By CAROLE BRESLIN
During the High Middle Ages the power of kings began to disintegrate, as shown by the Magna Charta, which was established in 1215. Although neither party of the agreement held up to its commitments, the beginning of more democratic rule had arrived.
Three years later a noble family gave birth to a man who played a significant role in the conflict between the barons and the king of England. This man, St. Thomas de Cantilupe, was born in 1218 in Hambleden in Buckinghamshire in England, just northwest of London.
His father, William de Cantilupe, the second Baron Cantilupe, was a minister of King John while his mother, Millicent de Gournay, was also from an illustrious and influential family. The bishop of Worcester, Walter de Cantilupe, was his uncle. Thus, it follows that their son Thomas would play an important role with both the nobles and the Church.
Thomas’ education was overseen by his uncle at Oxford. Some years later, Thomas went to Paris and Orleans in France where he studied theology and canon law. While studying in Paris he completed his theological studies and was ordained. Then he attended the Council of Lyon in 1245.
This council had to be located outside the jurisdiction of the Holy Roman emperor who undermined the first attempt to hold a council. During the council, a bull deposed Emperor Frederick II who had broken the treaty with Rome and arrested cardinals to further his political objectives.
After the council, Thomas returned to Oxford where he taught canon law. He quickly gained favor as he maintained firm control over the unruly students with both his kindness and discipline. In 1262 he was elected to the post of university chancellor.
Nearly 50 years after the initial agreement of the Magna Charta, the barons of England rebelled against the king. King Henry III demanded funds from the barons to pay for his personal desires which had no benefit for the barons. He was deemed the least effective monarch of his times.
Because he constantly demanded more money, the barons went to war against him. In this War of the Barons (1262-1263) led by Simon de Montfort, Earl of Leicester, Thomas sided with the barons against the king. In fact, he served as a delegate who went to King Louis IX in France to mediate the dispute; but after King Louis sided with King Henry, fighting broke out.
The barons wanted the king to be answerable to the country and wanted men of property to be allowed a voice in the government of the kingdom. Simon de Montfort led the forces, with Thomas at his side, and captured King Henry and Prince Edward. He then summoned England’s first real Parliament.
He appointed Thomas de Cantilupe to be chancellor of England on February 22, 1265.
In this position he became widely popular for his wisdom, being not only extremely fair but also filled with Solomon-like wisdom in his decisions at court.
When the king’s followers arose in revolt against the barons at the Battle of Evesham in 1265, Simon de Montfort was killed and Thomas was forced into exile.
He fled to Paris where he lectured on theology and Sacred Scripture from 1265 until 1272. It is interesting that, despite Thomas’ exile, King Henry III held him in great esteem.
Thomas returned to England where he again lectured at Oxford. In 1274 he returned to France to attend the Second Council of Lyon. This time the council focused on union with the Greeks in order to facilitate a crusade to the Holy Land and reform of the Church.
After Thomas came back to England, the Chapter of Hereford Cathedral elected him to be bishop of Hereford. Thomas declined at first but the chapter prevailed and finally persuaded him to accept the post. On the Feast of the Nativity of Mary, September 8, 1275, Thomas de Cantilupe was consecrated bishop of Hereford.
As bishop of Hereford, he was a trusted adviser of King Edward I, the son of King Henry III. From time to time Thomas disagreed with the king but the king never moved against him for such differences in opinion. King Edward even placed the palace of Earley in Berkshire at the service of Thomas whenever business required him to be in London. After Thomas died, both King Edward I and King Edward II petitioned the Pope for his canonization.
Thomas had little affection for the nobles of his diocese. Baron Gilbert de Clare, the “Red” Earl of Gloucester, presented one of his greatest challenges. The earl repeatedly usurped the lands of the bishop, claiming them for his personal hunting expeditions and confiscating the incomes produced on them.
Lord Clifford, because of his transgressions, had to perform the penance of walking through the streets of Hereford to the foot of the cathedral steps, where he suffered the bishop punishing him with a rod.
The sheep of Thomas’ flock loved and trusted him for his fairness and justice in dealing with unscrupulous lords. All men knew him to be holy, righteous, and upstanding.
The king appointed him to many positions, such as canon of York, archdeacon and canon of both Lichfield and Coventry, canon of London and Hereford, archdeacon of Stafford, and more. All of these positions provided an income which some men of the Church accepted in title only, neglecting their responsibilities.
Thomas took his responsibilities seriously, delegating the responsibilities to trustworthy men while visiting periodically to ensure that all was well.
At the end of his life, because of a conflict over visitations, the archbishop of Canterbury excommunicated him. Thomas undertook a trip to Rome to plead his case before Pope Martin IV. Although the Pope could not lift the ban of excommunication, he ordered that no delays should be tolerated in the archbishop’s lifting of it.
Thus, Thomas left Rome to return to England. However, on his way he contracted a fever and died in Orvieto where he evidently received absolution. He died on August 25, 1282.
Richard Swinfield, his lifelong friend and also his traveling companion on this last journey, collected the dried bones of Thomas and brought them back to England. When the remains were transported to the Cathedral of Hereford for internment, Gilbert, Earl of Gloucester touched them whereupon they immediately began to bleed fresh blood. From that moment Gilbert vowed to return all the lands he had seized from Bishop Thomas.
Swinfield testified to the purity and piety of Thomas. The tomb of the saint became the site of many miracles. The successor bishop of Hereford petitioned Rome for the canonization of St. Thomas. He was canonized in 1320 by Pope John XXII. His feast is celebrated on October 2.
Dear St. Thomas, so familiar with the conflicts not only between the Church and the state, but also between different governments, help us, we pray. Today the Church is persecuted in many ways around the globe. Pray for us that we may remain faithful to all the teachings of Christ. Amen.
+ + +
(Carole Breslin home-schooled her four daughters and served as treasurer of the Michigan Catholic Home Educators for eight years. For over ten years, she was national coordinator for the Marian Catechists, founded by Fr. John A. Hardon, SJ.)
Powered by WPtouch Mobile Suite for WordPress