A number of liturgical and artistic events will be held in St. Mary’s Pro Cathedral in Dublin this Saturday (14th) to mark the feast day of the Principal Patron of the Archdiocese of Dublin, St. Lawence O’ Toole.
Mass in the Pro Cathedral will be celebrated by Archbishop Diarmuid Martin with music from Our Lady’s Choral Society (11am).
Later that afternoon (4.30pm) a unique cultural event will take place, brought to the Pro-Cathedral by City Arts which sees a collaboration of spiritual music and a technological display of imagery. Collision is a joint piece of work of composer Michael Berkeley and visual artist Kevin Laycock who have combined their respective musical and artistic talents in a three movement work of music which is played while images are simultaneously shown on a number of screens. Collision is designed for a public space to provide the public with a unique contemplative experience and this is a first for the Pro-Cathedral.
Both artists will be in attendance to introduce their work which will be opened with a short talk on St. Lawence O’ Toole, Man of Peace, by the Diocesan Vicar for Evangelisation and historian Fr. Ciaran O’ Carroll.
Also, as this week marks Armistice Day commemorations throughout the world, on display in the Pro Cathedral for the day will be the book of honour which contains the names of Dublin soldiers who died in World War One.
Saint Lawrence O’ Toole was the first Archbishop of Dublin. He led a contemplative life of prayer and spent much time travelling in Europe acting as a mediator. Laurence led the six Irish bishops who attended the Third Lateran Council in Rome in 1179. Pope Alexander III appointed him Papal Legate to Ireland with the responsibility of reforming and defending the Church in Ireland.
He died in the monastery at Eu, in Normandy, His tomb in Eu rapidly became a place of pilgrimage and many miracles were attributed to his intercession. It was only his death that prevented him from completing his work of reformation. He was canonized in 1225.
Members of the public are invited to take part in the day’s events.
