On December 29 we continue the celebration of the Octave (Eight days) of Christmas. The Church instructs us concerning the implications of the Nativity of the Lord in the selection of these feasts. In the Incarnation, Jesus became like Him that we might become like Him. The feast of Stephen, John the Evangelist, the Holy Innocents, have all taught us something about becoming more like Jesus.
Today the Church commemorates St. Thomas Becket. A man, who like Christ, died for the Church. In 1162 he was chosen as bishop of Canterbury. He was assassinated on December 29, 1170. So evident was this martyred bishop’s holiness that he was canonized just three years after his death by Pope Alexander III.
Thomas was a good friend of King Henry II, and it was the King who nominated Thomas as archbishop of Canterbury. But archbishop Thomas was a man of integrity and he served God first—this did not please the King. In a fit of rage over Bishop Thomas’ opposition of the kings plans to infringe upon the freedom of the Church, the King shouted, “who will rid me of this turbulent priest?” Four of his knights took these words literally, and killed the archbishop in his own cathedral.
Saint Thomas imitated Our Lord so closely in his love for the Church.
Christ loved the Church and He gave Himself for her. For the freedom of Mother Church, Becket sacrificed everything, opposing the wolves which sought to invade the fold of Our Lord.
He said to the hired killers: “I am ready to die for God. I am ready to die for the defense of justice. I am ready to die for the freedom of the Church. Would only that my lifeblood might purchase Her peace and freedom”.
Saint Thomas Becket is such a relevant Saint for the Church today, for he died for the freedom of the Church. Should the freedom of Mother Church be attacked, we have to be at our station. Should the freedom to preach and to administer/receive the Sacraments be attacked, we have to be at our post. Should the freedom of Christian education, the freedom of religious orders, and the freedom of any jurisdiction of the Church be attacked, we have to be guarding at our station and defend Her holy rights.
So we pray fervently today to St. Thomas Becket for the grace to be true lovers of Mother church and to defend Her as much as we have the strength. We pray especially for bishops and priests to be champions of Mother Church and her rights at any cost. Like Our Lord himself, and like Saint Thomas Becket, may our love for the church be emboldened and grant us strength in promoting and defending the faith, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.
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