Octave of Saint Thomas of Canterbury

The Catholic Church in England celebrates, to-day, the Octave of St. Thomas of Canterbury. It is but fitting, that the Country, which was beautified with the blood of the illustrious Martyr, should honour his memory with an especial fervour, and keep up his Feast during the joyful Octaves of Stephen, of John the Beloved Disciple, and of the Innocents of Bethlehem.

We have seen, on the Feast itself, how the Catholic world gave expression, through the sacred Liturgy, to its love of our great Martyr. In the Ages of Faith, a victory gained by the Church was considered as a victory for the whole human race. It is impossible for us to write the Lives of the Saints in our Liturgical Year, which is crowded enough as it is ; — and hence we cannot enter, with anything like detail, into the actions of this the Martyr for the Liberty of the Church. But we cannot withhold from our readers the following eloquent proof of the affection and esteem in which St. Thomas was held by those who had been eye-witnesses of his sublime virtues. It is a Letter written by Peter of Blois, Archdeacon of Bath, to the Canons of Beau voir, a few days after the Martyrdom of the Saint, whose blood was still on the pavement of the Metropolitan Church of Canterbury. Let us notice, as we read it, the selfpossessed and meek enthusiasm, with which even the grandest victories of the Church inspire her children.

" The Shepherd of our souls is dead, and my first "impulse is to mourn with you over this death. " Yet Death I may not call it, for the death where- " with our Lord has honoured his Saint is rather a " sleep than a death. It has been the harbouring " him into rest. It has been to him the gate of life, " and the admission into the delights of the heavenly " country, into the power of the Lord, into the abyss " of eternal light. Having to set out on a long "journey, he has taken with him all he needed, and " will return on the day of the full moon ;l for his " soul, full of merit, has left the body, in order to "return to its ancient dwelling in the general and " complete resurrection. Jealous and crafty Death " came to scrutinise this treasury of merit, suspect- " ing something to be there which he could claim. " But, Thomas was too circumspect and prudent, and " never permitted his true life to be tampered with. "He had long desired to be dissolved and to be with " Christ ; and, at the close of his life, was pining to " take his departure from the body of this death. " He has now thrown a handful of dust into Death's " face, as a tribute which he owed to the old enemy : " and the false report has gone abroad, and people " are telling each other, that an evil beast hath de- " voured our Joseph. The coat, of which he has " been stripped, has given rise to this false news of " his death ; for Joseph lives, and rules through the " whole land of Egypt. His blessed soul, unburthened " of its corruptible garments, and freed from the dust " of this present life, has taken her flight to heaven.

" Yes, he of whom the world was not worthy, has " been called away to heaven. This light is not put " out ; it is but shaken by a passing wind, that it

1 Prov. vii. 20. 2 Phil. i. 23. 3 Gen. xxxvii. 20.

" may shine all the brighter, and may, no longer kept " under a bushel, give light to all that are in the " house. He hath seemed in the eyes of the unwise " to have died ? but his life hath been hid with Christ " in God. It has seemed as though Death had " conquered and swallowed him up ; whereas, in " reality, Death is swallowed up in victory. Thou " hast given him, 0 Lord, his heart's desire* for he " had long served thee, and, because of the words of " thy lips, had kept hard ways. From earliest " youth, his conduct was such as to be worthy of one " advanced in years, and he restrained the rebellions " of the flesh, by watching, fasting, disciplines, hair " shirt, and perpetual continency. The Lord chose " him for his Priest, that he might be to the people " a guide, and teacher ; a mirror of life, a model of " penance, and an example of holiness. The God of " wisdom gave him eloquence of speech, and abun- " dantly infused into him the spirit of wisdom and " understanding, making him the most learned of the " learned, the wisest of the wise, excellent even " among the best, and superior even among the " greatest men. He was a herald of the divine word, " a trumpet of the Gospel, a friend of the Bride- " groom, the support of the Clergy, an eye to the " blind, a foot to the lame, the salt of the earth, the " light of his country, a minister of the Most High, a " vicar of Christ, a Christ of the Lord.

" He was upright in his judgment, energetic in " administration, discreet in his orders, modest in his " speech, circumspect in his advice, most abstemious " in his food, gentle in temper, an angel in human " flesh, meek amidst injuries, humble in prosperity, " most courageous in adversity, prodigal in almsgiving, " and was ever exercising some work of mercy. He

1 Wisd. iii. 2. 3 I. Cor. xv. 54. 6 Ps. xvi. 4.

2 Coioss. iii. 3. 4 Ps. xx. 3. 6 Job, xxix. 15.

" was the glory of Religious, the favourite of the " people, the terror of Princes, the god of Pharaoh " If some men, when exalted to the supreme dignity " of the Episcopacy, begin at once to be carnal- " minded, and shun every bodily suffering as the "greatest evil, and desire to enjoy as long a life as " possible — it was not so with our Pastor. On the " very first day of his promotion, he longed, but more " ardently than can be told, for the end of life, or, "more correctly, he thirsted to begin the life of " eternity. For this purpose, he looked on himself " and comported himself as a pilgrim, and drank of " the torrent in the Way ; therefore is his name " glorified in the heavenly Country. Thus it is, that " our Brethren, the Monks of the Cathedral Church, " are become as orphans, without their Father."

The sixteenth century brought an unexpected addition to the glory of our Saint. The enemy of God and man, Henry 8th, hated the very name of the Martyr, that had died for the Liberty of the Church. There was an honour, which such a Tyrant could still add to St. Thomas' glorious name : — he could insult the Shrine, where, for four hundred years, the Saint had received the homage of the entire Catholic world. The venerable Relics of the Martyr were dragged from beneath the Altar: an absurd action was brought against Thomas, formerly Archbishop of Canterbury, and he was found guilty of high treason ! His Relics were put upon a pile ; and in this second Martyrdom, the fire destroyed the last remains of the holy man, whose intercession drew down upon England the protection and blessings of heaven. After all, how could a country, that was on the eve of its great apostacy from the True Faith, be expected to appreciate the rich treasure of such Relics ? Besides, the See of Canterbury was defiled.

1 Exod. vii. 1. 2 Ps. cix. 7.

Cranmer sat on the Chair, which had been that of an Augustine, a Dunstan, a Lanfranc, an Anselm, and a Thomas a Becket. If our holy Martyr and Archbishop had looked through the then existing generation of his Brethren, he would, indeed, have found one, who followed his example and died a Martyr — John Fisher: — but he was the only one ; and his sacrifice, glorious as it was, had not power to save his country. The Liberty of the Church had long before then been destroyed ; — Faith was sure to die out.

The Mass and Vespers are as on the Feast, page 351.

We here insert the third Sequence written by Adam of Saint- Victor in honour of the glorious Primate of the Isle of Saints.

SEQUENCE.

Our Eliseus turns the hitter waters into sweet, by putting into them a new vase of salt ; and by the seasoning of fresh meal, removed the bitterness from the pot of poisonous herbs ;

He is slain, as a sheep that dies to save the flock, or as a child that is sacrificed, that the mother may be spared. He rises as a new Sun in a night-covered world, promising a long year of Jubilee.

Aquas plenas amaritudine Novi salis nova dulcedine, Ollam plenam lethali gramme Novi f arris sanat pinguedine Elisseus j

Novus vervex pro grege mo- ritur, Et pro matre proles occidi- tur; In obscuris sol novus oritur In quo serus annus promit- titur Jubileus.

In these our days, by a wicked plot, a new Abel has

Abel novum Cayn malitia, Novum Jacob Sei'r ssevitia,

CHEISTMAS.

Novum Joseph fratnim in- vidia, Intercepit fraude nefaria,

His diebus. Surrexeruntinpatrem pueri, Non materno parcentes ube- ri; Thomas prsesul dum datur funeri, Novum chaos videtur ingeri Mundi rebus. been sacrificed by a wicked Cain, a new Jacob by a cruel Esau, and a new Joseph by envious brethren.

Children have risen up against their Father, harrowing the bosom of their Mother. A new chaos seems to have enveloped all things on earth ; how else could the Pontiff Thomas have met with death ?

Sed occumbit Abel in gloria, Jacob servat Mesopotamia, Joseph regnat in aula regia, Thomas noster in cceli curia Coronatur.

Kevovantur Anglorum gau- dia Bethel novus fit Dorovernia, Fit piscina propitiaria, In qua jugis et multifaria Salus datur.

But Abel falls in glory, Jacob is safe in Mesopotamia, Joseph rules in the court of the king, and our Martyr, Thomas, wears a crown in the palace of heaven.

'Tis merry England now once more, and Dover's cliffs are shores of a new Bethel, and of a land where is a pool of ever and many-healing waters.

Dilatatur Jordanis fluvius, Fit Naaman alter et tertius, Derivatur Siloe longius, Ccelum pluit manna profusius

Quam solebat.

Duplicatur Solaris radius,

Magnus Annse donatur films.

Novum vatem Herodis gladius

Trucidavit inverecundius Quam decebat.

Trucidato non desunt prae- mia ; Sancto namque, pro sancti- monia,

The Jordan river flows through England's vales, and who could tell how many Naamans there receive their cure 1 The spring of Siloe has sent her stream to Albion, and heaven's manna falls where once it was not known.

A long summer smiles on the fair island. The barren Anna is blessed with a noble Son. But, oh ! shame above that of old ! a Herod's sword has slain the new Prophet.

How great is the reward of the martyred Saint ! Life, salvation, and celestial light, are bestowed on him, for his holy deeds, and for the courage of his upright mind.

And now, from heaven, he works so many miracles ! He heals leprosy, he puts devils to flight, he gives sight to the blind, he makes the lame walk, he gives speech to the dumb, he obtains a cure for every sickness.

A son of Belial, who had poured out blasphemies against the Saint, was struck blind ; and, whereas he desisted not from his mad fury, he met with a wretched death.

A man who had great devotion to the Saint, had, through a false zeal, lost his sight : he recovered it immediately, on praying to the Saint, and went his way singing joyfully his praises to God.

Pro sincere mentis constan- tia, Vita, salus, et lux aetherea

Condonatur. Abhinc multa facit prodigia; Lepram curat, fugat Dsemo- nia ; Caecis visum, claudis ves- tigio, Verba mutis, aegris remedia Imprecatur.

Vir Belial luit blasphemias

Quas in Sanctum arsit injurias ;

Visu dempto, tristes exsequias,

Maturando nefandas furias, Terminavit.

Vir devotus in Sanctum Domini,

Zelo pravo sustractus lumini,

Sed mox datus visus acumini,

Laudes laetus divino nomini Decantavit.

Crosses, made by an Angel's hand, are often known to have a heavenly power, by the powerful prayer of the loving Pastor. The dust from round his sepulchre is known to heal paralysis.

Two lamps had been presented to his Shrine, as a votive offering ; they were lit by a light from heaven. A man who had attempted to profane the holy spot, was found out by the breaking of a vase.

Cruces, factae manu angelica,

Pii Patris prece benefica,

Crebro pollent virtute ccelica;

Far fit humi, quod paralytica

Membra sanat.

Immolentur lucernae gemmae

Accenduntur ccelesti lumine ;

Declaratur in vasis fragmine

Locum sanctum fraudes molimine Qui profanat.

Calce puer qui matrem lse- serat, Poenitendo calcem absci- derat ; Mox, ut opem Sancti pe- tierat, Bipedalem gressum meru- erat, Res stupenda ! Nauta potens in navi mys- stica, Nostra, Thoma, laudes et cantica Summo Regi prece gratifica Et eidem prece magnifica Nos commenda.

Amen.

A boy had kicked his mother, and repenting of his deed, had maimed himself. No sooner has he begged the prayers of the Saint, than, oh ! wonderful miracle ! he recovers the use of both his feet.

O Thomas ! thou skilful pilot in the mystic Bark ! let thy prayers give worth to our praises and hymns, that they be pleasing to the King, our God ; and, by thy powerful intercession, commend us to the same !

Amen.

Our readers will not regret our giving insertion to the following beautiful Prose, taken from the ancient

Missals of Liege.

PEOSE.

Laureata novo Thoma, Sicut suo Petro Borna, Gaude Cantuaria !

Immo tota sit devota, Pia laudum solvens vota, Militans Ecclesia.

Thomas iste dum tuetur Legem Dei, promeretur Iram regis Anglise.

Ergo pulsus urbe cedit, Et transcurso mari, credit Sese regi Franciae.

Quern gratanter et condigne, Tarn devote quam benigne, Sicut patrem visitat.

Rejoice, O Canterbury ! adorned with thy late Martyr, Thomas, as Pome is with her Peter.

Nay, let the whole Church Militant be devout to thy Saint, and pay him the holy tribute of her praise.

This is the Pontiff, who draws on himself the anger of England's king, because he defends the law of God.

For which reason he is sent into banishment, and crossing the sea, seeks protection from the King of France.

The king receives him gladly, as he well-deserved; and visits the Pontiff, devoutly and affectionately, as he would a father.

In France, Thomas, like a young novice, serves the King of kings with wonderful fervour.

At length, when peace was restored, though it was but the crafty show of peace, he returns to his country.

He asserts the Church's right, and serves his God ; wherefore, the king, his artful enemy, grows mad with rage and wantons in his wrath.

Now like a cunning fox, and now like a savage tigress, he tries each door, each scheme :

At one time, threats ; at another, flattery; but Thomas is nothing moved, unflinching as at first.

The king finding that the champion of the truth was not to be moved, and that his resolve was inflexible ;

He turns all men against the Pastor, and whispers murder to a minion troop.

The parricides have understood the king ; crafty and faithless, they enter the Church, that they may make away with the Champion of Liberty, and usurp his throne.

The Pontiff was at prayer in the sanctuary ; he comes forth, heeding not the enemy. The serenity of his soul is ruffled not with fear of the raging troop ; he goes to meet them.

The head of that saintly Priest, which had been fondly caressed on a mother's breast,

Now feels the edge of deadly steel ; the blood gushes forth ; and there, in the

Ubi, velut novus tyro, Thomas, in fervore miro, Regi regum militat.

Tandem pace reformata, Pace dolis palliata, Regressus ad propria.

Jura servans, Deo servit ; Inde ssevit et protervit, Hostis arte varia.

Nunc ut vulpes fradulenta, Nunc ut tygris virulenta, Tentat omnes aditus.

Nunc minatur, nunc blanditur, Ille nihil emollitur, Idem manens penitus.

Rex compertus non moveri Virum assertorem veri, Nee frangi propositum ;

Omnes armat inPastorem, Cohortatur ad cruorem Cohortem satellitum.

Ergo nequam patricidse Tarn in f raude quam in fide, Libertatis ut Patronum Tollant et usurpent thro- num, Ruunt in Ecclesia.

Prsesul orans in secreto, Palam prodit, hoste spreto ; Nee turbat quies mentis Turbse metu ssevientis, Sed procedit obviam.

Sancti caput Sacerdotis, Exoptatum millevotis Suae matris gremio, Ferrum bibit, cruor manat, Et ibidem ccecos sanat 2i

In tumultu medio. midst of all the disorder, gives sight to a blind man.

Quid loquamur quae lo- But, why need we tell what quuntur, his miracles so eloquently pro-

Per se satis eloquuntur, claim throughout the world 1 Ubique miracula?

Daemon cedit, mors obe- Devils are put to flight, dit, death yields up her victims,

Desperatis salus redit, health is restored to them that

Fugit leprae macula. had lost all hope, and lepers

Cleri gemma, clare Tho- O Motus nostrae carnis doma Thomas ! Precum efficacia. ne'er are cleansed. thou gem of the Priestma, hood ! O glorious Pontiff thy prayers are refused — oh ! calm the rebellion of our flesh.

Ut in Christo, vera vite, That being rooted in Christ,

Radicati, vera vitae the true Vine, we may receive

Capiamus praemia. the solid rewards of eternal

Amen. life. Amen.

Thy Feast ends to-day, and we come before thee to pay thee a last tribute of our devotion, O glorious Champion of the Liberty of the Church ! who standest near the Crib of our Emmanuel, as the representative of the combats he would have to fight in the future of his Church. The whole of Christendom implores thine intercession ; but England claims thy special protection. Thou art one of her grandest glories, and neither heresy, which has laid waste the land, nor impiety, which has covered her with sacrilege, have made her forgetful of her great Martyr of Canterbury. She is now in the first years of a new period, which is fraught with promise of a bright future — and thy dear name is honoured with a love, which is worthy of the devotion shown thee in times now long passed away. Churches are being built in thy honour, on that very soil, where it was once made obligatory by law to hate thee. Each year is adding to the number of the members of the true Church; and they, whose conversion thus gladdens the Angels of God, are men, whose early training taught them to look on contempt for Thomas a Beckett as a sign of patriotism and refinement. Each year, as thy Feast comes round, the day is kept with greater solemnity ; thy merits are better understood, and the increase of faith sets men's hearts on thanking their God for having given thee to his Church as the type of a Bishop.

Bless, then, 0 holy Pontiff! this flock of thine own land, which is so fast increasing. Pray for them who are still wavering, that they may have light to see the light granted them by God. Three centuries of error and revolt! — oh! terrible but just chastisement of our dearest country ! Pray that it may be taken away from her, and show, by thy loving intercession, that thou art still the good Shepherd and the affectionate Father.

At the bidding of the successor of Eleutherius and Gregory the Great, the Episcopal Hierarchy has reappeared in this beautiful Isle of ours, where thou wast once the Primate, vested with the sacred Pallium. Oh ! protect the Bishops who are now so zealously governing the vineyard over which thou didst once preside, and for which thou didst shed thy blood. Ask our Lord to increase the number of his Priests ; for the harvest is great, and the labourers are few. May they be endued, by the Master of the Vineyard, with the spirit of patience and courage ; may they be powerful in word and work, and may their name, as thine is, be held in blessing by future generations !