Becket

Happy fifth day of Christmas! Today the Church celebrates the martyrdom of the splendid Saint Thomas Becket. Having the birth name “Thomas”, I take Becket and Aquinas as patrons.

Each year, I try to write something about the saint here.

Previous articles on Saint Thomas Becket:

2016: On Obedience and Confusion
(Ruminations on obedience as the greatest freedom, touching on both the saint and more recent history)

2015: On Pilgrimage
(Further thoughts on pilgrimage)

2014: A Happy Death
(Thoughts on the saint’s martyrdom and the grace of a happy death)

2012: Becket and Chaucer
(A meditation on pilgrimage)

2011: Saint Thomas Becket
(G.K. Chesterton on Becket’s martyrdom)

2010: Becket
(Becket, More, and Henry VIII (that jerk))

2009: Saint Thomas Becket
(Becket’s martrydom, an eyewitness account)

Back in 2013, I failed to post anything. That’s going to happen from time to time. More or less like now. This year, my brain being somewhat empty, I will instead encourage you to peruse the past articles and see if you can’t watch the magnificent film, Becket.

Here follows one of the film’s many memorable scenes.

O God, who gave the Martyr Saint Thomas Becket
the courage to give up his life for the sake of justice,
grant, through his intercession,
that, renouncing our life
for the sake of Christ in this world,
we may find it in heaven.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.

Amen.

Saint Thomas Becket, pray for us.