The First, Second, Third, and Fourth days of Christmas commemorated events lifted straight from Scripture, namely the Nativity, the martyrdom of St. Stephen, the life of St. John the Apostle, and the Massacre of the Innocents in Bethlehem. The Fifth Day of Christmas, however, carries us forward over a thousand years, to Plantagenet England. It is the Feast of St. Thomas Becket.

Becket, who died on this day in 1170, did not seem destined for sainthood in his early life. A favorite of Henry II, he enjoyed the king’s friendship for many years, heaving many servants and fine clothes, and owing his elevation as Archbishop of Canterbury – the most senior figure in the English clergy – to this royal patronage.

After this elevation, however, he became a changed man. He left behind the indulgence and finery of his younger years, spending much time in study and at prayer. He also failed to act as a stooge for Henry, as was expected of him defending the independence of the Church and its historic privileges against him.

The clash between Henry and Becket reached its climax when the king had the Archbishop of York, Bishop of London, and Bishop of Salisbury perform a coronation ceremony for his son. They had not sought the necessary ecclesiastical permission from Becket, as the Archbishop of Canterbury – and so he excommunicated them.

When news of this reached Henry in Normandy, he was furious. His exact outburst is not known for certain, but one popular account has it that he ranted: “What miserable drones and traitors have I nurtured and promoted in my household who let their lord be treated with such shameful contempt by a low-born cleric!”

Another, even more popular account has it that he shouted: “Will no one rid me of this turbulent priest?” – sometimes given as “meddlesome” or “troublesome” priest.

This was not a direct command to murder the archbishop, but it was interpreted as such by four of the king’s knights. They set sail for England, intending to place him under arrest. They caught up to the clergyman at Canterbury Cathedral, having hidden their armor and weapons outside, and ordered him to come with them. Becket refused, and went to Vespers (evening prayers).

Arming and armoring themselves outside, the king’s knights then rushed back into the cathedral – and Becket, perhaps up to now as much a political actor as a religious one, met the moment and ascended to sainthood.

MARTYRDOM.  

“Where is Thomas Becket, traitor to the king and the kingdom?” the knights demanded, as the monks sang and parishoners prayed in the evening service.

Becket, though concealed behind a pillar, chose not to hide himself, stepping out in full view. “Here I am. Not a traitor to the king, but a priest,” he declared.

The knights made to drag him off, but he clung to the pillar, and made clear he was ready to die for the Lord. As they drew their swords, he bent his head in prayer – and the crown of his head was struck off. The archbishop bent down to the ground under a succession of blows, according to eyewitness accounts, murmuring: “For the name of Jesus and the protection of the Church, I am ready to embrace death.”

His ending was exceptionally gruesome, with his brains dashed upon the consecrated crowd.

THE AFTERMATH.

Becket’s parishioners immediately recognized their archbishop was not a martyr, who had died for his faith rather than submit to an earthly ruler. The earthly ruler in question, when he heard of the murder, was himself deathly afraid, immediately understanding things had gone too far. He took responsibility for the killing, and traveled to Canterbury in person to do penance, fasting barefoot by Becket’s tomb.

The archbishop became famous throughout Western Europe for his sacrifice, and within only a couple of years had been canonized as Saint Thomas Becket, credited with all manner of posthumous miracles.

For Christians outside Catholicism or Anglicanism, which also venerates him, St. Thomas is a harder figure to get along with than St. Stephen, St. John, and the Holy Innocents, commemorated earlier in Christmastide. He seems a particularly Roman figure – though all Christians in Western Europe were Roman Catholics in his day – and they may even feel the Church privileges he defended were undeserved.

Others, however, may appreciate his stand against King Henry as an example of a man of faith refusing to compromise in the face of autocratic power, and appreciate his decision to die for his faith as a profound act of bravery.

Few standout customs associated with the Feast of St. Thomas Becket remain to us, as with the previous days of Christmas – though all twelve days can and should be marked with caroling and other traditions common to the season.

You might do worse than to give Becket – the classic biopic of the “turbulent priest” starring Richard Burton and Peter O’Toole from 1964 – an evening viewing over some leftover St. John’s Love from December 27th. Or perhaps try your hand singing at Vespers.