An Archbishop Who Defied a King: Thomas á Becket

In this Christmas week, the Church remembers a bishop who defied a king, Thomas á Becket (1118 - 1170), Archbishop of Canterbury. Some of you may recall the 1964 movie on the subject starring Peter O’Toole as King Henry II and Richard Burton as Archbishop Thomas á Becket.

Thomas studied both civil and canon law in England and Paris. He built a reputation for diligence and efficiency, and gained the attention of King Henry II of England, who made him chancellor of England in 1155. The king was not disappointed in his selection.

King Henry did not have the best of relationships with the Archbishop of Canterbury, so when he died, King Henry appointed his friend, Thomas, as Archbishop thinking that Thomas would bend to his will. Thomas was ordained a priest on 2 June 1162 at Canterbury, and on 3 June 1162 he was consecrated as Archbishop by Henry of Blois, the Bishop of Winchester and the other suffragan bishops of Canterbury.

Thomas took his priesthood very seriously and his position as Archbishop of Canterbury. He resigned his position as chancellor and made a serious commitment to Christ lead the life of an ascetic and doing penance. He sought independence for the Church and its clergy which brought him into conflict with King Henry. After a series of new laws passed regarding the trials for clergy, Thomas being accused and convicted of disloyalty to the crown and flight to France and eventual return, things came to a head in England when King Henry reportedly said, “Will no one rid me of this meddlesome priest?’ With that four of Henry’s knights went to Canterbury and murdered Thomas in the Cathedral on this day in 1170. Quickly, the people revered Thomas as a saint.

On 12 July 1174, King Henry humbled himself with public penance at Thomas’ tomb as well as at the church of St. Dunstan, which became one of the most popular pilgrimage sites in England.

Let us pray: O God, our strength and our salvation, who called your servant Thomas Becket to be a shepherd of your people and a defender of your Church: Keep your household from all evil and raise up among us faithful pastors and leaders who are wise in the ways of the Gospel; through Jesus Christ the shepherd of our souls, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

This week, please remember in your prayers the family of Roylene Lemons. She died the evening of Christmas Day. The funeral will be in Monroe, Louisiana on Friday, 30 December at 11:00 a.m. at Little Flower Catholic Church. At St. Augustine, we will offer the Eucharist for her and for Charles Lemons and his family on Sunday, the 1st of January at 9:00 a.m.

Your servant in Christ,

Fr. Chester J. Makowski+
St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church
Galveston, Texas 77550