Devotions to St. Thomas Becket by John S. Hogan

Abstract

Reviewed by: Devotions to St. Thomas Becket by John S. Hogan Ryan P. Budd John S. Hogan Devotions to St. Thomas Becket Leominster: Gracewing, 2018. xi + 97 pages. Paperback. £7.99. This is a delightful book of devotions to an inspiring English saint who is less known today than in the past: St. Thomas Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury from 1162 until his martyrdom in 1170. The volume is written by Father John Hogan, a priest of the Diocese of Meath in Ireland, and illustrated by a monk of Silverstream Priory, which is located in the same diocese. There are a few minor drawbacks: a bibliography for further reading, and a footnote or two explaining that Hogan's telling of the saint's life differs at times from other popular versions would be useful. But the book's strengths are many and quite singular: a neat, concise, and charming introduction to the life of the saint balances historical context and detail with relatability to the circumstances of its pious reader—a relatability that is brought out more explicitly in the novena prayers that follow the life. These prayers are beautiful [End Page 69] and quite mystical, showing how—as Bl. Columba Marmion says—the pious Christian re-lives episodes of the life of Christ in his or her own individual circumstances. The reader is, subtly, invited to consider how the details of his or her own life relate to the life of the Master; in a familial or communal context, the deeper implications of the prayers could be drawn out over time, allowing St. Thomas's life and experience to truly shape the reader's life and pursuit of Christian virtue. The novena prayers focus on the much-needed virtues of faith, the practice of prayer, abandonment, courage, sacramentality (a life that "makes Christ present"), trust, witness, accepting divine assistance, and renunciation. The prayers also note how St. Thomas practiced these virtues (sometimes imperfectly) in his own life—hence, they allow the saint to be a real teacher of Christian virtue. Particularly innovative is the composition of stations of St. Thomas's life, following the example of St. Philip Neri's visit to the seven major churches of Rome. Set in historical sites in England but easily practiced remotely, these seven stations allow the faithful to walk with Christ alongside St. Thomas in the critical episodes of the saint's life. The book is rounded out with a collection of prayers for various situations. Thus the book contains personal devotions as well as devotions suited to communal practice—perfect for an individual devotee, or for a family or group of families, Ordinariate communities, or parishes named after St. Thomas or other English-speaking saints. It would also serve very well as a model for similar devotional books dedicated to saints who are the patrons of dioceses, parishes, societies of apostolic life, or tertiary groups. Thus, this little book would serve well the intention Father Hogan had in writing it: "[Thomas] is a saint for our times and for all times. May the Christian faithful find in him a good friend and advocate, and a wise teacher on our pilgrim path through this earthly city" (xi). [End Page 70] Ryan P. Budd Hartford, Connecticut Copyright © 2020 Society for Catholic Liturgy