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Saint Thomas Becket
Optional memorial December 29Bishop and martyr

Saint Thomas Becket

Archbishop of Canterbury murdered in his cathedral for defending the freedom of the Church against the king.

Thomas Becket with King Henry II, English manuscript miniature (Peter of Langtoft's Chronicle), 14th century · British Library (public domain)

Who was Saint Thomas Becket?

Thomas Becket (1118–1170) was Chancellor of England and a close friend of King Henry II, who made him Archbishop of Canterbury. To the king's surprise, Thomas became a devout pastor and defended the rights of the Church. After years of conflict and exile, four knights murdered him in Canterbury Cathedral on December 29, 1170. He was canonized just three years later.

Feast day and traditions

His shrine made Canterbury one of the great pilgrim destinations of Europe, the setting of Chaucer's Canterbury Tales. His story is retold in T. S. Eliot's Murder in the Cathedral and the 1964 film Becket.

Prayer

St. Thomas Becket, give me courage to put God first, whatever it costs. Amen.

Novena

To pray a novena that ends on the eve of the feast, begin on December 20 and finish on December 28.

Mass readings

Read the Mass readings for December 29 from the US bishops (USCCB).

Open readings →

Celebrate as a family

Pray for your parish priests and send them a Christmas card.

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