29 December -- St Thomas Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury and Martyr

Five years ago I posted this on the feast of St Thomas of Canterbury. He is still the patron of parochial clergy, although St Jean Vianney seems to have taken much of the limelight lately. Also a fine patron for those who need to distinguish which are the things of Cæsar and which are the things of God.

Deus pro cuius Ecclesia gloriosus Pontifex Thomas gladiis impiorum occubuit: præsta, quæsumus; ut omnes, qui eius implorant auxilium, petitionis suæ salutarem consequantur effectum. Per Dominum nostrum Iesum Christum. Amen.

O God, for the sake of whose Church the glorious Bishop Thomas fell by the sword of ungodly men: grant, we beseech Thee, that all who implore his aid, may obtain the good fruit of their petition. Through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.