Saint Lawrence O’Toole

Born in Castledermot, Ireland around the year 1128, Saint Lawrence O’Toole was the youngest of four sons.  When he was ten years old, his father sent him to Dermod MacMurehad, King of Leinster, to serve as a hostage in his place.  He was not treated well while imprisoned until his father, with the help of the Bishop of Glendalough, was able to demand that he be released.   His time as a hostage in prison helped him make up his mind about becoming a priest.  Around the year 1140, he entered the monastic school of Glendalough where his faith in God and virtues further deepened.  When the bishop and abbot of the monastery died in 1150, Saint Lawrence O’Toole was chosen as the new abbot even though he was only twenty-five years old at that time.  He effected many religious reforms as part of his vision of strengthening the bond between the Irish Church and Rome.  During his first four months in the new position, a great famine ensued and his charity for the poor and hungry was indeed remarkable.

At the age of thirty-two, Saint Lawrence O’Toole was unanimously elected to become Archbishop of Dublin. He then started a policy on church building, which helped put up many parish churches.  In particular, he became instrumental in rebuilding the Christ Church Cathedral (or the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity).  He highlighted the use of Gregorian chants among their clergy and helped them in their spiritual growth and formation by inviting Augustinian monks to their Chapter.  As Archbishop, Saint Lawrence continued caring for and feeding the poor in their community and went on to build care centers for the orphans.  After his death in the year 1180, many miracles were claimed and attributed to his intercession which was why he was soon canonized, just after forty-five years.

Saint Lawrence O’Toole, pray for us!

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