St. Thomas Becket, Bishop and Martyr (1170 AD)
Full Name: St. Thomas Becket / St. Thomas of Canterbury
Period: 1118 – 1170 AD (Died: December 29, 1170 AD)
Feast Day: December 29
Place of Birth: London, England
Special Significance: Archbishop of Canterbury, Lord Chancellor of England, martyr for Church independence.
Early Life and High Royal Office
Born to a noble family, he served as Lord Chancellor and close companion to King Henry II, enjoying wealth and power.
Archbishopric and Spiritual Conversion
Appointed Archbishop of Canterbury in 1162 AD, Becket immediately renounced worldly luxury for penance and prayer.
He resisted King Henry's attempts to control Church rights, enduring 6 years of exile in France.
Martyrdom in the Cathedral
Returning to England, four knights incited by the king's angry words assassinated Becket inside Canterbury Cathedral on December 29, 1170 AD. He was canonized three years later.
Spiritual Lesson
Putting God's laws and Church truth above worldly favors or political powers is the lesson taught by St. Thomas Becket.