2014
SHARE Amazing #ViralVideo of Lauren Hill with inoperable brain tumor Scoring twice in Final Game
Archbishop Anthony Fisher Installed at Cathedral in #Australia
10,000 fans watched the game between Mount St. Joseph and Hiram College. Lauren Hill the 19-year-old freshman forward with an inoperable brain tumor scored the first basket of the game 17 seconds. The schools moved the game forward so Hill would be well enough to play since doctors she had only a few months to live. She wore sunglasses and headphones due to headaches and nausea caused by the medicine. “I never thought I would play on a college court, put my feet on the floor and feel the vibration of the crowd,” Lauren told ESPN after the game. “This game has been amazing and everything that happened today was amazing. This is a really good day.”Arena employees volunteered their time to work the game. After Hill scored her first shot, both teams gave her a standing ovation. Hill, who is right handed, made her shots with her left hand since the tumor has affected her coordination. The crowd started yelling, “We love Lauren! We love Lauren!” So, with 30 seconds left to play, she scored again and her team won with a 66-55 victory.
Archbishop Anthony Fisher Installed at Cathedral in #Australia
Joy & Warmth Amid the Pomp & Spectacle of the Installation of the Most Rev. Anthony Fisher OP
Catholic Communications, Sydney Archdiocese,
13 Nov 2014
13 Nov 2014
Prior to the Installation Mass, Archbishop Anthony travelled to North Sydney to pray beside the tomb of St Mary of the Cross MacKillop
The Cathedral was packed to capacity with dignitaries, political figures, religious, priests, seminarians, members of the Archdiocese of Sydney's many agencies and organisations, school children along with hundreds of parishioners as well as the general public.
Still others crowded into the Crypt to watch the Liturgical Reception and Mass of Installation on specially-erected wide screens and streamed live via xt3.com
The historic ceremony took place under the soaring vaulted ceilings and breathtaking beauty of St Mary's Cathedral with music by the internationally-acclaimed St Mary's Cathedral Choir and Scholars of St Mary's and the St Mary's brass ensemble and organists Oliver Brett, Michael Butterfield and Dominic Mowawad, all under the director of the Cathedral's Director of Music Thomas Wilson.
More than 40 of Australia's serving and retired Bishops and Archbishops were there along with Sydney's Eastern Orthodox clergy and leaders of other faiths and denominations including leaders of the Muslim and Jewish communities.
For his Installation Mass, the Archbishop chose the Mass of Our Lady Help of Christians, patron saint of Australia.
Archbishop Anthony paused on arrival to acknowledge his family including his father Colin Fisher.
In the meantime special guests for the Installation Mass arrived including His Excellency, General David Hurley Governor of NSW; former Prime Minister John Howard; NSW Premier Mike Baird, Senator Concetta Fierravanti-Well representing the Prime Minister (returning to Australia for the G20); Senator Jacinta Collins representing the Federal Opposition and NSW Shadow Treasurer, Michael Daley.
And of course the new Archbishop's parents, siblings and other members of his family and friends.
By now it was simply standing room only but no-one seemed to mind.
The screens inside the Cathedral showed the arrival of the new Archbishop in College Street and being greeted by the Catholic School of Performing Arts choir with a song of welcome.
Then upon entering the Cathedral he was greeted by the Auxiliary Bishops and the Dean of the Cathedral Fr Paul Hilder.
Archbishop Fisher prayed before vesting for the Mass in St Mary's Cathedral
The three-hour ceremony had begun. At times grand and traditional and at other times personal and informal, the tone was set by the Archbishop himself.
Pausing to acknowledge those he knew, he made his way down the central nave. There was a special moment when he embraced his parents, Colin and Gloria Fisher. Moving past the sanctuary and still warmly thanking those who came, he made his way to the Blessed Sacrament Chapel behind the main altar where he vested for the Rite of Installation.
He wore new vestments but the ring, pectoral cross and crozier were those that had belonged to the first Metropolitan Archbishop of Sydney, John Bede Polding of the Benedictine order who served Sydney between 1842 and 1877. The ninth Metropolitan Archbishop is a Dominican who carries a great love and understanding for history and tradition as well as the issues and challenges facing the Church today.
After greeting the rows of seminarians he made his way to the sanctuary, before greeting the gathering of well over 2500 people.
The Apostolic Nuncio read out in Latin the Papal Bull appointing the Most Reverend Anthony Fisher OP DD Metropolitan Archbishop of Sydney. Fortunately for most the Chancellor of the Archdiocese, Monsignor John Usher read out an English translation. The Nuncio escorted the new Archbishop to the cathedra or Chair of Office of the Archbishop of Sydney.
Now it was official.
Various people from agencies of the Archdiocese, civic and community leaders, young families came forward to personally welcome the Archbishop. Relaxed and engaging the new Archbishop was getting off to a good start.
During the homily Archbishop Anthony spoke of the past, the present and his vision for the future.
Representatives from schools and agencies across the Archdiocese came forward to personally welcome Sydney's new Archbishop
"Tonight I promise to devote myself to supporting marriage and family at a time when this crucial institution is much misunderstood and under such pressure. I am the first Archbishop lucky enough to have both parents present at his Installation, and I thank God for the love and support of Colin and Gloria these 55-years-past," he said. "It was their domestic church that first I heard the Gospel of life and love. With all my heart I thank them, my siblings and the rest of my family and friends for loving me so well."
Prior to the installation Archbishop Anthony said he was quite daunted and at times intimidated by his new ministry, its demands and expectations.
"As a young cleric in Sydney and Melbourne in Cardinal Clancy's time, I never guessed I would one day stand on the shoulders of those great men, all the way back to Polding," he said paid tribute to the recently-deceased Cardinal Clancy as well as to Cardinal George Pell with whom he worked closely for seven years as Auxiliary Bishop for the Archdiocese.
Before his appointment to Rome in March this year, he said Cardinal Pell achieved "so much in education, chaplaincies and seminaries, in centres for formation, retreat and pilgrimage, and through the Sydney World Youth Day, with which I was privileged to be associated."
Before his appointment to Rome in March this year, he said Cardinal Pell achieved "so much in education, chaplaincies and seminaries, in centres for formation, retreat and pilgrimage, and through the Sydney World Youth Day, with which I was privileged to be associated."
To the amusement of all those present, Archbishop Anthony who is the first Dominican to become Archbishop of Sydney, related the story of St Albert the Great, the 13th Century Dominican theologian and scholar who became the Catholic Bishop of Regensburg, Germany.
"My order was founded eight centuries ago for "preaching and the salvation of souls," he said, explaining that the early friars were "rather ambivalent. About their own becoming bishops and on the episcopal appointment of St Albert the Great, the (then) Master of the Dominicans, Humbert of Romans wrote:"Ï would rather you were dead than a bishop....However troublesome you find the brethren, don't imagine things will be better once you have secular clergy and powers to deal with...Better to lie in a coffin than sit in a bishop's chair!"
Archbishop Anthony with two youngsters who came forward to welcome him
"The responsibility of a pastor is a grave one in any age but in our time has been aggravated by the shameful deeds of some clergy and some serious failures of some leaders to respond. I have personally found it harrowing as a bishop to listen to survivors tell me their stories, to hear how abandoned they felt and how they continue to suffer," he said. "To all survivors of abuse and all affected I say: the Church is - I am - profoundly sorry for what happened. Young people should be cherished and protected. The Church can do better and I am committed to giving a lead in this area."
Looking ahead he speculated on what the Archdiocese might look like when - God willing - he retires in 2035.
"My hope is for a Church in which the Gospel is preached with joy, the wisdom of our tradition mined with fidelity, the sacraments celebrated with dignity and welcome, and the seminaries, convents and youth groups teaming with new life; a Church in which parishes, chaplaincies and educational institutions are true centres of the new evangelisation, our laity theologically literate and spiritually well-formed, our outreach to the needy effective and growing, and God glorified above all."
Calling on the young people of Sydney, for whom he says he has special affection, Archbishop Anthony urged them to open their hearts to the adventure of the Gospel.
"I am depending on you to lend me all your energy and idealism. Never buy lies that nothing is true, all is relative, your ideals are illusory, your good works in vain. With God on your side, my young friends, who can be against you," he said.
Archbishop Anthony embraces his mother Gloria Fisher when receiving the gifts of bread and wine to be used
in the Eucharist
in the Eucharist
Born and bred in Sydney he said he had lived and worked in the South West of Sydney, the Lower North Shore, the Upper North, the Inner city and the East and most recently in the West of "this great city."
''What a joy to return in this new way," he said.
"Pope Francis says pastors should smell of their sheep. This is not a comment upon clerical hygiene but it is an insistence that we are from and for our flocks. Pray therefore, that I will always be a shepherd for Sydney after the heart of Jesus Christ."
For Archbishop's complete homily go tohttp://sydneycatholic.org/people/archbishop/homilies/
The Installation Mass can be watched on demand at www.xt3.com/installation.
Photos by Giovanni Portelli and Steve Turner
Latest News from #Vatican Information Service and #PopeFrancis
 |
14-11-2014 - Year XXII - Num. 201
|
Summary |
| - Audience with the president of Peru: promote full development and the protection of the environment |
| - Francis to accountants: the dignity of the person must prevail over bureaucracy |
| - Programme for the Pope's apostolic trip to Sri Lanka and the Philippines |
| - Third World Congress of Movements Guided by Evangelii gaudium |
| - Audiences |
| Audience with the president of Peru: promote full development and the protection of the environment Vatican City, 14 November 2014 (VIS) – The Holy Father Francis today received in audience, in the Vatican Apostolic Palace, the president of the Republic of Peru, Ollanta Moises Humala Tasso, who subsequently met with Archbishop Dominique Mamberti, secretary for Relations with States, in the absence of Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin. During the cordial discussions, mention was made of the good relations between the Holy See and the Republic of Peru, with particular emphasis on the special role of Christianity in the formation of the identity of the country, as well as the contribution the Catholic Church has given and continues to guarantee in favour of the human, social and cultural progress of the population. Finally, there was an exchange of views on the political and social situation in the Region, with attention to the efforts made to promote full development and the protection of the environment. |
| Francis to accountants: the dignity of the person must prevail over bureaucracy Vatican City, 14 November 2014 (VIS) – “From your professional observatory, you are well aware of the dramatic situation faced by many people who are precariously employed or have lost their jobs; of the many families who pay the consequences; of the many young people in search of a first occupation and dignified work. They are many, especially immigrants, who are compelled to work illegally, and lack the most basic legal and economic guarantees”, said the Pope this morning in his address to the seven thousand participants at the World Congress of Accountants, held in Rome from 10 to 13 November. In this economic context, there is a “strong temptation to defend one's own interests without worrying about the common good, without paying too much attention to justice and legality. However, we are all, especially those who exercise a profession associated with the good functioning of the economic life of a country, required to play a positive and constructive role in carrying out our work on a daily basis, aware that behind every piece of paper there is a story, and there are faces. In this task … the Christian professional draws strength every day from prayer and the Word of God to carry out his or her own duties well, with skill and wisdom; and then, to go further than this, which means reaching towards those in difficulty; exercising that creativity that allows solutions to be found in situations of impasse; to make the reason of human dignity prevail over the rigidity of bureaucracy”. Francis affirmed that the economy and finance are “dimensions of human activity and may be opportunities for encounters, dialogue, cooperation, the recognition of rights and the rendering of services, of dignity affirmed in work. But it is therefore necessary always to place man and his dignity at the centre, opposing those dynamics that tend to homogenise everything and place money at the summit. When money becomes the aim and reason for every activity and initiative, this leads to the prevalence of a utilitarian perspective and the untrammelled logic of profit that does not respect people, with the consequent widespread decline in the values of solidarity and respect for the human person. Those who work in various roles in economics and finance are required to make decisions that favour the social and economic well-being of humanity as a whole, offering everyone the opportunity to realise their own development”. “You, in your profession”, he said, addressing the accountants, “work alongside companies, but also families and individuals, to offer economic and financial advice. I encourage you always to work responsibly, favouring relationships of loyalty, justice and, if possible, fraternity, courageously facing, above all, the problems faced by the weakest and poorest. It is not enough to give concrete answers to economic and material questions; it is necessary to promote and cultivate the ethics of the economy, finance and work; it is necessary to keep alive the value of solidarity as a moral attitude, an expression of attention to others and all their legitimate needs. If we wish to hand our environmental, economic, cultural and social patrimony to future generations in a better condition than that in which we have inherited it, we must assume the responsibility of working for a globalisation of solidarity. … And the social doctrine of the Church teaches us that the principle of solidarity works in harmony with that of subsidiarity. Thanks to the effect of these two principles, processes are placed at the services of humanity and enable the growth of justice, without which there cannot be true and lasting peace”. |
| Programme for the Pope's apostolic trip to Sri Lanka and the Philippines Vatican City, 14 November 2014 (VIS) – Today the Holy See Press Office published the programme for Pope Francis' upcoming trip to Sri Lanka and the Philippines, scheduled for12 to 19 January 2015. The Holy Father will depart from Rome's Fiumicino airport on Monday, 12 January at 7 p.m.and will arrive in Colombo, the capital of Sri Lanka, on Tuesday 13 at 9 a.m. Following the welcome ceremony he will meet with the country's bishops at the archbishop's residence, after which he will pay a courtesy visit to the president of the Republic. The day will conclude with an interreligious meeting at the Bandaranaike Memorial. On Wednesday, 14 January, during a Mass to be celebrated at 8.30 a.m. at the Galle Face Green, he will canonise Blessed Joseph Vaz and will then transfer by helicopter to the Shrine of Our Lady of the Rosary at Madhu. From there he will proceed by helicopter to Colombo. Thursday will begin with a visit to the chapel of Our Lady of Lanka in Bolawalana, after which the Pope will leave Sri Lanka and depart by air, at 9 a.m., for Manila, the capital of the Philippines, where he will be officially received at 5.45 p.m. On Friday, 16 January, Francis will pay a courtesy visit to the president of the Philippines in the presidential palace, followed by an address to the authorities and the diplomatic corps. At11.15 a.m. in the cathedral of the Immaculate Conception he will celebrate Mass with bishops, priests and consecrated persons. His final activity on Thursday will be an encounter with families in the Arena Mall of Asia. On Saturday, 17 January, the Pontiff will transfer by air to Tacloban International Airport where he will celebrate Mass, followed by and lunch with survivors of Typhoon Yolanda. In the afternoon he will bless the Pope Francis Centre for the Poor and will meet priests, consecrated persons, seminarians and families of the typhoon survivors in the cathedral of Palo. He will then return to Manila. On Sunday, 18 January, he will meet with the religious leaders of the Philippines at the St. Thomas University of Manila and later with young people at the university sports field. The day will conclude with a Mass celebrated in Rizal Park. On Monday, 19 January, the Pope will conclude his trip, leaving from Manila at 10 a.m. The aircraft carrying the Holy Father is expected to land in Rome's Ciampino airport at 5.40 p.m. |
| Third World Congress of Movements Guided by Evangelii gaudium Vatican City, 14 November 2014 (VIS) – This morning, in the Holy See Press Office, a conference was held to present the Third World Congress of Ecclesial Movements and new communities. Promoted and organised by the Pontifical Council for the Laity on the theme “The Joy of the Gospel: a missionary joy”, the Congress will be held from 20 to 22 Novemberin the Maria Mater Ecclesiae Pontifical College, Rome. The speakers in the conference were Cardinal Stanislaw Rylko, president of the Pontifical Council for the Laity; Bishop Josef Clemens, secretary of the same dicastery; Maria Voce, president of the Focolare Movement; and Jean-Luc Moens, president of Fidesco, young volunteers in evangelisation and development projects, and member of the Pontifical Council “Cor Unum”. Cardinal Rylko remarked that the Pontifical Magisterium has perceived in the phenomenon of movements “a current of grace, a gift and a timely response from the Holy Spirit to the serious challenges that today's world poses to the mission of the Church”. He recalled that, for St. John Paul II, movements constituted a “reason for hope for the Church and for mankind”, and were seen by Pope Benedict XVI as “new incursions of the Holy Spirit in the life of the Church, powerful ways of living faith, a healthy provocation, of which the Church is always in need, and 'creative minorities', decisive for the future of humanity”. He added that Pope Francis, in this respect, is in perfect harmony with his predecessors. The Congress will be attended by approximately three hundred laypersons – founders, moderators and general delegates – representing around a hundred movements and new communities, with a broad international dimension. They will be joined by a large number of pastors, bishops and priests. The prelate explained that the novelty of this Congress derives from the fact that it originated from the great meeting with the Pope that took place at Pentecost in 2013 in the context of the Year of Faith, and added that the theme of the congress clearly expresses that “our work is guided by the Apostolic Exhortation 'Evangelii gaudium'. This is the great challenge that Pope Francis presents to us. … He wants an 'outbound' Church, that reaches out to the geographical and existential peripheries of our world, a Church that is particularly attentive and close to all the poor, suffering and excluded, the bitter product of the 'throwaway culture' that dominates nowadays. … And it is precisely this that is the great and fundamental challenge that the movements wish to accept during this third world Congress'”. |
| Audiences Vatican City, 14 November 2014 (VIS) – The Holy Father received in audience: - Cardinal George Pell, prefect of the Secretariat for the Economy; - Franco Anelli, rector of the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart. |
#PopeFrancis 'Pray to the Lord, pray to Jesus, pray to Our Lady, to help us in this journey of truth and love.'
We cannot ignore the little plants that grow". Pope Francis said that everything depends on our having the right attitude towards children. “What is my attitude?” he asked, “is it the attitude of brother, father, mother, sister, that helps them to grow or is it a detached [distant], "they grow up, I have my own life ...?". "We all have a responsibility to give our very best and the very best that we have is our faith: give it to them, but give it by example! Words are pointless….in today’s world [obsessed with] images, where everyone has these cell phones words are pointless ... Example! Example! What should I give them?”. At this point of his homily,
Pope Francis began asking the children why they were at Mass, giving rise to a spontaneous conversation. It took some time before one child took courage and admitted: ‘To see you…” to which Pope Francis replied "I also like to see you all". He then began questioning the children as to who had already received First Holy Communion, Confirmation, while pointing out to all of them that it is the Sacrament of Baptism that "opens the door to Christian life" and immediately after which “the journey of a lifetime begins”. The same journey described by the passage from the letter of St. John read out in the First Reading: "Walking in truth and love". Later in that journey, he said, other Sacraments arrive such as marriage. But Pope Francis repeated, "it is important to know how to live this journey, to know how to live it like Jesus": "In these Sacraments – let me ask you a question - is prayer a sacrament? ... Out loud now! ... No! That’s right it is not! Prayer is not a sacrament, but we must pray. Do you know that you need to pray? Good, good ... Yes! Pray to the Lord, pray to Jesus, pray to Our Lady, to help us in this journey of truth and love. Do you understand? You have come to see me, who said that? You. But also to see Jesus. Right? Or do we just leave Jesus out? (the children respond, 'No!'). Now, Jesus is on the altar. And we will see Him, all of us! Jesus! Right now we have to ask Jesus to teach us to walk in truth and love. Will we all say it together? (all together) 'Walking in truth and love’".
Today's Mass Readings : Friday November 14, 2014
Friday of the Thirty-second Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 495
Reading 12 JN 4-9
[Chosen Lady:]
I rejoiced greatly to find some of your children walking in the truth
just as we were commanded by the Father.
But now, Lady, I ask you,
not as though I were writing a new commandment
but the one we have had from the beginning:
let us love one another.
For this is love, that we walk according to his commandments;
this is the commandment, as you heard from the beginning,
in which you should walk.
Many deceivers have gone out into the world,
those who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh;
such is the deceitful one and the antichrist.
Look to yourselves that you do not lose what we worked for
but may receive a full recompense.
Anyone who is so “progressive”
as not to remain in the teaching of the Christ does not have God;
whoever remains in the teaching has the Father and the Son.
I rejoiced greatly to find some of your children walking in the truth
just as we were commanded by the Father.
But now, Lady, I ask you,
not as though I were writing a new commandment
but the one we have had from the beginning:
let us love one another.
For this is love, that we walk according to his commandments;
this is the commandment, as you heard from the beginning,
in which you should walk.
Many deceivers have gone out into the world,
those who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh;
such is the deceitful one and the antichrist.
Look to yourselves that you do not lose what we worked for
but may receive a full recompense.
Anyone who is so “progressive”
as not to remain in the teaching of the Christ does not have God;
whoever remains in the teaching has the Father and the Son.
Responsorial Psalm PS 119:1, 2, 10, 11, 17, 18
R. (1b) Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!
Blessed are they whose way is blameless,
who walk in the law of the LORD.
R. Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!
Blessed are they who observe his decrees,
who seek him with all their heart.
R. Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!
With all my heart I seek you;
let me not stray from your commands.
R. Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!
Within my heart I treasure your promise,
that I may not sin against you.
R. Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!
Be good to your servant, that I may live
and keep your words.
R. Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!
Open my eyes, that I may consider
the wonders of your law.
R. Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!
Blessed are they whose way is blameless,
who walk in the law of the LORD.
R. Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!
Blessed are they who observe his decrees,
who seek him with all their heart.
R. Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!
With all my heart I seek you;
let me not stray from your commands.
R. Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!
Within my heart I treasure your promise,
that I may not sin against you.
R. Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!
Be good to your servant, that I may live
and keep your words.
R. Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!
Open my eyes, that I may consider
the wonders of your law.
R. Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!
Gospel LK 17:26-37
Jesus said to his disciples:
“As it was in the days of Noah,
so it will be in the days of the Son of Man;
they were eating and drinking,
marrying and giving in marriage up to the day
that Noah entered the ark,
and the flood came and destroyed them all.
Similarly, as it was in the days of Lot:
they were eating, drinking, buying,
selling, planting, building;
on the day when Lot left Sodom,
fire and brimstone rained from the sky to destroy them all.
So it will be on the day the Son of Man is revealed.
On that day, someone who is on the housetop
and whose belongings are in the house
must not go down to get them,
and likewise one in the field
must not return to what was left behind.
Remember the wife of Lot.
Whoever seeks to preserve his life will lose it,
but whoever loses it will save it.
I tell you, on that night there will be two people in one bed;
one will be taken, the other left.
And there will be two women grinding meal together;
one will be taken, the other left.”
They said to him in reply, “Where, Lord?”
He said to them, “Where the body is,
there also the vultures will gather.”
“As it was in the days of Noah,
so it will be in the days of the Son of Man;
they were eating and drinking,
marrying and giving in marriage up to the day
that Noah entered the ark,
and the flood came and destroyed them all.
Similarly, as it was in the days of Lot:
they were eating, drinking, buying,
selling, planting, building;
on the day when Lot left Sodom,
fire and brimstone rained from the sky to destroy them all.
So it will be on the day the Son of Man is revealed.
On that day, someone who is on the housetop
and whose belongings are in the house
must not go down to get them,
and likewise one in the field
must not return to what was left behind.
Remember the wife of Lot.
Whoever seeks to preserve his life will lose it,
but whoever loses it will save it.
I tell you, on that night there will be two people in one bed;
one will be taken, the other left.
And there will be two women grinding meal together;
one will be taken, the other left.”
They said to him in reply, “Where, Lord?”
He said to them, “Where the body is,
there also the vultures will gather.”
2014
Saint November 14 : St. Lawrence O'Toole
St. Lawrence O'Toole
CONFESSOR
Feast: November 14
Information:
Feast Day:
November 14
Born:
1128, Castledermot, Kildare, Ireland
Died:
November 14, 1180, Normandy, France
Canonized:
1225 by Pope Honorius III
Major Shrine:
St Lawrence's church in Chorley, England
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.
