The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1893-02-04
SAINT AND HERO,

The Patriotic Prelate Who Aroused
a Spirit Of Hostility Against
the Anglo-Normans.
STRONGBOW AND HIS TROOPS
Would Have Failed Had the Irish
Needed the Advice of ST.
Lawrence OToolo.
! The historical section of the Gaelic
Society of New York deserves the graft
tuds OF the Irish race for the lectures
delivered and published under it's au-
spices on Irish subjects. The following
lecturs was recently delivered by Rev.
Edward B. Brady, c. s. P, ON St. Law
renee O'Toole, the patriotic Archbishop
Of Dublin at the time Of the Norman in
| vasion:
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN--The periods
of the introduction Of Christianity into
Ireland, Of the invasion of the Danes, of
the Norman Invasion, and on the in-
PRODUCTION of Professionalism, are all sali-
ent points in Irish history. Great ware,
troubles, and sorrows were connected
| with these periods, and darkness was on
the land of Erin. With each of these
events tho name Of a great ecclesiaatio 10
intimately associated. The name of st.
Patrick. Apostle of Ireland, and first
Bishop Of Armagh, is associated with the
conversion OF Ireland to Christianity;
the name OF Malachi, also Bishop of Ar
magh, is associated with the resurrection
Of Ireland from the ruin brought about
by the invasion OF the Danes; the name
of st. Lawrence OToole, Archbishop Of
Dublin, is intimately associated with the
Norman invasion OF Ireland; and the
name of Oliver Plunkett is closely con-
nectsd with the period that Witnessed
the introduction of Professionalism.
Tho subject OF my address this evening
is one Of these celebrated ecclesiastics;
and, after st. Patrick himself, it seems
to me. there is none who should awaken
SO much gratitude and such fond re-
membrance in the Irish heart as st. Law
renee O'Toole. His very name is sweet
sound in the Celtic ear. His intense de-.
votion to his native land awakens patri
otism in every Irish heart. st. Law
renee O'Toole occupies the foreground
of a great historical picture, which every
true artist loves to contemplate-a pic
ture with the lakes and mountains of
|Glendalough ia the background, with
the Norman knights and mail-clad war.
riors in tho foreground, and poor dis
tracted Erin at it's size. Such is the
vision that presents itself as we recall
the life of ST. Lawrence O'Toole. He
played mogt important part in one OF
the most momentous periods in the bis.
tory of the country, We need only fill
in the outlines Of this picture with some
touches of nstional and local coloring
and we have ST. Lawrence O'Toole as he
appeared to his countrymen in the latte,
part of the 18th century. The first pic.
ture of ST.. Lawrence OToole in Irish
history is characteristic of the times in
which he lived. When only boy Of ten
years Of age, he first appears before us or
the pages Of history; we find him to be
a hostage for his fathers fealty in the
hands of Diarmuid McMurrough, King
of L-inster. He was treated more like 6
prisoner or slave, at this tender age, thar
like what hostage in those days was
supposed to be; and his father in order
to relieve him from further suffering
placed him in the hands of the Church
and put him under the protection of the
Abbot of Glendalough, in the great sane.
tuary Of st. Kevin; and he adopted there
a monastic life. His progress in learning
and in virtue was 80 great, that at the
age of 25 he was elected to the high posi-.
tion OF Abbot Of tho famous monastic in
stitution Of Glendalough. He ruled
with such wisdom and success, that
when, q few years later, the See of Dub
lin became vacant, they could find none
more fit for the Metropolitan See, than
the Abbot of Glendalough. So, he was
nominated Archbishop of Dublin, in one
of the most trying periods of the history
of the capital. He was forced to leave
the seclusion of picturesque Glenda-
Tough, to battle with the world; for the
lot of an Archbishop was one Of suffering
and s.rrow The political and social
state Of Ireland was most dep1orable.
The authority of the Ard Righ, or High
King, was rarely needed; every petty
king was at liberty to make war on his
neighbors, there was no national unity,
no stability, no sense Of country Or com
mon cause; and it seemed as il the inter.
NAL dissensions Of tie country were
lenough to destroy its prospects without
any foreign invasion. I am not one 81
those who want 70 emphasize the darl
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