Thomas Becket: Difference between revisions

== Early life == <!--T:3-->

Becket was born at winter solstice, 1118, in London. He was the son of a wealthy merchant and was educated for a career as city clerk and accountant. He joined the household of the Archbishop of Canterbury, Theobald, at the age 24 and acted as his personal aide and protege. He was described by contemporaries as tall, lean, with pale complexion and dark hair. He had an extraordinary memory, remarkably keen sight and hearing, and excelled in argument and repartee.  

He was sent by Theobald to study civil and canon law at Bologna and Auxerre. He was eventually given delicate diplomatic missions, whereby you can see that he mastered the law, was able to keep silent and keep secrets. Diplomacy is the fine art of the seventh ray undergirded by the certain knowledge of the law. In 1152, at the papal court, he was largely responsible for the pope’s refusal to recognize King Stephen’s son as heir to the English throne, leaving Henry a viable successor.  

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Sir Thomas had a taste for magnificence and his household was considered even finer than the king’s. Wearing armor like any other fighting man, he led assaults and engaged in hand-to-hand combat—strong willed, stern, yet blameless in character and deeply religious.

He was a zealous supporter of the king in his goal of gathering power to the monarchy, even when this policy ran counter to the claims of the church. He distinguished himself as a brilliant and energetic figure at court who embodied the manly virtues of his time. Thomas Becket was known for administrative abilities, diplomatic finesse, as well as splendour of clothing and furnishings and his dramatic flair. He was entrusted with duties as varied as organizing and leading the troops for some of Henry’s campaigns and conducting negotiations for the betrothal of the king’s eldest son.  

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Heedless of the new law, Thomas crossed the Channel to put the case before the Pope. He was received by Pope Alexander III in honor, but the pope, more or less spineless, would not take action on his behalf. Becket therefore took a stronger stand for the church than the pope himself.

King Louis of France was inclined in the Church’s favor and accepted the archbishop in exile. He spent two years at the Cistercian Abbey of Pontigny and four years at the Benedictine Abbey of St. Colombe at Sens. All of his property was seized. His close relatives were exiled.  

While submitting himself to the strict Cistercian rule in the monastery at Pontigny, Thomas received a letter from the bishops and other clergy of England deploring his “hostile attitude” to the king and imploring him to be more conciliatory and forgiving. Becket replied:   

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Thomas, by the grace of God, humble minister of the church of Canterbury, to his reverend brothers, all the bishops, by God’s grace, of the province of Canterbury—if, indeed, they all wrote me—greeting and a will to do what as yet they do not....  

For a long time I have been silent, waiting if perchance the Lord would inspire you to pluck up your strength again; if perchance one, at least, of you all would arise and take his stand as a wall to defend the house of Israel, would put on at least the appearance of entering the battle against those who never cease daily to attack the army of the Lord. I have waited; not one has arisen. I have endured; not one has taken a stand. I have been silent; not one has spoken. I have dissimulated; not one has fought even in appearance....  

May God lift the veil from your hearts, that you may know what you ought to do. Let any man of you say who knows if ever since my promotion I have taken from anyone of you his ox or his ass or his money, if I have judged anyone’s cause unjustly, if out of anyone’s loss I have won gain for myself, and I will return it fourfold. If I have done nothing to offend you, why leave me alone to defend the cause of God?...  

Let us then, all together, make haste to act so that God’s wrath descend not on us as on negligent and idle shepherds, that we be not counted dumb dogs, too feeble to bark.

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Elizabeth Clare Prophet, February 17, 1991.

Elizabeth Clare Prophet, December 29, 1985.

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