SAINT THOMAS BECKET

INTRODUCTION

The title of my thoughts is, “Saint Thomas Becket.”

Today we celebrate his feast.

His dates are  1118 to 1170.

Instead of spending time for a homily on today’s readings, I decided to revisit the movie, “Becket.”

I remembered seeing the movie - but I wondered if I could get in touch with my thoughts and feelings when I saw that movie way back in the 60's.

So I went on line and did a tiny bit of research on the movie as well as Becket's life.  All I remember from the movie was the pageantry and the costumes - as well as the stone walls in castles and cathedrals - and lots of dark shadowy scenes. I remember that the acting was excellent: especially Richard Burton as Thomas and Peter O’Toole as King Henry II.

THE MOVIE

The 1964 movie received 1 Academy Award and 11 nominations for an Academy Award.

It made good money.

It makes several big mistakes historically - but the story as told on screen and stage make for good historical fiction - as well as being well written.

The movie presented the basic dynamic of two good friends – 2 drinking partners – 2 fooling around friends – who end up in deep conflict with one another.

Besides alcohol and women, King Henry II had his problems with the church – for starters with the Archbishop of Canterbury.  Henry II wants money from the church – especially by taxing it – to finance his wars. The Archbishop said, "No!"

He appoints his buddy Thomas to become Lord Chancellor. Then when  the Archbishop of Canterbury – his enemy and thorn in his side dies – Henry names Thomas Archbishop – with the idea he will now be able to tax and control the church.

Surprise – good story – good plot – Thomas as Archbishop – takes his job seriously – so seriously – that King Henry can’t control him.

Once in a drunken rage King Henry says out loud: “Will no one rid me of this meddlesome priest?”

His soldiers hear this and murder Thomas in the Canterbury Cathedral.

News spreads through Europe of this killing – this assassination – of an archbishop because it's the wish of a  king.

And King Henry repents – at least out loud – perhaps for public consumption – and he is flogged and beaten as a penance for his crime and involvement in the murder.

The original movie, two  plays, a redoing of the movie in the 1990’s,  were all quiet successful.

CHURCH AND STATE

We are governed by both church and state – the state obviously having more physical power.

We all need to consider both realities – including  those in public office. A Catholic is called to vote with his conscience - and to form his conscience with Gospel values and Christian teaching.

So each person needs to do his or her job – as public official – archbishop - parent – teacher – business person - soldier - judge with God's will and the Common Good in mind.

There is a scene in the movie when the king is demanding loyalty and follow up from Thomas  - that he does Henry's will. The king says: "You're Chancellor of England; you're mine! And Becket says: "I am also the Archbishop, and you have introduced me to deeper obligations." 

Isn’t that all of us?

We have lots of obligations to various people – but we also have obligations to God – and when Jesus tells the Rich Young Man what he must do to gain eternal life - it's to keep the 2 Great Commandments - to love our God with our whole heart, mind, soul and strength and to love our neighbor as ourselves.

CONCLUSION

After a bit of reading about St. Thomas Becket on line, I couldn't get in touch with what I was thinking the first time I saw the movie, "Becket."

I assume Thomas is a martyr to the principal: God’s will is service, love, and working for the common good.   May we all work towards these goals.  Amen.