MEMORIAL OF SAINT THOMAS BECKET, BISHOP AND MARTYR – FEAST DAY ~ DECEMBER 29TH: On this special feast day, we celebrate the Memorial of Saint Thomas Becket, Bishop and Martyr.

SAINT THOMAS BECKET, BISHOP AND MARTYR: St. Thomas Becket (1118-1170), also known as St. Thomas of Canterbury, was Archbishop of Canterbury, from 1162 until his murder in 1170. St. Thomas was born in London, England around the year 1117. He was the son of pious parents, and his mother converted to Christianity through the example and teachings of his father, who was a prosperous London merchant. From his early youth, He was educated in religion and holiness. After his childhood, Thomas was then taught at a monastery and later at a school in London. After the death of both his parents, St. Thomas decided to finish his schooling by studying canon law. He was successful in his studies and was made secretary to one of the courts of London. After working for a while at law, St. Thomas decided to dedicate the rest of his life to God, and began to work towards ordination. Being a well-educated youth, he was appointed as clerk to the Archbishop of Canterbury, and was later made Archdeacon. In this role he met and became close friends with King Henry II of England. The King promoted Becket to the office of Lord Chancellor to the king in 1154 and, when the Archbishop of Canterbury, Theobald died, King Henry sought to elect St. Thomas to the position of Archbishop of Canterbury in 1162, the most powerful ecclesiastical position in all of England. This suggestion was accepted by a synod. St. Thomas warned the king that it might cause friction and conflict of interests, but accepted the position.

In all that he did, he diligently applied himself and became well known as a holy and honest worker. St. Thomas served as bishop by seeking to help the people and develop his own holiness. He practiced many penances and was very generous to the poor with both his time and his money. His work came under the scrutiny of his friend King Henry II. King Henry II supposed that having his close friend in such a position would enable him to enforce his will on the Church. However, in his new role as priest and archbishop, St. Thomas Becket experienced a religious conversion and transferred his ultimate allegiance to the Church. As King Henry’s reign continued, he began more and more to exercise his hand in Church affairs. This caused many disagreements and when he refused to tolerate the existence of certain abuses, the king felt himself offended and finally, matters came to an open rupture between the Archbishop and the King. This led to frequent conflicts over the rights of the Church between the King of England and the Archbishop of Canterbury, resulting in St. Thomas Becket’s exile. After much persecution, to which he was subject, St. Thomas secretly left the kingdom and went to Pope Alexander III who was then in France and who received him kindly.

Later St. Thomas was able to return to England, but he went with the presentiment that he was going to his death. He was received with the greatest demonstrations of joy by his people, but the end was near. He again became involved in a dispute with the king and the king, in a fit of passion, let slip some unguarded words that, however they may have been intended, were constructed so as to place weapons in the hands of the Saint’s assassins. Some of the king’s knights saw this as treason, and as a result St. Thomas was murdered in his church, at the foot of the altar. He was murdered by four knights, the king’s lackeys, who split his skull with their swords as he knelt before the altar offering Mass at the Canterbury Cathedral on December 29, 1170. Within three years after his death, he was canonized as a Martyr by Pope Alexander III. He’s Patron Saint of Clergy; secular clergy; Exeter College Oxford, England; Portsmouth, England. St. Thomas Becket’s feast day is December 29th.

QUOTES OF SAINT THOMAS BECKET:
☆”All Saints give testimony to the truth that without real effort, no one ever wins the crown.”
☆”Those who tread among serpents, and along a tortuous path, must use the cunning of the serpent.”
☆”We know that no trust can be placed on princes and that cursed is the man who placeth his reliance on an arm of flesh.”
☆”Whosoever wisely examines the works of God will speedily discover what is next to be done.”
☆”The more I loved the king, the more I opposed his injustice until his brow fell lowering upon me. He heaped calumny after calumny on my head, and I chose to be driven out rather than to subscribe.”

PRAYER: God, You enabled St. Thomas, Your Martyr, to sacrifice his life courageously in the cause of justice. Through his intercession, help us to give up our lives for Christ in this world so that we might find eternal life in Heaven. Amen🙏