Feast of the Translation
When I was asked by the Bishop in 2014 to come to Canterbury as parish priest, one of the first things I did — after saying yes — was to buy and read John Guy’s excellent biography of Thomas Becket (Penguin, 2013). Since then I have collected other books about our patron and saint who, today, still has a central part to play in the history of our city.
Last week I bought the newly published Thomas Becket and His World by Michael Staunton. A good introduction, that explores the apparent contradictions in his life: ‘In death, as in his life, he would divide people but he would always capture their attention.’
For my Golden Jubilee I was thrilled to be given, as a present, a fascinating translation from Latin (by Rachel Koopmans) of Benedict of Peterborough’s Passion and Miracles of St Thomas Becket. ‘It reveals how a monk thrust into the role of recorder sorted out and attempted to understand the beginnings of a pilgrimage that would draw hundreds of thousands of medieval pilgrims to Canterbury. He lists some 275 miracles all dating from 1171 -1173, and two of the cures narrated in the book — those of Mary of Rouen and of Richard Sunieve — are depicted in our wonderful new icon of Thomas Becket.
Fifty years after Becket’s martyrdom, his remains were carefully removed from his tomb in the Canterbury Cathedral crypt and transferred (or ‘translated’) to a bejewelled, encrusted, golden casket in a purpose-built chapel behind the high altar, now known as the Trinity Chapel. For many centuries, the anniversary of this ‘translation’ — of Becket’s bones to his shrine — was the most important and well-attended pilgrimage feast in England: more than 5000 pilgrims a week made the pilgrimage. And this Monday we celebrate this same Feast of the Translation with a Mass in Canterbury Cathedral.
Canterbury District saw 8.1 million visitors in 2023, surpassing pre-pandemic levels, which included 7.5 million day trips and a significant number of overseas visitors. Yet only a small proportion of these visitors are pilgrims. This Monday we become the pilgrims, thanking God for our patron, and praying:
Glorious Saint Thomas Becket, champion of the faith and steadfast defender of the Church, your courage in the face of persecution inspires us to remain loyal to truth and righteousness. Intercede for us, dear saint, that we may have the strength to stand boldly in our faith, even when challenged by trials and opposition. Guide us to honour God above all else, and to seek His will in our daily lives.
