for thirteen years, conspicuous for his piety and learning. So
great was his reputation in the eyes of the community that on the death
of Abbot Dunlaing, early in 1154, he was unanimously called to preside
over the Abbey of St. Kevin. Dermot, King of Leinster, married Mor,
sister of St. Lawrence, and, though his character has been painted in
dark colours by the native annalists, he was a great friend to the
Church. He founded an Austin nunnery, of the reform of Aroaise, in
Dublin, with two dependent cells at Kilculliheen (County Kilkenny) and
at Aghade (County Carlow), in 1151. He also founded an abbey for
Cistercian monks at Baltinglass, and an abbey for Austin canons at
Ferns.
St. Lawrence, through humility, declined the See of Glendalough in
1160, but on the death of Gregory, Archbishop of Dublin (8 October,
1161), he was chosen to the vacant see, and was consecrated in Christ
Church cathedral by Gilla Isu (Gelasius), Primate of Armagh, early in
the following year. This appointment of a native-born Irishman and his
consecration by the successor of St. Patrick marks the passing of
Scandinavian supremacy in the Irish capital, and the emancipation from
canonical obedience to Canterbury which had obtained under the Danish
bishops of Dublin. St. Lawrence soon set himself to effect numerous
reforms, commencing by converting the secular canons of Christ Church
cathedral into Aroasian canons (1163). Three years later he subscribed
to the foundation charter of All Hallows priory, Dublin (founded by King
Dermot), for the same order of Austin canons. Not content with the
strictest observance of rules, he wore a hair shirt underneath his
episcopal dress, and practised the greatest austerity, retiring for an
annual retreat of forty days to St. Kevin’s cave, near Glendalough.
At the second siege of Dublin (1170) St. Lawrence was active in
ministration, and he showed his political foresight by paying due
deference to Henry II of England, during that monarch’s stay in Dublin.
In April, 1178, he entertained the papal legate, Cardinal Vivian, who
presided at the Synod of Dublin. He successfully negotiated the Treaty
of Windsor, and secured good terms for Roderic, King of Connacht. He
attended the Lateran Council in 1179, and returned as legate for
Ireland. The holy prelate was not long in Dublin till he deemed it
necessary again to visit King Henry II (impelled by a burning charity in
the cause of King Roderic), and he crossed to England in September of
that year. After three weeks of detention at Abingdon Abbey, St.
Lawrence followed the English King to Normandy. Taken ill at the
Augustinian Abbey of Eu, he was tended by Abbot Osbert and the canons of
St. Victor; before he breathed his last he had the consolation of
learning that King Henry had acceded to his request.
W. H. Grattan-Flood (Catholic Encyclopedia)
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