― A Man for All Seasons: A Play in Two Acts
Henry II: There’s nothing more certain to win them over than the sight of a king doing penance and humbling himself under the lash.
The honor of God, gentlemen, is a very good thing and all things considered one gains by having it on one’s side.
Thomas Becket our friend, always used to say so.
Tonight in council, we will determine what punishment his murderers should receive.
One of the Barons who murdered Becket: Sire, they are unknown.
Henry II: Our justice will seek them out, you may be sure.
It is a time my dear Barons, for all of us to do penance.
Henry II to the vast crowd outside of Canterbury Cathedral: Hear me!
People of Canterbury and citizens of England.
As I have submitted myself to the lash, so have I petitioned the Pope.
And this day, I have received his answer.
Thomas Becket, former Archbishop of Canterbury, and martyr to the cause of God and his church shall henceforth be honored and prayed to in this kingdom as a saint.
(Huge Cheers.)
Henry II (sotto voce): Is the honor of God washed clean enough?
Are you satisfied now, Thomas?
Becket (1964) Screenplay
St. Luke became a point of devotion in my 20’s when I had some health issues. Now, I always invoke his intercession at the end of my rosaries. After a few days of this at the end, some of the kids who prayed it with me asked why we always asked St. Luke to pray for us, and so I let them know.
Also St. Anthony, because I often lose my mind dealing with some of our finest young people!
St. Thomas Aquinas, my chosen Patron at my confirmation 20 years ago this week. 😇
He gets invoked at the close of my Rosary each time.
Also St. Dymphna, for a family member who is afflicted with a nasty form of schizophrenia. Fortunately, by His grace, the person is careful to take the medication that has for many years kept the disease mostly under control.
Josh:
I always ask Saint Anthony to find my mind.
St Joan or Arc was my chosen saint at confirmation. I always appreciated that she had one of, if not the, most improbable lives of any saint.
We had been talking about leaving the Union of Seattle Socialist Republics for years. When we stumbled upon the FSSP parish here in North Idaho during the plague, that the parish bore her name was a sign of divine providence to me that we were to pull stakes and move here.
St. Michael the Archangel everyday. The USA and the world need his help.
St. Thomas More name of my grade school.
St Thomas a Becket feast day is on my birthday. Both men stood fast for their Faith. I was visiting NYC years ago and happened upon a parish named after St. Thomas in downtown Manhattan. Beautiful inside. When I saw the list of services had Evensong I realized it was a high Episcopal church.
St. Gertrude the Great’s prayer for the souls in Purgatory. She is invoked not only in November but throughout the year. Nice to pray it in church cemeteries or any cemetery.
When I visit the shut ins before I give them the Holy Eucharist we recite the Hail Mary and ask Our Lady of Lourdes for healing of body and mind.
Lastly St. Francis of Assisi and St Roque for ailing pets.
Becket and A Man For All Seasons were beautiful and well done films.
Thomas Becket, Defender of the Church by Fr. John S. Hogan released in 2020 The review states that the author clears up some misconceptions from the movie. Haven’t read it yet.
It’s only been this Lent that I started a devotion to the patron saint of my parish (never give personal information online, but he’s one of the good ones). It seems kind of obvious now.
Josh, if you’re ever in Padua, it’s a 10-minute walk from the Basilica of St. Anthony to the Abbey of Santa Giustina where St. Luke’s remains are believed to be kept.
My Patron Saint, Stephen, the first Martyr, and St Francis. I’ve loved St Francis since reading a comic in the early ‘80’s about his life. I wore out several copies of the comic. On a whim, I found a copy of the comic on eBay a few years ago, and bought ten as they were ten for ten. It’s super cheasy, but I still love it. I gave away most of the other copies.
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