The Parish of Eu-sur-Bresle-et-Yères, Seine-Maritime, has invited the Irish and French Lieutenancies of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem to participate in the public commemoration of the 800th anniversary of the canonisation of St. Laurence O’Toole (Lorcán Ó Tuathail), patron saint of Dublin. This will take place in the French town of Eu, Seine-Maritime, on Sunday 11th May.

Background:

As archbishop, as peacemaker, and as patron saint of Dublin, St. Laurence O’Toole (d. 1180) is important to the mission of our Order and to the life of the Irish Lieutenancy. During his life, he was a promoter of peace in Ireland and a protector of pilgrims to the Holy Land. The cause of his canonisation was promoted by Walter de Coutances, archbishop of Rouen, while travelling to Jerusalem on the Third Crusade. Following his canonisation by Pope Honorius III in 1225, St. Laurence’s shrine at Eu was paid for by the Lusignan dynasty, who then ruled as kings of Jerusalem and Cyprus and counts of Eu.

St. Laurence’s burial in the crypt of the collegiate church at Eu, close to the church’s Chapelle du Saint-Sépulcre (Holy Sepulchre Chapel), resulted in him being is one of the very few medieval Trish saints whose relics survived the Reformation.

Details:

Holy Mass will be celebrated at 11am at the ancient Collégiale Notre-Dame-et-Saint­ Laurent-d’Eu, by His Grace Dermot Farrell, KC*HS, Archbishop of Dublin and Primate of Ireland, alongside H. G. Dominique Lebrun, Archbishop of Rouen, and H. E. Gerard Le Stang, Bishop of Amiens. Mass will be preceded by a procession of the Saint’s relics, with around a hundred pilgrims from Ireland in attendance. It will be followed by a lunch in the town square hosted by the parish, and by an ecumenical service of vespers at 5pm.

Cloaks and insignia will be worn.

Direct flights between Cork or Dublin and Paris-Beauvais are available on Saturday 10th, Sunday 11th, and Monday 12th. Currently, there are inexpensive flights from both Cork and Dublin to Paris Beauvais (which incidentally is the most direct route to Eu, Seine-Maritime). Members wishing to participate in May are asked to write on or before Wednesday 16 April to Dr. Jesse Harrington, KHS ( jesse.harrington@gmail.com ).

Jesse is the international authority on St. Laurence, who is coordinating with the town and parish at Eu. He will communicate numbers with the town hall and parish, provide further information on the progran1me and available hotel accommodation in the vicinity of the towns of Eu and Le Tréport, and coordinate means of transport with the town hall and parish.