St. Thomas Becket, Martyrdom, & the War of Two Cities (29 December)

About this sermon

During the Octave of Christmas, the Church celebrates not only the birth of Our Lord, but also the spiritual warfare between the City of God and the City of Man, as taught by St. Augustine in The City of God. In this sermon, we reflect on: The meaning of the Christmas Octave Why the Church commemorates martyrs immediately after Christmas The witness of St. Stephen, St. John the Evangelist, the Holy Innocents, and St. Thomas Becket The dramatic and brutal martyrdom of St. Thomas of Canterbury The eternal conflict between Christ’s Kingdom and the world’s power Why Christ warns us: “If the world hated Me, it will hate you also.” St. Thomas Becket’s martyrdom—carried out inside Canterbury Cathedral by knights of a Catholic king—reveals a sobering truth: the City of Man will always oppose the City of God, even when clothed in religious language. This sermon calls us to remember that Christmas is not sentimental, but victorious, purchased at the cost of blood, fidelity, and sacrifice. “For the name of Jesus and the protection of the Church, I am ready to embrace death.” — St. Thomas Becket May this reflection strengthen your faith during Christmastide and remind us that the Kingdom Christ established is not of this world. ✠ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen. 00:00 – Opening Prayer & Christmas Octave Explained 01:00 – St. Augustine and the Two Cities 02:40 – Why the Octave of Christmas Includes Martyrs 02:55 – St. Stephen: The First Martyr 03:27 – St. John the Evangelist and Attempted Martyrdom 04:33 – The Holy Innocents and Herod’s Kingdom 05:44 – Introduction to St. Thomas Becket 07:02 – Authority of the Archbishop of Canterbury 08:22 – Becket and King Henry II’s Friendship 09:29 – Becket Named Archbishop Against His Will 10:55 – Conflict Between Church and Crown 11:42 – Exile to France and Continued Persecution 13:17 – Illegal Coronation and Excommunications 13:50 – Return to England and Renewed Conflict 14:39 – “Will No One Rid Me of This Meddlesome Priest?” 15:18 – Knights Enter Canterbury Cathedral 16:22 – Confrontation at Vespers 17:28 – Becket’s Final Words and Witness 18:54 – The Martyrdom of St. Thomas Becket 22:25 – Aftermath, Miracles, and Canonization 23:07 – King Henry II’s Public Penance 24:01 – Destruction Under Henry VIII 24:34 – Christmas, Martyrdom, and the City of God 25:19 – Final Exhortation & Closing Prayer For more please visit http://www.traditionalsermons.com/ & remember to say 3 Hail Marys for the priest 🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴 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/ 🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴 🙏🏻PLEASE HELP OUR CHANNEL GROW 🙏🏻 ▶️ 1. Become a Channel Patron: https://www.patreon.com/SensusFidelium ▶️ 2. Visit the website https://www.sensusfidelium.us for Gueranger, Saint of the Day, Apologetics, Meditation by the Saints, Scripture Study and more. ▶️ 3. BitChute --- https://www.bitchute.com/channel/Sensus_Fidelium/ ▶️ 4. Paypal, Bitcoin, Anedot, Stripe, Square & PO Box donations - https://sensusfidelium.us/donate-support/ ▶️ 5. YouTube: Click Subscribe, then Click "Notification Bell" = 🔔 Please "Like" our videos so that Youtube shares it to others by clicking the "Like" thumbs-up under the video = 👍🏻 ▶️ 6. Please share this video 📲, and help others find Christ inside the Catholic Church! Please share this video on Facebook and Twitter using the share button. ▶️ 7. Follow on Social Media: 🔴 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SensusFidelium/ 🔴 Sensus Fidelium Twitter: https://https://twitter.com/Sensus_Fidelium 🔴 YouTube: Click Subscribe, then Click "Notification Bell" = 🔔 #ChristmasOctave #CityOfGod #StThomasBecket #CatholicSermon #CatholicMartyrs #Christmastide #ChurchVsState #TraditionalCatholic #CatholicHistory #Martyrdom

Topics

• Suffering & Trials