Reflections on the Feast of St. Thomas Becket of Canterbury

Reflections on the Feast Day of St. Thomas of Canterbury

By: Terry N. Hursh, M.Div, J.D.

St. Thomas Becket, born in London around 1119 or 1120 is remembered as a martyr who defended the rights of the Church against Royal authority. St. Becket studied in London and later in Paris, where he gained a strong grounding in theology, law, and administration. His intelligence and ambition attracted the attention of Theobald, Archbishop of Canterbury, who took him into his household. Under Theobald’s guidance, Becket learned the workings of the Church and diplomacy. In 1155, King Henry II appointed Becket as Chancellor of England, one of the most powerful positions in the kingdom.

As chancellor, St. Becket vigorously supported Henry II’s efforts to strengthen royal authority. He helped enforce laws, collect taxes, and even led troops when necessary. His close friendship with the king led Henry to believe that Becket would remain loyal to royal interests in any role he held. However, things were soon to change.

In 1162, Archbishop Theobald died, leaving the most important church position in England vacant. Henry II nominated Becket as the new Archbishop of Canterbury, expecting that his trusted friend would help bring the Church under greater royal control. The king wanted to limit the independence of clergy and ensure that church courts did not undermine royal justice.

However, Becket’s appointment marked a turning point in his life. Once he became archbishop, he underwent a profound change. He gave up his luxurious lifestyle, adopted a more ascetic way of living, and became deeply committed to defending the rights and independence of the Church. This transformation shocked Henry II, who felt betrayed by his former ally and eventually led to his martyrdom.

While Becket is traditionally celebrated as a defender of the Church and a symbol of moral courage, a critical assessment reveals a more complex figure whose choices were sometimes shaped by political realities, personal ambition, and institutional conflict. His life is significant precisely because it raises difficult questions about conscience, authority, and the costs of resistance.

His conflict with King Henry II highlighted the lack of clarity in medieval England regarding whether secular or ecclesiastical authority should dominate legal and moral matters. Becket’s refusal to accept the Constitutions of Clarendon represented a firm stand against royal interference in church affairs. From one perspective, this strengthened the Church’s independence and preserved a system in which spiritual authority could challenge political power.

Becket’s personal transformation after becoming Archbishop of Canterbury also invites critical scrutiny. His sudden shift from loyal royal servant to uncompromising churchman has often been interpreted as evidence of spiritual awakening. Yet some historians suggest that this change may also have been strategic. As archbishop, Becket was expected to embody the authority and dignity of the Church, and his rigid stance may have been a way to assert legitimacy in his new role. This does not invalidate his sincerity, but it complicates the traditional narrative of a purely spiritual conversion. His life thus illustrates how religious conviction and political calculation can be deeply intertwined.

Nevertheless, the manner of Becket’s death profoundly shaped the significance of his life. His murder in Canterbury Cathedral transformed a political dispute into a moral crisis. Regardless of Becket’s motives or methods, the killing of an archbishop in a sacred space was widely perceived as an abuse of power. This act shifted public sympathy decisively in St. Becket’s favor and forced King Henry II to perform public penance. In this sense, his death accomplished what his life had struggled to achieve: it limited royal authority and strengthened the moral position of the Church.

The canonization of Becket was rapid. By elevating Becket to sainthood, the papacy reinforced the idea that resistance to secular rulers could be holy and justified. St. Becket’s followers promoted pilgrimage, increased the Church’s influence, and served as a powerful reminder that kings were subject to spiritual judgment.

In conclusion, the significance of St. Thomas Becket’s life lies not in simple heroism, but in its complexity. He was neither merely a saintly defender of justice nor simply a stubborn political actor. His life reveals the challenges of balancing loyalty, conscience, and authority in a society where power was deeply contested. By provoking debate rather than offering easy answers, St. Becket’s life remains historically important. It forces modern readers to consider whether moral integrity requires absolute resistance, or whether compromise can sometimes better serve justice.