Greg Daly
St Laurence O’Toole Dublin’s Archbishop Diarmuid Martin has praised an Garda for recovering the stolen heart of Dublin’s patron saint, and expressed his delight that the relic has been recovered six years after its theft from the city’s Christ Church Cathedral.
The heart of St Laurence O’Toole, which has been venerated for almost 800 years, was stolen from the Church of Ireland cathedral in March 2012.
A long-running investigation by Garda detectives led to the recovery of the heart, which was undamaged, in Dublin’s Phoenix Park last week. A Garda spokesperson said the relic had been recovered following an “intelligence-led operation”, which is continuing.
“Archbishop Diarmuid Martin said he was delighted to hear the news that the relic of Saint Laurence O’Toole was found and he paid tribute to the work of the Gardaí in securing its safe return,” a diocesan spokesperson told The Irish Catholic.
“He said the charism of Saint Laurence O’Toole remains an inspiration to Christians of the city of Dublin today,” the spokesperson continued. “Archbishop Martin said Saint Laurence O’Toole stands out as a unique figure, even in our times, as one who in the midst of political turmoil was a figure who gave himself to helping the poor, to renewal of genuine prayerfulness and for peace in Europe.”
Reform
Born in Co. Kildare, St Laurence played a key role in the 12th-Century reform of the Irish Church and famously helped defending Dublin during the Anglo-Norman invasion.
He died in France in November 14, 1180 and was canonised in 1226. His heart was subsequently venerated in Christ Church, and though the cathedral has been in the possession of the Church of Ireland since the 16th Century, the relic has continued to be an object of pious devotion for Dublin’s Catholics.
The heart was returned to its historic home in a ceremony on April 26, with Assistant Garda Commissioner Pat Leahy presenting the relic to the Church of Ireland Archbishop of Dublin Michael Jackson during Choral Evensong.
Archbishop Jackson said the relic’s return was of huge significance to the the Irish capital, and a spokesman for the cathedral said a proper shrine to St Laurence would now be instituted in the church.