On December 29th, the Mass commemorating St. Thomas Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury, will be offered at the high altar, where there is a relic of the saint in the altar stone. Also, his statue (along with one of St. Stephen Protomartyr) flanks the tabernacle door. Within the door is an icon of the Holy Archangels Michael and Raphael. The tabernacle itself is surmounted by a 19th century bishop's blessing cross made of silver, with identical icons of the Crucified on each side.
O God, our strength and our salvation, who didst call thy servant St. Thomas Becket to be a shepherd of thy people and a defender of thy Church: Keep thy household from all evil and raise up among us faithful pastors and leaders who are wise in the ways of the Gospel; through Jesus Christ the shepherd of our souls, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
3 comments:
Fr Phillips,the following is supposed to be,credited to St
Thomas Becket,"Remember the suffer-
ings of Christ,the storms that were
weathered...the crown that came
from those sufferings which gave
new radiance to the faith...all
saints give testimony to the truth
that without real effort, no one \
ever wins the crown"
St Thomas Becket,pray for us.
The movie "Becket" with Richard Burton and Peter O'Toole always made me want to attend a Vespers held on Saint Thomas' feast day.
I trust you wouldn't be bringing your sword...
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