Saint Thomas Becket

Life story

Thomas Becket was born around 1119 or 1120 in London, into a merchant family. He studied in London and Paris, worked for Archbishop Theobald of Canterbury, and in 1155 was chosen by King Henry II as chancellor. For several years he was the king's close and effective collaborator.

In 1162 Henry II raised Thomas to the see of Canterbury, hoping to have a trusted ally overseeing the Church. Thomas, however, gave up the chancellorship and defended the Church's rights. The conflict broke out over the Constitutions of Clarendon in 1164, above all on the trial of clergy accused of crimes. Thomas left England and lived in exile in France for about six years, while Pope Alexander III and the French king both supported him and tried to reconcile the parties.

A fragile agreement was reached, and Thomas returned to Canterbury at the beginning of December 1170. The tension had not ended. On the afternoon of 29 December 1170 four of the king's knights entered Canterbury Cathedral and killed him. According to the accounts that survive, they acted in response to the king's angry complaints, though it is not clear whether he ordered the deed.

The murder shocked Europe. Henry II did public penance, and Pope Alexander III canonised Thomas in 1173. His shrine at Canterbury became one of the great pilgrimage destinations of England until it was destroyed in 1538 under Henry VIII.

Works and witness

• Chancellor to King Henry II from 1155
• Archbishop of Canterbury from 1162
• Opposed the Constitutions of Clarendon in 1164
• Lived in exile in France for about six years
• Killed on 29 December 1170 and canonised in 1173

Saints from the same country

Saint Thomas More, Saint Carlo Acutis, Saint Bede the Venerable, Saint Boniface

References

• Martyrologium Romanum
• William FitzStephen, Life of Thomas Becket
• Dicastery for the Causes of Saints – biographical profile

Written by Anawim from documented history. Some details about ancient saints rest on tradition and are marked as such.