Laurentian Society
Encyclopedia
The Laurentian Society is a society of Trinity College, Dublin
, named after Saint Laurence O’Toole (Lorcán Ua Tuathail
in Irish), and concerned with relevant issues from a Catholic perspective. It was the Catholic society of Trinity College, and it existed with no interruptions between the academic years 1952-3 and 2001-2. Back then, the society used to hold talks and was engaged in Charitable activities. In September 2011 the Society was revived, being granted provisional recognition by the Trinity College Central Societies Committee.
This society was named after Saint Laurence O’Toole (Lorcán Ua Tuathail in gaelic), a bishop of Dublin and an abbot of Glendalough. He was born in Ireland in 1128, and died in Normandy, the 14th November 1180; he was canonized in 1225 by Pope Honorius III.
“The Laurentian Society was founded in 1953 as a social society for the 200 odd Roman Catholics attending Trinity.” The reason for this small number of Catholics attending Trinity had a long data. Some centuries ago the Penal Laws (Ireland)
prevented Catholics from being educated in Ireland, but even when they were abolished, Trinity College Dublin kept its prohibition for Catholics from studying at this University. Later, once Trinity College, Dublin allowed Roman Catholics to enter College, the Catholic Church required Catholics to have a special dispensation before being allowed to go to Trinity College, as this University was seen as a danger for their faith, a decision made by Archbishop John Charles McQuaid
that generated much controversy. Even at 1969, “Irish Catholic students wishing to attend University in Dublin [were] directed to the National University, or UCD [ University College Dublin
], as it is better known.”
a. to contribute to the cultural and social enrichment of the diverse college communities.
b. to provide a forum for the exposition and discussion of historical and contemporary issues pertaining to a Catholic culture, from a Catholic perspective.
c. to offer to educate interested members of the campus community on aspects of Catholicism.
, by saying that “[i]ts rooms in 5 Trinity College are a fine example of what can be done by a group of enthusiastic students and supporters. The rooms themselves have been furnished by contributions and are indeed modern and most comfortable.”
The Laurentian Society was the object of many news items in Trinity News, such as the its account of some meetings of the Laurentian; some of its charitable works, and its relation with “the ban” (the prohibition of Catholics to enter Trinity College).
The society was involved in many activities, for instance, holding talks in different issues, such as that of Sir Ivole Kirkpatrick in his address on “Europe: Retrospect and Prospect,” the Minister for External Affiars, Mr. Cosgrave, and the French Ambassador, who “spoke of the necessity of a Christian bass and of free agreement to European unity,” and of Senator James Crosbie, who “said that Europeans could do invaluable service in helping under-developed countries.” It was also one of the societies involved in organizing the Human Need Week, formerly Famine Relief Week, in 1970; and it organized a concert for the patients of the St. John of God Hospital, a mental home in Stillorgan.
As an example of the activities of the Society, Trinity News
states that on Friday 15 February, 1963,
“[t]he Laurentian Society celebrated its tenth anniversary with a public meeting [...] Those who packed the GMB, were rewarded by three excellent speeches on the subject of “The Christian in Society.” Professor J. M. Cameron spoke cautiously of the distorted values of western civilisation, and of the individual citizen’s moral duty to refuse to participate in an unjust war, especially under modern conditions. Mr. Norman St. John-Stevas, a barrister, succeeded in making this grave choice seem less clear-cut and proceeded to belie his Conservative allegiance by giving an extremely liberal view of the relationship between morality and the Law. He pursued the theme that it was not the Law’s function to impose any moral system, and concluded that even acts which might jeopardise the Common Good should if possible not be prohibited by law. Both speakers prefaced their remarks with references to the Oecumenical Movement, welcoming the movement towards genuine renewal and reform among practising Christians.
“Dr. David Thornley, Lecturer in Political Science gave a brilliant and occasionally outrageous survey of the state of modern Irish society. He pointed justly to the lack of concern shown both by the present Government and by the Church for social justice, with pagan England giving this country, so proudly Christian, such great cause for shame. He ended with a caII for more graduates to embrace politics as a vocation. Dr. Donal O’Sullivan, President of the society, chaired the meeting benignly, and briefly brought to a close a memorable evening.”
Among the guests of the Society there was Frank Duff, the founder of the Legion of Mary.
The Laurentian Society, together with those of the Irish society, and "An Cumann Gaelach", provided most of the members of the Gaelic games on campus.
The Laurentian Society has also co-operated with many other societies in the realization of different events. For example, in November 2, 2011, together with the Philosophycal Society's Master Class Series, it invited the American speaker Ryan Bomberger, who gave a talk about how abortion affects the black minority in the United States.
During the academic year 2010-11, a group of undergraduate and postgraduate students tried to revive the Laurentian society. The first meeting with the Central Societies Committee was unsuccessful, however the second meeting in September 2011 led to the Laurentian Society being granted provisional recognition as a cultural society, in time for Freshers' Week 2011.
Trinity College, Dublin
Trinity College, Dublin , formally known as the College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity of Queen Elizabeth near Dublin, was founded in 1592 by letters patent from Queen Elizabeth I as the "mother of a university", Extracts from Letters Patent of Elizabeth I, 1592: "...we...found and...
, named after Saint Laurence O’Toole (Lorcán Ua Tuathail
Lorcán Ua Tuathail
Lorcán Ua Tuathail, also known as St Laurence O'Toole, was born at Castledermot, Kildare, Ireland, in 1128, and died at Eu, Normandy, France, on 14 November 1180; he was canonized in 1225 by Pope Honorius III.-Early life:...
in Irish), and concerned with relevant issues from a Catholic perspective. It was the Catholic society of Trinity College, and it existed with no interruptions between the academic years 1952-3 and 2001-2. Back then, the society used to hold talks and was engaged in Charitable activities. In September 2011 the Society was revived, being granted provisional recognition by the Trinity College Central Societies Committee.
History
The Laurentian was a society of Trinity College, Dublin, created during the academic year 1952-3. Trinity News articles differ in the exact year in which it was founded, since one number says that it was created in 1952, whereas other says that it was created in 1953. The fact that the very society celebrated its tenth anniversary in 1963 makes the latter date seem more probable.This society was named after Saint Laurence O’Toole (Lorcán Ua Tuathail in gaelic), a bishop of Dublin and an abbot of Glendalough. He was born in Ireland in 1128, and died in Normandy, the 14th November 1180; he was canonized in 1225 by Pope Honorius III.
“The Laurentian Society was founded in 1953 as a social society for the 200 odd Roman Catholics attending Trinity.” The reason for this small number of Catholics attending Trinity had a long data. Some centuries ago the Penal Laws (Ireland)
Penal Laws (Ireland)
The term Penal Laws in Ireland were a series of laws imposed under English and later British rule that sought to discriminate against Roman Catholics and Protestant dissenters in favour of members of the established Church of Ireland....
prevented Catholics from being educated in Ireland, but even when they were abolished, Trinity College Dublin kept its prohibition for Catholics from studying at this University. Later, once Trinity College, Dublin allowed Roman Catholics to enter College, the Catholic Church required Catholics to have a special dispensation before being allowed to go to Trinity College, as this University was seen as a danger for their faith, a decision made by Archbishop John Charles McQuaid
John Charles McQuaid
John Charles McQuaid, C.S.Sp. was the Catholic Archbishop of Dublin and Primate of Ireland between December 1940 and February 1972.- Early life 1895-1914:...
that generated much controversy. Even at 1969, “Irish Catholic students wishing to attend University in Dublin [were] directed to the National University, or UCD [ University College Dublin
University College Dublin
University College Dublin ) - formally known as University College Dublin - National University of Ireland, Dublin is the Republic of Ireland's largest, and Ireland's second largest, university, with over 1,300 faculty and 17,000 students...
], as it is better known.”
Objectives of the society
Originally the object of the Society was “to provide social facilities for undergraduates (elegible for ordinary membership) and also graduates and members of the staff (elegible for associate membership) who are members of the Roman Catholic Church.” It is also said that its “ultimate aim” was to get a chaplain for college, but this society continued existing for a few decades after a Catholic chaplain was appointed in Trinity. Subsequently the object of the society was modified. Thus, in 1977-8, the society would be described as one “concerned with contemporary social and religious issues from a christian perspective.” Currently the objectives of the society are the following:a. to contribute to the cultural and social enrichment of the diverse college communities.
b. to provide a forum for the exposition and discussion of historical and contemporary issues pertaining to a Catholic culture, from a Catholic perspective.
c. to offer to educate interested members of the campus community on aspects of Catholicism.
Some activities of the society
The existence of this society is praised in the first number of Trinity NewsTrinity News
Trinity News is the student newspaper of Trinity College, and the oldest student newspaper in Ireland. It is an independent newspaper which reports on the news and views of the students and staff of Dublin University...
, by saying that “[i]ts rooms in 5 Trinity College are a fine example of what can be done by a group of enthusiastic students and supporters. The rooms themselves have been furnished by contributions and are indeed modern and most comfortable.”
The Laurentian Society was the object of many news items in Trinity News, such as the its account of some meetings of the Laurentian; some of its charitable works, and its relation with “the ban” (the prohibition of Catholics to enter Trinity College).
The society was involved in many activities, for instance, holding talks in different issues, such as that of Sir Ivole Kirkpatrick in his address on “Europe: Retrospect and Prospect,” the Minister for External Affiars, Mr. Cosgrave, and the French Ambassador, who “spoke of the necessity of a Christian bass and of free agreement to European unity,” and of Senator James Crosbie, who “said that Europeans could do invaluable service in helping under-developed countries.” It was also one of the societies involved in organizing the Human Need Week, formerly Famine Relief Week, in 1970; and it organized a concert for the patients of the St. John of God Hospital, a mental home in Stillorgan.
As an example of the activities of the Society, Trinity News
Trinity News
Trinity News is the student newspaper of Trinity College, and the oldest student newspaper in Ireland. It is an independent newspaper which reports on the news and views of the students and staff of Dublin University...
states that on Friday 15 February, 1963,
“[t]he Laurentian Society celebrated its tenth anniversary with a public meeting [...] Those who packed the GMB, were rewarded by three excellent speeches on the subject of “The Christian in Society.” Professor J. M. Cameron spoke cautiously of the distorted values of western civilisation, and of the individual citizen’s moral duty to refuse to participate in an unjust war, especially under modern conditions. Mr. Norman St. John-Stevas, a barrister, succeeded in making this grave choice seem less clear-cut and proceeded to belie his Conservative allegiance by giving an extremely liberal view of the relationship between morality and the Law. He pursued the theme that it was not the Law’s function to impose any moral system, and concluded that even acts which might jeopardise the Common Good should if possible not be prohibited by law. Both speakers prefaced their remarks with references to the Oecumenical Movement, welcoming the movement towards genuine renewal and reform among practising Christians.
“Dr. David Thornley, Lecturer in Political Science gave a brilliant and occasionally outrageous survey of the state of modern Irish society. He pointed justly to the lack of concern shown both by the present Government and by the Church for social justice, with pagan England giving this country, so proudly Christian, such great cause for shame. He ended with a caII for more graduates to embrace politics as a vocation. Dr. Donal O’Sullivan, President of the society, chaired the meeting benignly, and briefly brought to a close a memorable evening.”
Among the guests of the Society there was Frank Duff, the founder of the Legion of Mary.
Relations with other societies
In the 1970's, the Saint Vincent de Paul Society (Currently VDP Society) had no rooms in College, so it used the rooms that the Laurentian had in House 4. The Laurentian society was not very active at the time, so it had to be made more active so as to justify the holding of the rooms.The Laurentian Society, together with those of the Irish society, and "An Cumann Gaelach", provided most of the members of the Gaelic games on campus.
The Laurentian Society has also co-operated with many other societies in the realization of different events. For example, in November 2, 2011, together with the Philosophycal Society's Master Class Series, it invited the American speaker Ryan Bomberger, who gave a talk about how abortion affects the black minority in the United States.
End and Revival of the society
The Laurentian Society existed until the year 2001-2, which is the last year in which it appears in the Dublin University Calendar.During the academic year 2010-11, a group of undergraduate and postgraduate students tried to revive the Laurentian society. The first meeting with the Central Societies Committee was unsuccessful, however the second meeting in September 2011 led to the Laurentian Society being granted provisional recognition as a cultural society, in time for Freshers' Week 2011.