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Anorak News | St Laurence O’Toole’s heart stolen from Dublin’s Christ Church Cathedral

St Laurence O’Toole’s heart stolen from Dublin’s Christ Church Cathedral

by | 3rd, March 2012

WHO stole St Laurence O’Toole’s heart? St Laurence is the patron saint of Dublin. His preserved heart has been stolen from Dublin’s Christ Church Cathedral, where it’s been kept in a wooden box behind iron bars. (If only all priests’ love organs were so out of reach.)

You need to be pretty sure of your spirit to steal a Saint’s heart. But, then again, sticking a human heart in a box is a little macabre.

A church spokeswoman says:

“They specifically targeted this, they wanted the heart of St Laurence O’Toole. It’s completely bizarre.”

The thief or thieves ignored the gold and candlesticks and went only for the dried organ.

The Rev Dermot Dunne, says of the 12th Century relic:

“It has no economic value but it is a priceless treasure that links our present foundation with its founding father, St Laurence O’Toole.”

Although fridge magnets aren’t free, Rev.

Maybe, the heart should be buried? Organs harvested from the dead are okay if they help others to live but just pickling and putting them on display is bizarre.

The BBC has potted history of the Saint:

St Laurence O’Toole was born Lorcan Ua Tuathail in Castledermot, Co Kildare, in 1128. He was appointed Archbishop of Dublin after the death of Archbishop Gregory in 1162. He died in November 1180 in Normandy, France, and was canonised in 1225 because of miracles which happened at his tomb. Each Lent he returned to Glendalough, in Co Wicklow, where he lived in St Kevin’s Cell, a sort of cave, for 40 days.

More body parts saved for nations here.



Posted: 3rd, March 2012 | In: Reviews Comment | TrackBack | Permalink