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December 29, 2016December 29th Saint Thomas Becket
Born is London in 1118, Thomas Becket was named Archdeacon of Canterbury at the age of 36, and appointed as Lord Chancellor for King Henry II just a year later. A friendship developed between Thomas and the King, a friendship that led to both privilege and pain. In May of 1162, the Royal Council of Bishops and Noblemen, elected Thomas Archbishop of Canterbury. Before his consecration could take place, since Thomas was only a deacon, Pope Alexander III approved of his ordination as a priest.
Initially enjoying many of the comforts of his position, conflicts with the king began to arise over the rights of the royal government to appoint clergymen and weaken the Church’s connection to Rome. Refusing to recognize the declarations of the King, Becket was forced to leave the continent and take refuge in a Cistercian abbey in France. When the abbey was threatened by the King, Becket returned to England, still unwilling to bend to the royal demands.
On December 29, 1170, at the command of the King, four knights arrived at the Cathedral in Canterbury, ordering Becket to go to Winchester to give an accounting to the King. Refusing to do so, Becket continued preparing for Vespers. As Thomas fell to his knees following several blows to his head, the account of a witness records his last words: “For the name of Jesus and the protection of the Church, I am ready to embrace death.”
As we celebrate today’s feast of Saint Thomas Becket, bishop and martyr, we also remember and pray for today’s Christians around the world, who suffer and die for the name of Jesus and in defense of the Church.
