Liturgies in Honour of Thomas Becket
Publisher: University of Toronto Press
Published: January 17, 2004
Language: eng
Format: Hardcover
Number of pages: 320
ISBN-13: 9780802036506
Subjects: Christian spiritual & Church leaders; History of specific subjects; Literary studies: 16th to 18th centuries; Religious Literature; Christianity - History - General; Thomas,; Biography / Autobiography; Religious; Literary Criticism; Medieval; England; Literary Criticism & Collections / Medieval; Biographies; Saints chrâetiens; áa Becket, Saint,; 1118?-1170; Angleterre; Biography; Christian saints
Description: "Martyred in 1170 when still the Archbishop of Canterbury, St. Thomas Becket was canonized only three years later and became one of the most important religious figures in the history of the English church. In this work, Kay Slocum analyses the image of Thomas Becket as presented in the liturgies composed in his honour, and examines these within the context of the political and social history of the late twelfth and early thirteenth centuries. Through these liturgies, Thomas Becket is presented as 'novus homo, ' 'bonus pastor, ' a defender of the church, a martyr, a miracle worker, and a type of Christ. The first part of this book examines these images, demonstrating how each is developed using material from Becket's contemporary biographers, and analysing their historical and political context." "The second half of this book presents musical transcriptions and English translations for two complete offices, one for Thomas Becket's feast day, and another for the commemoration of the translation of his remains. Drawing on literature, music, and liturgical texts, this interdisciplinary study illustrates how varied materials can be drawn together to enhance our understanding of medieval culture and society."--Jacket.