Saint Thomas a Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury (29 December): Butler's Lives of the Saints

About this sermon

Dec 29 — St. Thomas a Beckett (Thomas Becket), Archbishop of Canterbury and Martyr (A.D. 1170). This episode features a full, continuous reading from Father Alban Butler’s The Lives of the Saints on St. Thomas Becket, tracing his life from London origins and early formation, through his rise as Archdeacon of Canterbury and Lord Chancellor of England, to his consecration as Archbishop of Canterbury (1162)—and the escalating conflict over the rights and liberties of the Church. You’ll hear the story of Becket’s strict interior life and pastoral discipline, his stand against abuses described as “customs,” his exile, and his return to England expecting martyrdom. The reading culminates in the dramatic account of his murder in Canterbury Cathedral on December 29, 1170, followed by the aftermath: grief throughout Christendom, penance, reported miracles, and his canonization. Listen for the spiritual conclusion on true zeal: prudent, disinterested, and intrepid—free from pride, vanity, resentment, or passion. 📌 Source text: The Lives of the Saints (Alban Butler) — Dec 29: St. Thomas a Beckett 🙏 If this helped your prayer or study, like, subscribe, and share with someone who loves Church history and the saints. Chapters / Timestamps below ⬇️ 3) Chapters / Timestamps (YouTube-ready) 00:00 Opening — Dec 29: St. Thomas a Beckett 00:24 Birth in London (1117) and family background 00:30 Gilbert Becket’s pilgrimage & captivity; conversion story 01:27 Marriage; pious upbringing; early devotion 02:14 Studies; early formation; discipline and counsel 03:23 Court work; noble household; hunting and the “awakening” accident 04:08 Return to serious life; integrity and truthfulness 04:38 Connection to Archbishop Theobald; entry into service 05:13 Orders, benefices, canon law studies; rise in Church office 06:05 Turmoil of Stephen/Matilda; counsel securing Henry’s succession 07:04 Chancellor under Henry II; diplomacy; education of Prince Henry 08:16 Theobald dies; Henry’s plan to make Becket Archbishop 09:29 Election and consecration (1162); pallium from Pope Alexander III 10:23 Becket’s rule of life: prayer, hair shirt, alms, humility 12:06 Temperance and mortification; household discipline; pastoral rigor 13:29 Early harmony with the king; seeds of conflict 13:52 Dispute over vacant sees & revenues; Church rights 14:48 Woodstock taxation dispute; rising resentment 16:36 The Philip of Broi case; clerics before lay tribunals 18:50 The “customs” oath; Westminster resistance and Clarendon (1164) 20:15 Northampton judgment (Oct 8, 1164); confiscation; pressure to resign 21:05 Flight into exile; France; Pontigny; suffering of supporters 24:39 Royal retaliation; confiscations; banishments 26:00 Revelation of martyrdom; departure from Pontigny 27:15 Excommunications and negotiations; legates and diplomacy 28:13 Attempted mediation; isolation; misunderstood firmness 29:20 Continued negotiations; Becket’s prayers and constancy 30:03 Young King crowned by York; new provocations 31:26 Return to England after seven years; “perhaps to die there” 32:44 Interdicts and censures; landing at Sandwich; acclaim 33:34 Henry’s furious outburst; four knights conspire 34:12 Last sermon (Christmas); expectation of death 34:45 Knights arrive at Canterbury; threats and demands 35:50 Vespers; “the church is not a citadel” 36:03 “Here I am… no traitor”; readiness to die 36:35 Final words; prayer; protection of clergy and people 37:21 Martyrdom at the cathedral; brutality of the attack 38:14 Aftermath; mourning; reported miracles 39:22 Henry II’s penance; restoration; 200 soldiers for crusade 40:16 Canonization (1173); healing of Philip Augustus (1179) 41:08 Henry’s barefoot pilgrimage; discipline at the tomb 42:28 Fate of the murderers; penance and deaths 43:42 Shrine’s riches; later destruction under Henry VIII (1538) 45:26 Closing exhortation: true zeal (prudent, pure, intrepid) https://sensusfidelium.com/the-lives-of-the-fathers-martyrs-and-other-principal-saints/december/st-thomas-m-archbishop-of-canterbury/ Get Butler's Lives of the Saints here: https://loretopublications.idevaffiliate.com/idevaffiliate.php?id=102&url=1 🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴 Support Catholic Businesses here - https://sensusfidelium.com/catholic-businesses/ Sensus Fidelium Press - https://sensusfideliumpress.com/ Sensus Fidelium Apps - https://sensusfidelium.tv/ Support Sensus Fidelium - https://sensusfidelium.com/donate-support/ 🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴 #StThomasBecket #ThomasBecket #Saints #LivesOfTheSaints #AlbanButler #Catholic #CatholicSaints #ChurchHistory #Canterbury #ArchbishopOfCanterbury #Martyr #HenryII #MedievalHistory #CatholicTradition #FeastDay #December29 #Hagiography #CatholicPodcast #CatholicYouTube #Prayer