A SAINT FOR THE WEEK.

August 2nd.

St. Thomas of Hales.

A Benedictine monk of Dover Priory, he was murdered in a French raid on the town on this date in 1295.  A local cult grew up round his tomb, encouraged by the Archbishop of Canterbury.  King Richard II applied for his canonisation and a process was established in 1380.  The communities of two priories in Canterbury were made responsible for this, and little progress followed, probably because of rivalry between Canterbury and Dover.  The story of his life, which accompanied the formalities, in fact tells little about him and dwells in greater length on the treachery of some citizens of Calais who, with inside knowledge, guided the French troops to the monks’ dormitory, where the chalices and other valuables were kept opposite Thomas’s bed.   In short, not a story to encourage the entente cordiale.