- December 3, 2023
2024 Spring On-Air Appeal – May 6-10 – Call 1-877-711-8500!
2024 Spring On-Air Appeal – May 6-10 – Call 1-877-711-8500!
Thomas Becket was born around 1119 in London, England. In 1154 his patron Theobald, the Archbishop of Canterbury, ordained Thomas as his archdeacon. A few years later, Thomas was made Lord Chancellor of England by the young King Henry II, who quickly struck up a close friendship with his new advisor. The two were almost inseparable at work, at play, and at war, though the king’s sense of chastity was much less keen than that of his more pious chancellor. When Theobald died, Henry sought to make Thomas the new archbishop, despite the chancellor’s protests that it would end their friendship. In 1162 Thomas was ordained priest, then the next day consecrated Archbishop of Canterbury. Soon Thomas’s prediction came true, as the new Archbishop faithfully defended the rights of the Church against the power-hungry king. The conflict dragged on for years, until an angry outburst by Henry prompted four knights to conspire against Thomas, and on December 29th, in the year of Our Lord 1170, Thomas was murdered before the very altar of Canterbury Cathedral. The martyr was canonized almost immediately, and Henry himself did penance at his tomb.
AT Canterbury, in England, the birthday [into heaven] of St. Thomas, bishop and martyr, who, for the defence of justice and ecclesiastical immunities, was struck with the sword in his own basilica by a faction of impious men, and thus went to Christ.
At Jerusalem, holy David, king and prophet.
At Aries, the birthday of St. Trophimus, mentioned by St. Paul in his epistle to Timothy. Being consecrated bishop by that apostle, he was the first sent to preach the gospel of Christ in that city. From his preaching as from a fountain, according to the expression of pope St. Zosimus, all Gaul received the waters of salvation.
At Rome, the holy martyrs Callistus, Felix and Boniface.
In Africa, the holy martyrs Dominic, Victor, Primian, Lybosus, Saturninus, Crescentius, Secundus and Honoratus.
At Vienne, in France, St. Crescens, disciple of the blessed apostle Paul, and first bishop of that city.
At Constantinople, St. Marcellus, abbot.
In Normandy, St. Ebrulphus, abbot and confessor, in the time of king Childebert.
℣. And elsewhere many other holy martyrs, confessors, and holy virgins.
℟. Thanks be to God.
