December 29
Saint Thomas Becket
Archbishop, Martyr
(1119 – 1170)
“I am ready to die for my Lord, that in my blood, the Church may obtain liberty and peace.”
Saint Thomas Becket
Saint’s Life Story
His Youth
Thomas was born in London, England, on December 21, 1119 to Gilbert, sheriff of London, and Mathilda. At the age of 10, Thomas was sent as a student to study at Merton Priory in Surrey and then later attended a grammar school in London. Around the age of 20, Thomas spent about a year at the University of Paris studying law. After his father died, Thomas was left with no estate or money to live on. So, Thomas joined the household of Archbishop Theobald of Canterbury and was sent to Rome on several missions as his representative. In 1144, Thomas went to Bologna and Auxerre to study canon law.
Deacon, Priest, and Chancellor Archbishop of Canterbury
In 1554, Thomas was ordained deacon. Then, he became archdeacon of Canterbury when Archbishop Theobald nominated him. When he convinced Blessed Pope Eugene III to recognize Henry’s claim to the throne as Henry II, Thomas became a favorite of Henry of Anjou. In 1155, Thomas was appointed chancellor of England becoming a the most powerful man in England next to King Henry II. Although Thomas objected several times after Archbishop Theobald died in 1161, Thomas was nominated by King Henry II and was ordained a priest the day before he was consecrated as Archbishop of Canterbury in 1162.
Archbishop of Canterbury
After Thomas became Archbishop, he changed completely, putting aside his lavish lifestyle and soon clashed with the King over clerical and Church rights. In 1164, Thomas defended the Church by refusing to accept the Constitutions of Claredon, which denied the clerics the rights to be tried by ecclesiastical courts and to appeal to Rome. King Henry responded with a condemnation of Thomas forcing Thomas to flee to France for protection under King Louis VII. This exile lasted for 6 years from 1164 to 1170.
Thomas appealed to Pope Alexander III and spent 2 years in the Cistercian abbey at Pontigny. Then, Thomas moved to the Benedictine abbey of St. Colombe, in Sens, in response to a threat from King Henry II that he would expel all Cistercians from England if Thomas remained with them. In 1170, King Louis negotiated a settlement. King Henry and Thomas met in Normandy, France and he returned to England in November of that same year.
His Martyrdom
The conflict between Thomas and King Henry II headed up quickly as Thomas refused to lift the excommunication penalty to the Archbishop of York and other religious who had participated in the coronation of Henry’s son unless they swore allegiance to the pope. King Henry reacted angerly and in a fit of rage, he stated aloud that he wished his was rid of this troublesome archbishop. Then four knights, William de Tracy, Reginald Fitz-Urse, Hugh de Morville, and Richard le Breton, travelled to Canterbury and the evening of December 29, 1170 murdered Thomas and a companion in a side chapel of the cathedral. Thomas declared at his death, “Willingly I die for the name of Jesus and in defense of the Church.”
Pope Alexander III canonized Thomas on February 21, 1173 and in the following year on July 24, 1174, King Henry performed penance before Thomas’ tomb. In art, Thomas is depicted as an archbishop bearing a crossier or an inverted sword.
There was a universal outcry against this murder. Miracles were soon reported followed by pilgrims coming to Thomas’ shrine. Although his tomb became one of the most popular sites for pilgrims, in 1538, the shrine was destroyed under King Henry VIII.
Born: December 21, 1119 in London, England
Died: December 29, 1170 in Canterbury, England
Beatified: By Pope Alexander III
Canonized: February 21, 1173 by Pope Alexander III
Feast Day: December 29
Patron Saint: Secular Clergy (priests and deacons who serve pastorally in parishes)
Source:
- CatholicSaints.Info » Saint Thomas a Becket
- Dictionary of Saints: Delaney, John J.
- Our Sunday Visitor’s Encyclopedia of Saints: Bunson, Matthew, Bunson, Margaret, Bunson, Stephen
- Saint Thomas A Becket – Saint for a Minute: Saints & Blesseds
- Thomas Becket – Wikipedia
Reflection
Saint Thomas Becket’s early career was marked by success in the secular world where he was a clerk and later became a chancellor under King Henry II. Despite his secular achievements, his appointment as Archbishop of Canterbury in 1162 marked a dramatic shift. King Henry II revolved around the “Constitutions of Clarendon,” a set of legislative procedures aimed at limiting ecclesiastical power and ensuring royal authority over the Church. However, Saint Thomas Becket vehemently opposed these measures, arguing that they undermined the Church’s authority standing firm in his sincere beliefs about the sanctity and autonomy of the Church. His life story challenges us to consider the value of personal integrity and conviction in the face of external pressures.
Will you fight for religious freedom and the protection of spiritual values against temporal power as Saint Thomas Becket did? No matter who is King or President, we all answer to a “higher boss” Jesus Christ, Our Lord and our Savior.
Prayers
Saint Thomas Becket,
Martyr and Archbishop of Canterbury,
You endured great suffering for the sake of justice and the Church, remaining steadfast in your faith despite immense pressure.
Intercede for us, we pray, that we may find the courage to stand firm in our principles, even when faced with adversity.
Help us to seek the truth with integrity and dedication and to uphold the values of justice and righteousness.
Grant us your strength to face our trials with grace and to trust in God’s plan, even when the path is difficult.
May your example inspire us to live our faith boldly, and to work towards reconciliation and harmony in our lives and communities.
Saint Thomas Becket, pray for us. Amen.
Saint Links
Aleteia – The holy, horrible history of St. Thomas Becket
Anastpaul – Saint of the Day – 29 December – St Thomas a Becket (1118-1170) Martyr, Archbishop of Canterbury
Angelus – Saint of the day: Thomas Becket
Catholic Exchange – St. Thomas Becket, Archbishop and Martyr
Catholic Fire – St. Thomas Becket, bishop and martyr
Catholic Ireland – Dec 29 – St Thomas Becket (1118-70)
Catholic News Agency – St. Thomas Becket Feast Day: Dec 29
CatholicSaints.Info – Saint of the Day – Thomas Becket (of Canterbury) by Katherine I Rabenstein
Editions Magnificant – Saint Thomas Becket Archbishop of Canterbury, Martyr (1117-1170)
Franciscan Media – Saint Thomas Becket
Independent Catholic News – St Thomas Becket – Reflection by Cardinal Vincent Nichols
Loyola Press – Saint Thomas Becket Feast Day December 29
My Catholic Life – Saint Thomas Becket, Bishop and Martyr
New Advent – Thurston, H. (1912). St. Thomas Becket. in The Catholic Encyclopedia
Newman Ministry – Saint Thomas Becket
Rev Alban Butler’s Lives Of The Saints Complete Edition – St Thomas Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury, Martyr
Saints Alive – St. Thomas Becket (A.D.1118-1170)
Saint Mary’s Press – Saint Thomas Becket (1118-1170)
uCatholic – Saint Thomas Becket
Video Link
St Thomas Becket – YouTube Video (Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network – USA)