Dec. 29, 2011 Thursday: St. Thomas Becket
St. Thomas Becket
Thomas Becket was born in 1118, in London, England. After his parents died, he accepted a position in the household of the archbishop of Canterbury. He began studying for the priesthood. He soon became a great favorite of King Henry II himself. People said that the king and Thomas had only one heart and one mind—they were such close friends.
When Thomas was thirty-six, King Henry made him his chancellor. As chancellor of England, Thomas had a large household and lived in splendor. When the archbishop of Canterbury died, Henry wanted the pope to give Thomas this position. It would require that Thomas be ordained a priest. But Thomas told him plainly that he did not want to be the archbishop of Canterbury. He realized that being in that position would put him in direct conflict with Henry II. Thomas knew that he would have to defend the Church against Henry, and that would mean trouble. “Your affection for me would turn into hatred,” he warned Henry. The king paid no attention and Thomas was made a priest and a bishop in 1162.
He immediately began to change his life. He lived more austerely and devoted much more time to prayer. At first, things went along as well as ever. All too soon, however, the king began to demand money, which Thomas felt he could not rightly take from the Church. The king grew more and more angry with his former friend. Finally, he began to treat Thomas harshly. For a while, Thomas was tempted to give in a bit. Then he began to realize just how much Henry hoped to control the Church. Thomas was very sorry that he had even thought of giving in to the king. He did penance for his weakness and ever after held firm.
One day, the king was very angry. “Will no one rid me of this archbishop?” Some of his knights took him seriously. They went off to murder the archbishop. They attacked him in his own cathedral. He died, saying, “For the name of Jesus and in defense of the Church, I am willing to die.” It was December 29, 1170. The entire Christian world was horrified at such a crime. Pope Alexander III held the king personally responsible for the murder. A year later, Henry II performed public penance. Miracles began to happen at Thomas’ tomb. He was proclaimed a saint by the same pope in 1173.
St. Thomas Becket teaches us that we must put our faith and loyalty to Christ ahead of our personal friendships. If a friend expects us to do something we know is displeasing to God, we must choose what we know to be the right thing. Hopefully, our courage and good example will help our friends grow closer to God as well.
Thomas Becket was born in 1118, in London, England. After his parents died, he accepted a position in the household of the archbishop of Canterbury. He began studying for the priesthood. He soon became a great favorite of King Henry II himself. People said that the king and Thomas had only one heart and one mind—they were such close friends.
When Thomas was thirty-six, King Henry made him his chancellor. As chancellor of England, Thomas had a large household and lived in splendor. When the archbishop of Canterbury died, Henry wanted the pope to give Thomas this position. It would require that Thomas be ordained a priest. But Thomas told him plainly that he did not want to be the archbishop of Canterbury. He realized that being in that position would put him in direct conflict with Henry II. Thomas knew that he would have to defend the Church against Henry, and that would mean trouble. “Your affection for me would turn into hatred,” he warned Henry. The king paid no attention and Thomas was made a priest and a bishop in 1162.
He immediately began to change his life. He lived more austerely and devoted much more time to prayer. At first, things went along as well as ever. All too soon, however, the king began to demand money, which Thomas felt he could not rightly take from the Church. The king grew more and more angry with his former friend. Finally, he began to treat Thomas harshly. For a while, Thomas was tempted to give in a bit. Then he began to realize just how much Henry hoped to control the Church. Thomas was very sorry that he had even thought of giving in to the king. He did penance for his weakness and ever after held firm.
One day, the king was very angry. “Will no one rid me of this archbishop?” Some of his knights took him seriously. They went off to murder the archbishop. They attacked him in his own cathedral. He died, saying, “For the name of Jesus and in defense of the Church, I am willing to die.” It was December 29, 1170. The entire Christian world was horrified at such a crime. Pope Alexander III held the king personally responsible for the murder. A year later, Henry II performed public penance. Miracles began to happen at Thomas’ tomb. He was proclaimed a saint by the same pope in 1173.
St. Thomas Becket teaches us that we must put our faith and loyalty to Christ ahead of our personal friendships. If a friend expects us to do something we know is displeasing to God, we must choose what we know to be the right thing. Hopefully, our courage and good example will help our friends grow closer to God as well.
