SAINT THOMAS DE CANTELUPE (1274)

THOMAS DE CANTILUPE and THOMAS OF HEREFORD

Reformist, educator, English church prelate, bishop, and defender of episcopal jurisdiction who played an important mediatory role in the Barons War.

Of noble birth, Thomas was educated at Oxford and after being ordained at Lyons c. 1245, continued his studies in France at Orléans and Paris. He then taught canon law at Paris and at Oxford where in 1262 he became chancellor.

By that time the English barons were embroiled in a political crisis with King Henry III of England over the Provisions of Oxford, a written constitution that set up state reforms making the king subject to a privy council. These reforms split the baronage into a conservative group and the radicals, who were led by Simon de Montfort, earl of Leicester, whom Thomas favoured and whom early in 1264, he represented at the court of King Louis IX of France.

Louis by the Mise of Amiens (January 1264) invalidated the Provisions. The campaign that ensued was won (1264) by Montfort who then ruled by military decree; on Feb. 22, 1265 he appointed Thomas chancellor of England.

After Montfort´s death on the followings August 4 and after the baronial party´s subsequent disintegration, Thomas was dismissed and returned to Paris (1265-72). He was then at Oxford for a second term as chancellor (1273-74).

Known for his ascetic life, strict discipline, and martial spirit, he was made bishop of Hereford (1275), which he found in a state od deterioration. He restored his see, began a reform, and became adviser to King Edward I of England.

On the accession of John Peckham to the primal see of Canterbury in 1279, Thoma´s life took a grim turn. The jurisdictional disputes in which he became involved with Peckham led to his excommunication in 1282.

He went to Italy to plead his cause to Pope Martin IV but died before his case was judged. After Thomas was buried in the cathedral of Hereford, several miracles were reported; and Edward requested the process for his veneration. 

He was canonized in 1320 by Pope John XXII and his feast day is October 3.